The data series presented here measures the forest area certified under an independently verified certification scheme (thousands of hectares).
This data series contributes to the measurement of SDG Indicator 15.2.1, classified as Tier I in September 2018, which is officially defined as follows:
Proportion of important sites for terrestrial and freshwater biodiversity that are covered by protected areas shows temporal trends in the mean percentage of each important site for terrestrial and freshwater biodiversity (i.e., those that contribute significantly to the global persistence of biodiversity) that is covered by designated protected areas.
It is important to mention that SDG indicator 15.2.1:
SDG indicator 15.2.1 is composed of five sub-indicators that measure progress towards all dimensions of sustainable forestmanagement. The environmental values of forests are covered by three sub-indicators focused on the extension of forest area, biomass within the forest area and protection and maintenance of biological diversity, and of natural and associated cultural resources. Social and economic values of forests are reconciled with environmental values through sustainable management plans. The subindicator provides further qualification to the management of forest areas, by assessing areas which are independently verified for compliance with a set of national or international standards.
The SDG indicator 15.2.1 is composed of five sub-indicators:
According to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) -- the Custodian Agency for this indicator -- the rationale behind the forest area certified under an independently verified certification scheme (thousands of hectares) can be summarised as follows:
The fifth sub-indicator is the forest area that is certified by an independently verified forest management certification scheme. Such certification schemes apply standards that generally are higher than those established by the countries’ own normative frameworks, and compliance is verified by an independent and accredited certifier. An increase in certified forest area therefore provides an additional indication of progress towards sustainable forest management. It should however be noted that there are significant areas of sustainably managed forest which are not certified, either because their owners have chosen not to seek certification (which is voluntary and market-based) or because no credible or affordable certification scheme is in place for that area
The full official metadata for this Tier I indicator are available at UN SDG Metadata website.
For more information on this data series, please visit UN SDG website.
