Fallacious perception of the opinion-makers together with the lack of sustainable management models impairs the success of international negotiations for forest preservation. Since Rio 92, nation-states have tried to find ways to protect their own forest resources. The Forest Principles, the Biodiversity Convention, the UN Forest Panel, all these covenants and the UN discussion forum reflect a true planetary concern with this problem. The initial idea of Rio was to produce a binding treaty for forests similar to the Biodiversity Convention. But the governments failed to reach an agreement and the final product was the nonbinding declaration of principles, still to be consolidated.

The issue of sovereignty is crucial when considering the conservation of forests. In countries that hold significant portions of forested areas, regarded as a global heritage, the notion of forests as depositories of biodiversity and a fundamental factor for global climate equilibrium is a sensitive issue. Foreign conspiracy, nationalism and a fear of territorial occupation by foreign countries become common arguments against forest preservation.

Can states solely decide on the destiny of their natural resources, their biodiversity, and also carry out polluting activities that affect others? Principle 2 of the Declaration of Rio is by now well known—the sovereign right to exploit, the responsibility to avoid damage. Working guidelines on writing Othello Essay help & custom writing services The main challenge for sustainable management of forest resources relies on finding ways to preserve the global heritage and, at the same time, ensure that local people will be able to benefit from the sustainable use of those resources. It has not yet been possible, however, to build an international framework that can provide compensatory mechanisms for countries that hold significant portions of the global heritage.

What, then, is to be done? What might be the path of sustainability? First, a philosophical shift needs to occur on the part of humanity. Forests must be preserved for themselves—for their own sake—as the Convention on Biodiversity establishes. There is a long way ahead, however, before this ideal is accepted by society. Traditionally, global themes are realized through national and local policies. But, in fact, the opposite approach, from local to global, is the only way to achieve a sincere commitment by citizens and their real engagement in promoting the planetary interest.

Negotiations for the preservation of forests must involve governments and the societies of all countries. Decision-making processes must include a greater participation by society. Many agreements that decide the fate of the planet are still entered into only by governments, not by citizens. On the other hand, society has to do its part and demand the right to participate. The legal agreements of Rio are proof that a consensus was reached as to the importance of the conservation of forests and reduction of air pollution that leads to global climate change. Implementing these agreements is the major challenge we face nowadays, in the context of “common but differentiated responsibilities”.