Forest restoration – a feasible pathway for sustainable development?

In the XV World Forestry Congress in Seoul, South Korea, May 2, 2022, WFSE organized a hybrid side event

Forest restoration – a feasible pathway for sustainable development?

Ambitious forest restoration targets have been set by organizations, governments and other national parties. Different initiatives emphasize different goals, like mitigating climate change, restoring ecosystem integrity and functionality, and benefits to rural dwellers. This session took a critical look at the global forest restoration project by addressing some fundamental questions. What are the different perspectives and logics behind the international forest landscape restoration initiatives and efforts? What are the links between forest restoration, biodiversity and ecosystem services? Who benefits from forest restoration and how, and who bears the costs? How can environmental justice principles be upheld in profoundly different political, social and cultural settings?

The session was based on the forthcoming book by IUFRO-WFSE: Restoring forests and trees for sustainable development - Policies, practices, impacts and ways forward.

Moderator: Wil de Jong

• Daniela Kleinschmit, Professor, University of Freiburg, Germany: Forest (landscape) restoration governance: institutions, interests, ideas and their interlinked logics
• Sabaheta Ramcilovic-Suominen, Associate Professor, Natural Resources Institute Finland: Just landscape restoration
• Koen Kramer, Professor, Wageningen University; Land Life Company, Amsterdam, The Netherlands: Forest restoration, biodiversity and ecosystem services
• Pablo Pacheco, Dr, Global Forest Lead Scientist, World Wildlife Fund (WWF), Washington DC; Senior Associate, Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR), Indonesia: Forest restoration option: costs and benefits
• Wil de Jong, Professor Emeritus, Kyoto University, Japan; Adjunct professor, Renmin University of China: Community forest restoration scenarios