Global Forest Resources Assessments

FAO and global partners unite to strengthen conservation efforts of primary forests

20 November 2024 - Primary forests are among the planet’s most irreplaceable ecosystems, harbouring rich biodiversity, storing vast carbon stocks and supporting the livelihoods of indigenous communities. Despite their importance, primary forests are under increasing threat, with at least 81 million hectares lost since 1990.

To address these challenges, together the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Griffith University, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF) Secretariat, and the Wild Heritage Foundation, launched a ground-breaking conservation initiative at the 2024 United Nations Biodiversity Conference (CBD COP16): the project “Strengthening Conservation of Primary Forests through Partnership Enhancement and Coordination of Support,” funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF). The project’s contribution to improve monitoring and reporting on the extent of primary forests was also shared at the 2024 UN Climate Change Conference (UNFCCC COP 29).

Moreover, FAO with key partners and large primary forest countries initiated a special study on primary forests, of which was also discussed at the climate change and biodiversity conferences. The main objective of the study is to improve the operational guidance on primary forest reporting.

A call for global action and collaboration

On 15 October 2024 in Cali, Colombia, the project and special study were announced during a CBD COP16 side event. This event served as a platform for experts, policymakers and international organizations to discuss the urgent need to protect primary forests and share effective conservation strategies. The session, led by FAO and partners, underscored the unique value of these forests in maintaining global biodiversity and tackling climate change. Speakers addressed key challenges to reporting on primary forests, including the lack of operational guidelines, consistent measurements and sufficient data.

In Baku, Azerbaijan, on 20 November 2024, FAO and its partners shared insights from the project and special study during a UNFCCC COP 29 side event on mobilizing finance for climate and biodiversity in primary forest. The experts highlighted the critical role of primary forests in climate resilience, emphasizing that these ecosystems not only store vast amounts of carbon but also help regulate local and global climates. Discussions centred on the urgent need for consistent data to monitor the carbon sequestration capacity of primary forests and track climate-related impacts.

FAO’s special study to improve primary forest data reporting

To address inconsistencies and gaps in primary forest data, FAO has initiated a special study to enhance the quality of reported data on primary forests. This initiative seeks to improve the consistency, comparability and completeness of national data reported to FAO’s Global Forest Resources Assessment (FRA). Since 1948, FRA has provided comprehensive global forest assessments, supported by a network of officially nominated national correspondents currently spanning 194 countries and territories. However, primary forest data remains challenging due to varying definitions and methodologies across countries.

The special study aims to review current definitions and methodologies and to offer tailored guidance to countries on how to apply FAO’s primary forest definition across different biomes for reporting on primary forests. Several partners have joined this process, including CBD, the Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR), Griffith University, the Joint Research Center (JRC) of the European Commission, the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), and the United Nations Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC). Workshops and consultations have already begun, providing a platform for countries to share experiences and identify common challenges in forest monitoring with the goal of establishing recommendations to enhance the accuracy of national data on primary forests.

Building data-driven solutions for conservation

The new GEF-funded project is a collective effort to prevent further loss of primary forests by enhancing global partnerships and increasing support for forest conservation. As a technical organization on data, FAO brings decades of expertise in forest monitoring to focus on creating biome-specific guidelines and geospatial tools for consistent and accurate primary forest reporting. These tools will support countries in tracking primary forest trends and bolster national data systems for better-informed decisions on forest management and conservation.

This partnership not only equips countries with the resources to protect primary forests, but also advances the goals of major international frameworks, such as the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, Sustainable Development Goals and the European Union biodiversity strategy for 2030. Through collaboration, FAO and its partners are laying the foundation for long-term, science-driven conservation efforts to ensure that these invaluable forests continue to thrive for generations to come. 

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