FAO report shows wildfires are increasing, making forests more vulnerable worldwide
2024-08-10
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"Climate change is making forests more fragile and more vulnerable to wildfires and pests and diseases." Recently, the "State of the World's Forests 2024: Promoting Innovation in the Forestry Sector towards a Sustainable Future" released by the 27th session of the Forestry Committee held by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations showed that the intensity and frequency of global wildfires are increasing. In 2023, global wildfires emitted about 6,687 megatons of carbon dioxide.
Cover of the 2024 State of the World’s Forests report. Photo courtesy of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Wildfires invade, forests face many crises
It is reported that the Forestry Committee is the highest-level forestry management body of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. It is responsible for identifying new issues in the policy and technical fields, seeking solutions, and providing action recommendations to the Food and Agriculture Organization. The theme of this year's meeting is "Embracing Innovation and Accelerating Solutions to Forestry Issues."
The report released this time pointed out that climate change makes forests more vulnerable to wildfires and pests and diseases. The intensity and frequency of wildfires are increasing, including in previously unaffected areas, and global wildfires will emit about 6,687 megatons of carbon dioxide in 2023. In particular, wildfires in the north have increased rapidly. In the past, wildfires in the north accounted for about 10% of global wildfire carbon dioxide emissions, but by 2021, the intensity of wildfires in the north reached a new high, accounting for nearly a quarter of the total global wildfire carbon dioxide emissions. The report pointed out that the main reason is that the continued drought has increased the severity of fires and the consumption of fuel. At the same time, climate change also makes forests more vulnerable to the invasion of alien species, and insects, pests and pathogens endanger the growth and survival of trees. In some Asian countries, pine wood nematodes have severely damaged native pine forests; by 2027, pests and diseases may also have a devastating impact on parts of North America.
"Extreme weather events such as droughts and floods are becoming more frequent, and the climate crisis is looming. Drastic environmental changes have exacerbated poverty and hunger, and food insecurity and malnutrition are worsening. The realization of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals faces severe challenges. The world is at a crossroads, and humanity urgently needs to take large-scale response measures." Wu Zhimin, Director of the Forestry Department of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, said, "Forests cover more than one-third of the earth's land area, protecting the earth and its creatures. But now, wildfires are becoming more frequent and fierce. Therefore, how to deal with wildfires is crucial."
The Earth's Oasis is also the future of mankind
Forests are not only an important part of protecting the ecological environment and regulating the earth's climate, but also provide food, fuel, fiber, medicine, timber and non-timber forest products for hundreds of millions of people, and are an important reliance for human livelihoods and health.
The report shows that global forest production is currently at a record level, with an annual output of about 4 billion cubic meters. Nearly 6 billion people in the world use non-timber forest products, and 70% of the world's poor rely on wild species for food, medicine, energy, income, etc. It is estimated that by 2050, global demand for round timber may increase by 49%.
The development of science and technology has made the use of wood more extensive. Wu Zhimin introduced, "Currently, biodegradable plastics made from wood are replacing harmful plastics that threaten soil health, water quality, and the well-being of humans and animals. The buildings we live and work in are increasingly using sustainable wood and veneer panels from artificial fast-growing forests. The clothes we wear can be made from sustainable fibers provided by trees. The batteries we use used to rely on rare earth materials such as graphite, but now they can be replaced by wood extracts."
Even space exploration is exploring wood solutions. Wu Zhimin said a satellite made of magnolia wood will be launched later this year. When it re-enters the Earth's atmosphere, the satellite will burn up completely, thus reducing space junk.
New solutions are also emerging in the area of forest protection, restoration and sustainable use. All sectors of the forestry industry are undergoing reforms to protect our forest ecosystems and biodiversity from wildfires, pests and diseases, and deforestation.
Technology is also playing an increasingly important role in protecting and restoring forests. Wu Zhimin introduced that drones can now detect and determine the direction of fire movement, identify deforestation and forest degradation, and generate high-definition images for mapping to strengthen monitoring of illegal logging and forest abuse. Artificial intelligence is helping to end and reverse deforestation and forest degradation. Artificial intelligence has also shown great potential in controlling pests and detecting invasive mammals, plants and invertebrates.
Forests are an important part of protecting the ecological environment and regulating the earth's climate. Photo courtesy of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Forestry innovation requires efforts from multiple parties
Forests are becoming increasingly important, but they are also facing increasingly severe threats.
The report believes that strengthening innovation in the forest industry is a key driving force for addressing forest challenges and achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. To this end, the report proposes to enhance the potential of forests to respond to global challenges through five types of innovation, including technological innovation, social innovation, policy innovation, institutional innovation, and financial innovation. For example, through artificial intelligence, it is possible to automatically analyze the massive optical, radar, and lidar data that have been and will be collected by drones, satellites, and space stations; the use of large-volume wood components and other wood-based innovations can replace fossil fuel products in the construction field; through policy formulation, women, youth, and indigenous peoples can be involved in formulating locally-led solutions; and through financial innovations in the public and private sectors, the value of forests can be increased.
The report also lists five supporting actions to promote forestry innovation, including raising awareness, improving innovation skills, capabilities and knowledge, encouraging the establishment of transformational partnerships, providing more inclusive financing for innovation, and creating an encouraging policy and regulatory environment. Wu Zhimin said, "Forestry innovation is the key to sustainable forest management, climate change mitigation and adaptation, and improved livelihoods. Only by adhering to forestry innovation can we realize the vision of the future, build a better world for all mankind, and leave no one behind."
Wu Zhimin called on governments to give priority to building a culture of innovation. “Innovation does not happen in a vacuum. All sectors of society must be willing to take risks and share ideas in their respective fields. Governments, international organizations, businesses, researchers and civil society groups must work together to ensure that innovations can be applied everywhere quickly and fairly. Fair and equal access to new technologies is essential, especially for local and indigenous communities, as they are often the inhabitants, users and guardians of forests.”
Beijing News reporter Zhou Huaizong
Editor: Zhang Shujing
Proofread by Zhai Yongjun
