#COP27 The earth is in danger: We need to intensify our efforts in sustainable forest management
Forests play a vital role for life on the planet Earth. Agricultural driven deforestation in the Amazon region alone destroyed much of it. Man-made fires have further worsened its system. Forest should be managed in a way that makes them less vulnerable to fire and pests.
There are also disruption in the global supply chain, making it expensive as well as hampering construction of much needed sustainable and affordable housing and distorting the forest based sector. As in construction, the future of our forests is also related to the future of work and the rights and conditions of forestry workers.
As the world leaders gather for COP27’s day on biodiversity, BWI reminds that forests are one of the most important solutions to addressing the effects of climate change.
BWI President Per-Olof Sjöö said: “Forests are the lungs of the planet. Clearing forest has been happening on a massive scale in Brazil, as well as rampant forest fires. This requires better forest management with sufficient, trained workers to protect forests and the people.”
BWI asserted that the future of the construction industry and the world’s forests is linked to the future of work and the conditions of forestry workers. The Paris Agreement and follow up commitments firmly anchors the just transition to the needs of the workforce and the creation of decent jobs, underpinned by social dialogue who would give the workers a say in decisions affecting their livelihoods.
The key synthesis between climate justice and decent work has been given an extra boost with Brazil's President-elect Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva attending the COP27 summit this week. A known champion of workers’ rights and environmental protection, workers and climate justice advocates have high hopes that Lula’s new presidency will help rollback the destruction of the Amazon rainforest and continue making the crucial link to improve the workers’ labour and living conditions in order to realise responsible construction and sustainable forestry management in the near future.
Last week, BWI’s wood and forestry workers based in different Amazon basin countries and linked to South America’s forest industry value chain, agreed to reactivate its Network of Trade Unions of the Amazon Basin. BWIs Amazon Network looks forward to engaging with President-elect Lula, critical communities and other authorities and relevant institutions.
The trade unionists vowed to deepen their involvement in the international monitoring of the region, particularly critical communities, government authorities and other relevant institutions for a sustainable forest management that guarantees a just transition for workers and communities. 