Topic: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment
Q6. “The global forest crisis is as much a governance challenge as it is an environmental challenge.” Analyse the structural causes behind continued forest degradation. Examine the limitations of existing global forest governance frameworks. (15 M)
Difficulty Level: Medium
Reference: DTE
Why the question
The growing global concern regarding accelerating deforestation, climate change and failure of international forest governance mechanisms despite multiple sustainability commitments.
Key Demand of the question-
The question requires analysing the structural and governance-related causes responsible for continued forest degradation across the world. It also demands examination of the major limitations and gaps within existing global forest governance frameworks.
Structure of the Answer:
Introduction
Briefly mention the ecological and developmental importance of forests along with recent global forest loss trends or findings from the UN Forum on Forests Report 2026.
Body
- Governance failures and forest degradation: Mention issues like weak enforcement, fragmented institutions, commercial exploitation, exclusion of indigenous communities and developmental pressures driving degradation.
- Limitations of global forest governance frameworks: Highlight problems such as non-binding commitments, inadequate finance, weak accountability, fragmented institutions and North-South inequalities.
- Way forward for sustainable forest governance: Briefly suggest stronger global cooperation, community participation, technology-driven monitoring and enhanced climate finance mechanisms.
Conclusion
Conclude with the need for shifting from extractive forest governance towards inclusive and accountable ecological stewardship for achieving long-term sustainability goals.
