Dear Delegates, It is a pleasure to welcome you to the 2014 Montessori Model United Nations Conference.

Transcription

1 Dear Delegates, It is a pleasure to welcome you to the 2014 Montessori Model United Nations Conference. The following pages intend to guide you in the research of the topics that will be debated at MMUN 2014 in committee sessions. Please note this guide only provides the basis for your investigation. It is your responsibility to find as much information necessary on the topics and how they relate to the country you represent. Such information should help you write your Position Paper, where you need to cite the references in the text and finally list all references in the Modern Language Association (MLA} format. The more information and understanding you acquire on the two topics, the more you will be able to influence the Resolution writing process through debates [formal and informal caucuses], and the MMUN experience as a whole. Please feel free to contact us if and when you face challenges in your research or formatting your Position Papers. We encourage you to learn all you can about your topics first and then study your country with regard to the two selected topics. Please remember that both committee members need to be well versed and ready to debate both topics. Enjoy researching and writing your Position Papers. We look forward to seeing you at the Conference! MMUN Secretariat Team info@montessori-mun.org

2 United Nations Environment Programme UNEP, established in 1972, is the voice for the environment within the United Nations system. UNEP acts as a catalyst, advocate, educator and facilitator to promote the wise use and sustainable development of the global environment. To accomplish this, UNEP works with a wide range of partners, including United Nations entities, international organizations, national governments, nongovernmental organizations, the private sector and civil society. UNEP work encompasses: Assessing global, regional and national environmental conditions and trends Developing international and national environmental instruments Strengthening institutions for the wise management of the environment Facilitating the transfer of knowledge and technology for sustainable development Encouraging new partnerships and mind-sets within civil society and the private sector. UNEP's global and cross-sectoral outlook is reflected in its organizational structure, its activities and is personnel. Being based in Africa gives UNEP a clear advantage in understanding the environmental issues facing the world's developing countries. Source: en

3 Deforestation Topic Background Deforestation is defined as the cutting, clearing, and removal of the Earth s forests on a large scale. According to estimates by the Food and Agriculture Organization in 2010, forests cover about 31% of the Earth s total land surface. i More than 60% of these forests are located in seven countries: Russia, Brazil, Canada, the United States, China, Indonesia, and the Republic of Congo. ii In the 1990s, the world s forests disappeared at a rate of 16 million hectares per year (for reference, one hectare is equivalent to 10,000 square miles). iii From 2000 to 2010, this rate dropped to 13 million hectares per year. iv The global rate of deforestation has since continued to decrease because of national and international efforts to conserve and protect land covered by forests. However, as net annual forestry losses continue year after year, it has become increasingly apparent that the issue of forest sustainability requires the attention of the international community. The causes of deforestation can be summarized into two main categories: natural causes and human activity. Natural causes of deforestation include wildfires and overgrazing. Human causes of deforestation include logging, mining, urbanization, and mass agricultural expansion. In many rural areas, forests help provide a source of income for people who are able to sell timber for profit, but these trees are often not replanted. Forests can also be used for their valuable minerals; for example, the Amazon Rainforest contains copper, iron ore, and gold. v In addition to the resources that can be extracted from forests, the physical land itself has value. When combined with government corruption and disparities in wealth, urbanization results in the conversion of forest land. For example, in Brazil, where land ownership is dominated by a wealthy elite class, landless members of the lower class who struggle to find work in the cities may choose move to forested areas and clear the land. vi While this alleviates economic instability and prevents political tension from amounting into conflict, the cost has not come without considerable damage to the Amazon Rainforest. Finally, the clearing of land for agricultural purposes is the most prevalent reason for deforestation. Deforestation trends have varied in different regions across the world. Over the past decade, deforestation has had the largest impact on tropical regions, especially for nations in South America and Africa. vii Europe has continued losing forestry, though the rate has been slower than that of previous years, while the total forest area has remained constant in North and Central America. viii Asia has had a net increase in forestry, due in large part to China, Vietnam, and Indonesia. These nations have developed afforestation programs, in which trees are planted on land that is not covered by forests (as opposed to reforestation, which is the replanting of trees on land that had once been covered by forests). The consequences of deforestation not only affect humans, but also signal shrinking biodiversity for the world around us. Forests are carbon sinks that absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. When trees are cut down, massive amounts of carbon dioxide are released into the air. It is estimated that forest loss is responsible for 12 to 17% of annual global greenhouse gas emissions. ix Deforestation also results in soil erosion and the destruction of animal habitats.

