Goal 6 assessment

The report concludes that Goal 6 was met through the adoption of SDG 15, but highlights significant gaps in how forest conservation is measured and reported. It notes that indicators for SDG target 15.2 measure net rather than gross deforestation, failing to capture the extent of natural forest loss. Furthermore, the report warns that SDG targets 15.1 and 15.2 were set to expire in 2020 without adopted revisions. Reporting challenges persist at national levels, with many countries lacking the data and statistical systems needed to track progress, while corporate reporting on SDGs remains largely superficial.

• Goal 6 of the New York Declaration on Forests has been achieved via the adoption of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 15.
• There is a critical discrepancy in the measurement of deforestation under SDG target 15.2; while the target aims to end gross deforestation, the actual indicators only track net deforestation, which obscures the loss of natural forests.
• SDG target 15.2 lacks quantifiable indicators to track progress regarding the reforestation, afforestation, and restoration of forests.
• SDG targets 15.1 and 15.2 were scheduled to expire at the end of 2020, and as of the 51st session of the Statistical Commission in 2020, no revisions to these targets had been adopted.
• Global reporting on SDG 15 is hindered by significant data gaps, as countries frequently fail to collect data for more than half of the SDG indicators and many targets lack quantifiable components.
• National reporting through Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs) often lacks concrete monitoring and evaluation processes, and some countries report a tension between economic growth driven by the forestry sector and declining forest areas.
• While 72 percent of over 1,000 surveyed companies mention SDGs in their reporting, only 14 percent mention specific SDG targets, indicating a need for more concrete evaluation targets in corporate reporting.

APA

Hermann, B., & Streck, C. (2020). Goal 6 assessment. Forest Declaration Assessment. https://forestdeclaration.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/2020NYDFGoal6.pdf

Chicago

Hermann, Barbara, and Charlotte Streck. Goal 6 assessment. Forest Declaration Assessment, 2020. https://forestdeclaration.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/2020NYDFGoal6.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Hermann |first1=Barbara |last2=Streck |first2=Charlotte |title=Goal 6 assessment |publisher=Forest Declaration Assessment |date=November 2020 |url=https://forestdeclaration.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/2020NYDFGoal6.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{hermann2020goal, author = {Hermann, Barbara and Streck, Charlotte}, title = {{Goal 6 assessment}}, institution = {Forest Declaration Assessment}, year = {2020}, month = nov, url = {https://forestdeclaration.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/2020NYDFGoal6.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }