We are missing most of the value of forests. That’s the core finding of a new World Economic Forum briefing co-authored by ATREE founder Dr. Kamal Bawa. The commercial forest sector makes up about 3% of global GDP. Count the full forest economy, including clean air, climate regulation, biodiversity and cultural value, and the estimate rises to at least 24%.

A few figures from the briefing stood out to us: Forested watersheds provide around 75% of the world’s accessible freshwater. Forest habitats support wild pollinators that contribute $235–577 billion a year in food production. And non-wood forest products support up to 5.8 billion people. Much of this value is unpriced or only partly priced, so it rarely shows up in economic decisions.

The briefing calls for forests to be governed by the communities most invested in their long-term stewardship. In the BR Hills of southern India, ATREE has worked with the Soliga community for more than 30 years. Adavi, a Soliga-run enterprise, sells wild honey and other forest produce through sustainable harvest. It’s a small example of what becomes possible when more of a forest’s value is recognized.

Read the briefing: https://www.weforum.org/stories/nature-and-biodiversity/forest-economy-value-critical-infrastructure

#Forests #ForestEconomy @World Economic Forum @Forest Future Alliance