As the World commemorates International Day of Forests every year on March 21, stakeholders have been asked to deploy innovative solutions to improve the tree cover.
This year's theme is; "Forests and Innovation: New Solutions for a Better World".
In a statement on Thursday, Rachel Wanyoike, Managing Director of Solidaridad East and Central Africa, stressed the importance of protecting the ecosystems saying it is key in addressing climate change and dangers of degradation.
The civil society organisation MD said it is critical to protect forests, strengthen existing measures, and adopt new innovative solutions that work for all.
"Deforestation and forest degradation affect the lives of 1.6 billion people whose livelihoods depend on trees. We must advocate for more resilient and sustainable methods of combating deforestation in the fight against climate change," Wanyoike said.
Solidaridad has over 50 years of experience in developing solutions for resilient communities and creating sustainable supply chains
According to Wanyoike, deforestation is the world's second greatest cause of global warming and as such, climate emergency and clearing of forest land must be stopped.
March 21, being World Planting Day also, Wanyoike urged stakeholders to collaborate and create a clear roadmap that can be used as a scorecard to help protect trees.
These synergies, she said, should involve governments and other major players whose climate action interests are aligned.
"Implementing these frameworks and guidelines could help realize some of the indicators of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) such as promoting the implementation of sustainable management of all types of forests, halting deforestation, restoring degraded forests and substantially increasing afforestation and reforestation globally," Wanyoike said.
As part of its efforts to join global climate change campaigns, she said they signed a commitment to locally-led adaptation principles.
"These principles prioritize locally-led approaches in decision-making and climate finance deployment and were endorsed by an alliance of hundred-plus like-minded organizations and donors," she said.
Through Climate Heroes, one of the organization's regional projects, Wanyoike said they strive to strengthen farmers' resilience to climate change by providing support, access to finance, and access to carbon markets.
