A Global Initiative for the protection of forest carbon sinks and reservoirs
Maintaining the integrity of intact, primary forests is essential to achieving global climate and sustainable development goals, since these forests: 1) hold immense carbon stocks, totaling nine times annual anthropogenic emissions, 2) absorb over a quarter of global anthropogenic emissions annually; 3) are biodiversity strongholds, vital for adaptation and resilience; and 4) are home to many Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLC).
Long-term protection of intact, natural forest carbon sinks and reservoirs should be key in countries’ climate NDCs. However, most climate action focuses only on near-term emission reductions. This contribution aims to promote a prominent role for intact, natural forest sinks in enhanced commitments (e.g. 2020 NDCs) by tropical and boreal governments, in collaboration with IPLC, and supported by innovative, enhanced finance.
The Initiative will promote global recognition of the critical role of intact forests through (1)
commitments from stewards to monitor, manage, and protect them, (2) support from other
stakeholders in the form of capacity, technology, and resources. The outcome will be implementation of commitments by High Forest Low Deforestation (HFLD) and other intact forest countries, standing together with IPLC, private sector, and civil society organizations. To enable these commitments, the Initiative will facilitate dialogues, technical support, and cooperation, building on the political will demonstrated by 27 countries through two major recent declarations (Section ix).
