Q. With reference to the New York Declaration on Forests, which of the following statements are correct?

1. It was first endorsed at the United Nations Climate Summit in 2014.
2. It endorses a global timeline to end the loss of forests.
3. It is a legally binding international declaration.
4. It is endorsed by governments, big companies and indigenous communities.
5. India was one of the signatories at its inception.

Select the correct answer using the code given below. (UPSC Prelims 2021)
Answer: 1, 2 and 4
Notes: The correct answer is [A] 1, 2 and 4. The New York Declaration on Forests (NYDF) is a significant non-binding political declaration aimed at global forest conservation.

• Endorsement (Statement 1 – Correct): It was first endorsed at the United Nations Climate Summit held in New York in September 2014.
• Global Timeline (Statement 2 – Correct): The declaration outlines ten goals, including a target to halve the rate of loss of natural forests globally by 2020 and striving to end natural forest loss by 2030.
• Diverse Endorsers (Statement 4 – Correct): It is unique because it is endorsed by a broad coalition of over 200 entities, including national and subnational governments, some of the world’s largest companies, and influential indigenous peoples’ organizations.
• Legally Binding (Statement 3 – Incorrect): The NYDF is a voluntary, non-legally binding political declaration. It relies on the commitment and cooperation of its signatories rather than international law.
• India's Status (Statement 5 – Incorrect): India was not a signatory to the declaration at its inception in 2014. Major forest-holding nations like Brazil and Russia also did not sign it at the start.

Significance: The NYDF was the first time that global multi-stakeholder actors agreed on a specific timeline to end deforestation. It emphasizes that reducing emissions from deforestation and increasing forest restoration are key to meeting the goals of the Paris Agreement.