Publication

Forests are essential for human survival and well-being. Aside from providing a range of key ecosystem services, forests also account for 30 percent of the earth's land area and harbour two-thirds of all terrestrial animal and plant species. The genetic diversity of forests is the basis for long-term forest health and stability and underlies the ecosystem services they provide, including carbon sequestration.The 16th United Nations Climate Change Conference ended 10 December 2010. It happened at the very end of the International Year of Biodiversity and just prior to the start of the International Year of Forests and produced outcomes on forests and land use that are relevant to the future of global forests and biodiversity.