Morocco
10th session of the Open Working Group
on Sustainable Development Goals
31 March - 4 April 2014
Proposal by the Kingdom of Morocco on
"Forest Ecosystems"
Focus Area 17: Ecosystems and biodiversity
Natural resources are covered under several focus areas: Marine Resources (FA13) , agriculture ( FA 2) Ecosystems and Biodiversity ( FA 17).
Forest ecosystems are therefore included under the FA " Ecosystems and Biodiversity", which presents the risk of restricting the scope of interest provided by these ecosystems and limiting their role in biodiversity conservation and neglecting also their important economic and environmental roles and functions, particularly in the fight against desertification.
the focus area 17 should reformulated in order to indicate clearly that it is about terrestrial ecosystems and the roles and functions they perform for the benefit of humanity. We, therefore, suggest The following title for the focus area 17 " Systems of support to terrestrial life ".
Moreover , the content should reflect in a balanced manner , two important components . (i ) the concept of the use of terrestrial ecosystems and the goods and services they produce , and (ii) the protection and conservation of these ecosystems , including biodiversity .
The targets should also cover in a balanced way the two aspects mentioned above, reflecting not only the conservation of biodiversity, but also other targets, such as the global goals on forests. In the case of forest ecosystems, targets to be considered should cover their sustainable management, restoration, preservation and the improving of their economic and environmental contributions , and eventually their importance for the green economy.