4 Past International Action The issue of deforestation as a topic of concern was first introduced on an international level at the 1972 Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The product of this conference was a report informally referred to as the Forest Principles, which stated that although nations had the right to profit from their natural resources, forest lands should not be used without protection, regulation, and conservation. x In October 2000, the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) created the United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF) as an intergovernmental policy forum with the mission to foster the management, conservation and sustainable development of all types of forests and to strengthen long-term political commitment to this end. xi As a result of heated negotiations from the fifth, sixth, and seventh UNFF meetings, the UN General Assembly passed the Non-Legally Binding Instrument on All Types of Forests as Resolution 62/98 in December xii As outlined by the instrument, the UNFF has four primary points of focus. xiii The first objective is to protect, conserve, and restore the world s forests through sustainable forest management (SFM). xiv This is an evolving concept, as the introduction of new, innovative strategies alters how forests can be maintained optimally for present and future use. Second, the UNFF assists people who are dependent on forests for a living. Third, the UNFF works to relocate the production of forest-derived products to sustainably managed forests. Finally, the UNFF is responsible for ensuring that any conservation efforts are backed with sufficient financial support. Despite its initial success, the UNFF has garnered criticism in recent years for failing to achieve its mandate. For instance, critics have called for greater emphasis on addressing the root causes of economic reliance on trees. Technological advancements have led to the increase of paper consumption worldwide. For China and India, two emerging global powers, consumption of wood products is also expected to continue increasing. Trade liberalization initiatives by the World Trade Organization have made it easier to distribute forest-derived products globally however, this has come at the expense of forests. xv Possible Solutions Due to the nature of how the world s forests are distributed, the majority of the world s forests are concentrated in a small number of nations. However, both timber-producing nations and timber-consuming nations depend on their survival. Ultimately, it is up to you to research your country s position and formulate an opinion. Together, this committee should address three sub-issues: promoting sustainable forest management, providing social and economic support for forest-dependent people, and mitigating the environmental impacts of deforestation. The first two issues come hand-in-hand: how to balance the social and economic needs of indigenous people without causing permanent damage to the forest ecosystem. Consider researching national efforts for developing environmentally safe agricultural practices. By implementing rotation harvests, successive harvests can occur with enough time in between to allow for forest regrowth. xvi In another strategy, forest rehabilitation, efforts are made to restore a forest to its pre-disturbance condition. xvii Your country s afforestation or reforestation programs may also provide specific ideas for how nations can effectively reduce the rate of deforestation.

5 In addressing environmental impacts, take a look at recent initiatives by the UN such as the United Nations Programme on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (UN-REDD Programme), which was established in UN-REDD provides developing nations with incentives for reducing levels of deforestation and investing in carbon projects. xviii The expansion of UN-REDD or creation of similar projects could provide steps in the right direction. Finding the best solutions to deforestation will require the collaborative efforts of both local and global bodies. During this committee, delegates should focus on encouraging nations to develop policies and practices that will ensure sustainable management of the world s forests for many years to come. Further Research Guiding Questions How can the UN work with existing international organizations to mitigate negative environmental effects of deforestation? How can the UN ensure the success of forest-conservation efforts while balancing financial dependencies on forest products? What punishments should the United Nations be allowed to administer in cases of non-compliance? Research Sources National Geographic overview of deforestation: The United Nations Forum on Forests: UN-REDD:

6 i Facts and Figures: Forest Cover. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. 9 Nov ii Global Deforestation. University of Michigan. 4 Jan iii World deforestation decreases, but remains alarming in many countries. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. 25 Mar iv Ibid. v Extracting valuable minerals and a Pandora s box of problems. World Wildlife Foundation. n.d. vi Global Deforestation. University of Michigan. 4 Jan vii World deforestation decreases, but remains alarming in many countries. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. 25 Mar viii Ibid. ix Szalay, Jessie. Deforestation: Facts, Causes, & Effects. Livescience. 6 Mar deforestation.html. x General Assembly resolution 151/26, Report of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, A/RES/151/ June xi About UNFF. United Nations Forum for Forests. n.d. xii Ibid. xiii Four Global Objectives on Forests Agreed Upon. United Nations. n.d. xiv Sustainable Forest Management (SFM)/REDD+. Global Environment Facility. n.d. xv Revitalizing the UNFF: Critical Issues and Ways Forward Feb xvi Global Deforestation. University of Michigan. 4 Jan xvii Ibid. xviii Sustainable Forest Management (SFM)/REDD+. Global Environment Facility. n.d.