Narratives on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and tropical forests

Publication date: 26/10/2020
Extent: 22 pages

Contributions by: Wil de Jong, Kyoto University, Japan; and Glenn Galloway, University of Florida, USA

Chapter synopsis: The purpose of this chapter is to explore the relevance of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for tropical forests by identifying and assessing the three main narratives that characterize debate about the SDGs and forests. The chapter introduces each of these narratives, followed by a discussion of linkages and implications for tropical forests. Section 2 discusses the term “narrative” and why this particular conceptual approach was used to discuss linkages between the SDGs and tropical forests. Section 3 introduces the three narratives about the SDGs and forests. Section 4 explores linkages between the narratives and tropical forests, while Section 5 offers some conclusions on key issues relating to the way SDGs may affect tropical forests, including potential conflicts and trade-offs in reconciling particular SDGs and forest conservation.

DOI: 10.19103/AS.2020.0074.06