Forest ecosystems: threats, sustainable use and biodiversity conservation

摘要

The seventh meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice (SBSTTA) of the Convention on Biological Diversity was held in Montreal on 12-16 November 2001 to produce recommendations for the next Conference of the Parties (COP) in April 2002. Besides secondary issues (biological diversity of dry, sub-humid and agricultural lands, plant conservation strategy and incentive measures), the main theme focused on forest biological diversity and was based on a comprehensive report of an Ad Hoc Technical Expert Group. From research to practical actions, the theme included reviews of the status and trends of, and major threats to, forest biological diversity and forest ecosystem functioning and services, as well as options for the conservation and sustainable use of forest biodiversity. A special emphasis was placed on the impacts of climate changes, forest fires and harvests of non-timber resources, including bush meat. Here, I shall stress and extend some major points of the draft report and recommendations. Beyond their necessarily formal and consensual wording, they reflect the evolving attitude of scientists and conservationists on the value, management and future of the world's forests.