The committee discusses combating deforestation and desertification. It recognizes that deforestation is one of the most critical environmental problems and has serious long-term economic, social, and ecological consequences. While acknowledging that funding for forestry programs has decreased, it emphasizes that developed countries have depleted forests in developing countries. The committee calls on all nations to cooperate to control deforestation through enacting logging policies, increasing forest-related employment, and educating farmers on sustainable practices. It also recommends establishing reforestation programs, expanding and protecting national parks and forests by increasing volunteer monitoring and punishments for deforestation in protected areas. Finally, it calls for a subcommittee to control funds for education on deforestation issues and

1. COMMITTEE: ENVIRONMENT <br />QUESTION OF: COMBAT DESERTIFICATION AND DEFORESTATION<br />Submitted by: Thailand<br />Co-Submitted by: <br />The General Assembly,<br />Alarmed by the continuation of deforestation and the effects it has on the environment. Deforestation of tropical rain forests has a global impact through species extinction, the loss of important ecosystem services and renewable resources, and the reduction of carbon sinks,<br />Recognizing that deforestation and forest degradations are most critical environmental problems facing the human society today with serious long-term economic, social and ecological consequences,<br />Acknowledging that national and international funding for tropical forestry programs has generally decreased in recent years,<br />Emphasizing the depletion of forests of developing countries by developed countries,<br />Expecting that all members’ nations have participated and agreed to promote effective action through innovative local programs and supportive international partnerships,<br />Seeking more support form other nations to contribute to the discontinuation of deforestation,<br />Believing this destruction can be slowed, stopped, and in some cases even reversed by, <br />1. Calls for all nations’ governments to cooperate to control the amount of deforestation in own territory by:<br />a) Enacting policy with regulations on logging, establishment of forest reserves, and plantation forests,<br />b) Increasing forest related employment and income through ecological tourism and establishment of protected forest areas,<br />c) Educating farmers on environment-friendly agriculture and land use,<br />2. Recommends nations to agree establishing a reforestation program:<br />a) Tree planting activities in and near cities and towns,<br />b) Encourage rural households to plant trees on their land,<br />c) Study the socioeconomic changes associated with this program,<br />3. Requests states to expand and protect national parks and forest:<br />a) Requests non- governmental organizations, such as the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) or Foundation for Global Peace and Environment (FGPE), to send volunteers and observers to watch over forests in developing countries, and to report any more of deforestation in protected areas,<br />b) Adopt policies regarding the punishments of deforestation in protected areas,<br />4. Calls upon the creation of a sub committee to control funds for the use of:<br />a) Education towards the effects of deforestation and the environmental issues,<br />b) Providing more organizations to conduct reforestation.<br />