Deforestation Impact on Climate Change

The Agenda 21 Chapter 11 presents us with the dire need to conserve our forests and guard them against deforestation, fire attacks on forest cover and air pollution among others. Deforestation and the resulting impact on climate change affects developed and developing countries alike. In order to implement Agenda 21, collective effort involving the general public, government, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) as well as the private sector is a prerequisite. In my opinion, Agenda 21 is a great step towards realizing sustainable development as far as the environmental conservation is concerned. However, a lot of challenges abound. According to Dodds (1997), in order to achieve the goals of Agenda 21, there is need for finances. Development assistance is also needed to help countries to initiate sustainable development and alleviate poverty among the poor (p.xii). Agenda 21 addresses the need to develop professional and technical skills as well as forest research (section 11.2, paragraph 1, p. 1). This, in my opinion, implies that the human populace is largely involved at the grassroots level when it comes to guarding forests against deforestation and other related issues. This can be attributed to lack of knowledge, ignorance per se, or negligence on conserving our environment. The government is no exception as it is the fundamental financing institution when it comes to research and training. Conclusively, realization of the goals of Agenda 21 is a sum effort of the public masses, private sector, NGOs and the government.

Johannesburg Plan of Implementation

The Johannesburg Plan of Implementation addresses, among other issues, deforestation. Africa is a focus continent with regard to desertification and drought. To combat this, the Johannesburg plan suggests the implementation of the United Nations Convention on curbing desertification in affected countries (section 41, paragraph 1, p. 23). Actions under the plan include implementing Global Environmental Facility (GEF) recommendations to focus on deforestation and desertification as a focal area (section 41, part f, p. 25). Deforestation will also be tamed by sustainable management of forest cover (section 45, paragraph 1, p.29). Parts of the world that suffer deforestation should embrace international cooperation (section 45, part e, p. 28). Financial support for afforestation and reforestation in Africa is important for combating deforestation (section 62, part n, p. 37). In my opinion, the Johannesburg plan is essential for addressing sustainable environmental development in more so in developing countries like Africa. This is because Africa is faced with many challenges including poverty and HIV/AIDS Scourge. The Johannesburg plan consequentially strategizes on supporting Africa technologically, financially, address its energy problems, protect its water sources and assist it in the implementation of the Habitat Agenda. This is essential for realizing sustainable environmental development.References

Agenda 21 – Chapter 11, Combating Deforestation

DODDS, F. (1997). The way forward: beyond Agenda 21. London, Earthscan Publications.Bottom of Form

INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL FOR LOCAL ENVIRONMENTAL INITIATIVES, ICLEI. (1996). The Local Agenda 21 Planning Guide: an introduction to sustainable development planning.

Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development