A/RES/62/98
management contributes significantly to sustainable development and poverty
eradication,
Recalling the Non-legally Binding Authoritative Statement of Principles for a
Global Consensus on Management, Conservation and Sustainable Development of
All Types of Forests (Forest Principles); 1 chapter 11 of Agenda 21; 2 the proposals
for action of the Intergovernmental Panel on Forests/Intergovernmental Forum on
Forests; resolutions and decisions of the United Nations Forum on Forests; the
Johannesburg Declaration on Sustainable Development and the Plan of
Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development; 3 the Monterrey
Consensus of the International Conference on Financing for Development; 4 the
internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development
Goals; the 2005 World Summit Outcome; 5 and existing international legally binding
instruments relevant to forests,
0F
1F
2F
3F
4F
Welcoming the accomplishments of the international arrangement on forests
since its inception by the Economic and Social Council in its resolution 2000/35 of
18 October 2000, and recalling the decision of the Council, in its resolution 2006/49
of 28 July 2006, to strengthen the international arrangement on forests,
Reaffirming their commitment to the Rio Declaration on Environment and
Development, 6 including that States have, in accordance with the Charter of the
United Nations and the principles of international law, the sovereign right to exploit
their own resources pursuant to their own environmental and developmental policies
and the responsibility to ensure that activities within their jurisdiction or control do
not cause damage to the environment of other States or of areas beyond the limits of
national jurisdiction, and to the common but differentiated responsibilities of
countries, as set out in Principle 7 of the Rio Declaration,
5F
Recognizing that sustainable forest management, as a dynamic and evolving
concept, is intended to maintain and enhance the economic, social and
environmental value of all types of forests, for the benefit of present and future
generations,
Expressing their concern about continued deforestation and forest degradation,
as well as the slow rate of afforestation and forest cover recovery and reforestation,
and the resulting adverse impact on economies, the environment, including
biological diversity, and the livelihoods of at least a billion people and their cultural
heritage, and emphasizing the need for more effective implementation of sustainable
forest management at all levels to address these critical challenges,
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1
Report of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, Rio de Janeiro, 3-14 June
1992, vol. I, Resolutions Adopted by the Conference (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.93.I.8 and
corrigendum), resolution 1, annex III.
2
Ibid., annex II.
3
Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August–
4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution
1, annex, and resolution 2, annex.
4
Report of the International Conference on Financing for Development, Monterrey, Mexico, 18-22 March
2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.II.A.7), chap. I, resolution 1, annex.
5
See resolution 60/1.
6
Report of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, Rio de Janeiro, 3-14 June
1992, vol. I, Resolutions Adopted by the Conference (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.93.I.8 and
corrigendum), resolution 1, annex I.
2