ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Climate Change, Senator Mushahidullah Khan said that Pakistan has achieved the target of 12 percent protected areas under the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) on environmental sustainability.
“However, the target to increase the forest cover to 6 percent is yet to be achieved, and it requires dedicated window on forests in the $ 100 billion Green Climate Fund,” he added.
The minister was addressing the 11th session of the United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF) held at New York.
Senator Mushahid Ullah said,”Integration of forests planning in the overall development architecture is, therefore, considered important for ensuring sustainability in economic growth and development.”
He said the UNFF was the only universal and intergovernmental forum on forests which assisted in promoting policy coordination and cooperation for sustainable management of all types of forests.
He mentioned that Pakistan was taking many tangible steps for sustainable management of forests consistent with the international arrangements on forests.
The government was also promoting public-private partnership to attract private sector investments in the forestry sector in the country, he added.
He mentioned that Pakistan also supported the establishment of Global Forest Fund to meet the forests financing needs in the developing countries towards sustainable management of forests and achieving the agreed global objectives on forests.
“We should give a clear message to the Paris climate conference that REDD, should be anchored comprehensively in the 2015 climate agreement,” he added.
The UNFF 11 session was also addressed by ministers from many other countries, including Turkey and India.
