Why Fern cares about forests and forest people
Forests are essential for life on earth. They create soil, maintain the water cycle and are a vast source of nutrients. They make the weather and protect us from hurricanes, droughts and floods. They build and cool the atmosphere, and feed, cure and shelter more creatures than we can count. They are home to 300 million people and provide livelihoods for one fifth of humanity.
They are also a haven in times of stress. Even a short time in a forest can improve one’s mood, cardiovascular health and reduce blood pressure and stress. They inspire our children and are the starting point for many of our most cherished fairy tales, folklores and myths.
Yet every year, the destruction of the world’s forests increases. Indigenous Peoples and forest-based communities act as the Guardians of the Forest but we need to stand shoulder to shoulder with them to ensure forests are protected and restored everywhere.
If we are to survive, forests need to be both protected and restored. The EU has the power and the responsibility to make this happen.
Challenging Trade
The EU, the world's largest trade bloc, heavily relies on free trade agreements (FTAs) with approximately 80 countries, impacting global trade. The production of goods such as chocolate, snacks, cosmetics, electric vehicles, and mobile phones linked to these FTAs drives deforestation. Implementing policies that prioritize environmental conservation, upholding human rights and fostering a framework that respects both the planet and people involved in global trade is of utmost importance.
Ending deforestation
The world’s forests absorb and store carbon dioxide, but when they are chopped down, the gas is released back into the atmosphere. Forest destruction also wipes out biodiversity and the homes of countless species, and threatens the livelihoods of those who rely on forests for their survival.
Reducing EU Consumption
We won’t end deforestation unless we reduce our consumption of the commodities that fuel it. This means cutting down on meat and dairy - the world’s biggest drivers of deforestation. It means using less paper packaging - spiralling demand results in roughly three billion trees being cut down every year. And it means reducing the dangerous amounts of wood that we are harvesting to produce energy.
Tackling climate change & biodiversity crises
Climate change’s consequences include intense heat, melting glaciers and rising sea levels, extreme weather events such as floods and droughts that can lead to wildfires; disrupt ecosystems; destroy biodiversity and people's lives; and increase global food insecurity. Biodiversity is important in mitigating climate change because highly diverse forests, including tropical ones, are particularly efficient in absorbing CO2.
Upholding Forest Peoples’ Rights
Lack of clarity over land tenure rights is at the heart of most legal and illegal forest destruction. That’s why upholding Indigenous Peoples’ rights is such an effective way of protecting forests. Yet Indigenous Peoples and local communities around the world continue to be dispossessed of their land, or denied their rights to it.