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Bridging nature and climate through protection of primary forests with high ecological integrity

FAO technical brief

Year of publication 2024

Place of publication Rome, Italy ;

Pages 34

Author Dooley, K.; Duchelle, A.E.; Fernandez-Ugalde, J.C.; Wertz-Kanounnikoff, S. ; Boulay, A.; Libert-Amico, A.; Branthomme, A.; Fortuna, S.; Pekkarinen, A.;

Publisher FAO ;

Product type Booklet

Synopsis (short abstract) Primary forests, which comprise less than one-third of the world’s remaining forests (around 1.11 billion ha), are where the majority of the world’s terrestrial biodiversity is found. They also comprise the largest proportion of terrestrial carbon stocks with the total ecosystem carbon stored in primary tropical forests calculated at 141-159 Gt C. Furthermore, the world’s tropical primary forests are the customary homelands of Indigenous Peoples who continue to play a critical role in their protection and conservation management. Yet primary forests continue to be lost at a rate of more than one million ha per year (FAO, 2020a). This briefing focuses on the important role of primary forests in meeting climate and biodiversity goals. It also explains science-based principles relevant to policy pathways for protecting, restoring, and sustainably managing these forests.

Last updated 24/07/2024

Statutory body / Meeting title FAO Committee on Forestry (COFO)

Cite this content as:

Dooley, K., Duchelle, A.E., Fernandez-Ugalde, J.C., Wertz-Kanounnikoff, S., Boulay, A., Libert-Amico, A., Branthomme, A., Fortuna, S., Pekkarinen, A. 2024. Bridging nature and climate through protection of primary forests with high ecological integrity - FAO technical brief. Rome, FAO.

https://doi.org/10.4060/cd1733en

Language English

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