PEFC at COP16 - Sustainable Forest Management: Key to Biodiversity - PEFC - Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification

PEFC at COP16 - Sustainable Forest Management: Key to Biodiversity

Conference of the Parties (COP)

In 2020, the World Economic Forum revealed a shocking truth: 83% of wild mammals and 50% of plants have vanished due to human activity.

On the other hand, over half of today’s world GDP ($44 trillion) relies on nature and its services, so the stakes couldn’t be higher.

Forests, the cradle of Earth’s biodiversity, are crucial. Our interaction with them will determine the fate of countless species. Sustainable forest management is key to preserving these vital ecosystems. By balancing ecological, economic, and social needs, we can ensure forests continue to thrive and support biodiversity.

Forest management is essential to biodiversity conservation, climate regulation, economic benefits, ecosystem services, and community livelihoods. Sustainable forest management not only protects biodiversity but also supports the livelihoods of millions of people, mitigates climate change, and maintains ecosystem services.

COP 16 in Colombia

At the Netherlands Pavilion, attendees could hear from experts including Caitlin Clarke from BTG Pactual Timberland Investment Group, Patricia Machado from Ibá, Marina Negrisoli from Suzano, Bernard de Galembert from WBCSD, and our Head of Advocacy, Thorsten Arndt.

This side event, hosted by IBA, WBCSD, and PEFC, spotlighted successful practices, innovative projects, how they contribute to the Global Biodiversity Framework, and the challenges faced by forestry stakeholders worldwide in promoting biodiversity conservation.

Agenda

Time	TOPIC	SPEAKER
11:30 – 11:35	Introduction	Gary Dunning, Executive Director, The Forests Dialogue (TFD)
11:35 – 11:42	Biodiversity and nature at the core of forest certification, which promotes SFM as a holistic approach to balance competing needs while protecting forests Official indicator for Target 10, making a difference for biodiversity in close to 300 million hectares of certified forests. Impact projects both by national members and certified companies.	Thorsten Arndt, Head of Advocacy, PEFC International
11:42 – 11:55		Caitlin Clarke, Director, Policy and External Affairs, BTG Pactual Timberland Investment Group
11:55 – 12:02	The Brazilian planted tree industry has long considered sustainability a strategic pillar of its business plan, demonstrating that production alongside conservation is possible. In recent months, Ibá gathered and selected over 200 examples showcasing successful practices promoted by Brazilian planted forest companies, which demonstrate their commitment to the biodiversity agenda and their contributions to the targets of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. The result is the publication titled Biodiversity: A Commitment by the Brazilian Planted Tree Industry, which will be launched at COP16.	Patricia Machado, Forestry Policies and Bioeconomy Manager, Ibá
12:02 – 12:15		Marina Negrisoli, Director of Sustainability at Suzano S.A.
12:15 – 12:22	The forest sector, as we have seen, is actively engaging into the nature positive journey (some of our KPIs) There is proliferation of voluntary or regulatory frameworks to abide by, or report to. We have explored how to practically help and support business in this reporting and disclosure exercise -> metrics tool (Sumitomo to give their perspective and further describe the tool). Later could also support target setting 2025 will see the tool online (user-friendly/interactive) in an Amazon-like interface.	Bernard de Galembert, Director, Forest Solution Group, WBCSD
12:22 – 12:35		Yuuko Iizuka, Executive Officer, Sustainability Department, Sumitomo Forestry
12:35 – 12:45		Gary Dunning, Executive Director, The Forests Dialogue (TFD)

Dates

30 October 2024

11:30 - 12:45 (UTC+1)

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PEFC contact

Thorsten Arndt

Head of Advocacy