A new international forest agreement struck at the United Nations is a major step towards controlling deforestation, its sponsors say.

The UN General Assembly has adopted the new accord put forward by the UN Forum on Forests which recognises that measures to produce sustainable forest use around the world must account for the human factor – that poor local communities rely on forest resources for their livelihood.

The UN says 1.6 billion people rely directly on forests for fuel, food, medicine and income.

"Almost all recent success stories of restoring the world's forests are based on better recognition of the needs and actions of local peoples, their ownership and access rights and ancient knowledge of indigenous tribes and communities." Pekka Patosaari, Secretariat director of the UN Forum on Forests, told General Assembly members.

The agreement is not legally binding on governments but will set new standards for forest management aimed at reducing forest clearing and the degrading of native forests in ways that preserve the livelihoods of forest users.

Patosaari said the lack of national and international mechanisms to underpin sustainable economic uses of woodland areas have defeated attempts to preserve them. About 3 per cent of the world’s forest cover has been destroyed in the last 15 years alone and deforestation accounts for around 20 per cent of total greenhouse gas emissions.

The UN climate conference in Bali kick started a new trial process to pay local communities not to clear forest. Many hope this Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation (REDD) will lead to a legally binding worldwide agreement.

Environment News Service 27.12.07