Humans take action to protect world’s rainforests

There are different opinions amongst people on how natural resources can be used on a local and global scale. Some local governments - such as the Indonesian Government facilitate the destruction of rainforests (JakartaGlobe) and foreign investors are more interested in the exploitation of services of rainforests in the short term. Fortunately, impacts of rainforest degradation have not been unnoticed by organisations, different bodies and governments by appreciating the importance of the magnificent and most diverse biome in the world.
 
Likeminded people came together to form different groups (Non-governmental organisations-NGO’s) all interested in conservation and sustainable living. One of these groups is GREENPEACE having the vision of “a green and peaceful world - an earth that is ecologically healthy and able to nurture life in all its diversity”. Their activity does not only involve the protection of rainforests, but they have come to have a significant impact on the public’s opinion. In 2006, they have achieved ‘McVictory’ as they call it, when McDonald’s agreed to stop using deforested Amazon areas to feed its chicken. This was the starting point for other major companies to sign up to zero carbon policy such as Cargill, Marks & Spencer, ASDA, Waitrose, and Sainsbury’s. Other activities include the banning of cattle purchasing from the amazon in 2009, and in 2010 the agreement from Nestlé to stop using palm oil from the Indonesian rainforest (Greenprace).
 
The Rainforest Alliance has been active since 1987 with the vision of “a world where people and the environment prosper together”. They are trying to do that through the markets by identifying and addressing the major destructors of the ecosystem. This is done by ensuring the sustainable management of different properties and by linking the public with businesses through the (hopefully familiar!) marks of Rainforest Alliance Certified™seal  (Figure 1) and Rainforest Alliance Verified™ mark (Figure 2). They have also helped to establish the Forest Stewardship council. With the increasing publicity and interest in rainforests there are a growing numbers of NGO’s ready to fight for conservation.



Figure 1:  Rainforest Alliance Certified™ seal 
 



 



Figure 2: Rainforest Alliance Verified™ mark



The United Nations an intergovernmental organisation (IGO), where in 1972 the United Nations Environment Peogramme (UNEP) was developed as “the voice on environment within the UN system” in order to promote sustainable development around the world. In 1992, the Rio Earth Summit was held in Brazil by the UN with 178 countries attending where amongt others, the intrioduction of sustainable development was discussed. The summit resulted to the development of different documents such as the Agenda 21 and the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development.

In 2000 there was the initiation of the MIllenium Ecosystem Assessment (MA) by the United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan. The objective: “to assess the consequences of ecosystem change for human well-being and the scientific basis for action needed to enhance the conservation and sustainable use of those systems and their contribution to human well-being”. The MA recognised that the economic and social development of the last 50 years came at a growing cost for the environment. The MA aimed to assist in the decision-making in relation to ecosystem management for the well-being of humans.

Furthermore, the UN declared 2010-2020 United Nations Decade on Biodiversity aiming to implement the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity and to help reach the Millennium Development Goals. The following Video summarises the importance of this action.


In addition to this, the UN declared 2011 International Year of Forests (ForestryCommission). These types of declarations, increase public awareness of the issues and they also provide a platform for action.

The UN-REDD programme was developed in 2008. ‘It is an initiative on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD) in developing countries. Following REDD, REDD+ has the goal to reduce the degradation and deforestation rate that will in turn reduce the emissions of carbon in addition to increasing carbon sequestration in rainforests (Skutsch M., et al., 2013).

Rio+20 took place in Brazil 2012, 20 years after the Rio Earth Summit (1992). The focus was on green economy, decrease poverty and to improve coordination for sustainable development. "Rio+20 has given us a solid platform to build on. And it has given us the tools to build with. The work starts now" said the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. More than 700 commitments were made, with the pledge of over $500 billion.

All these encouraging initiatives from governments, NGO’s, IGO and the support of the public raise awareness to other individuals encouraging more and more people to support conservation and sustainable living not only in rainforests, but around the globe.