Kathy Abusow

More than 130 world leaders took a major step forward at the COP26 climate talks by recognizing the importance of forests. …Canada and the US signed on to this US$20-billion agreement dedicated not only to ending deforestation but also to promoting sustainable production and consumption of forest-based products. …While a lot of talk goes into avoiding deforestation and degradation to reduce climate risk, not quite as much energy, awareness or action seems to go into investing in, incenting, and ensuring policy frameworks that reward sustainable forest management and the procurement of wood products from sustainably managed sources. Sustainable forest management is a bold but proven approach to fighting climate change and actually about doing more good, not just doing less bad. …Far too often policy-makers and citizens think that protecting a forest is how we fight climate change, but in fact, managing a forest sustainably is how we enhance fire and climate resiliency of our forest resources. [to access the full story a Hills Times subscription is required]