C44 SIDE EVENT Celebrating Forests and Culture, Youth and Music Forest Harmonies: A Forestry Youth Event on Connections Between Forests, Wood and Music Opening Remarks

Excellencies,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Dear young leaders and all the talented performers with us this evening,

Welcome!

It is a pleasure to be with you to enjoy forest harmonies connecting forests, youth and music.

Many musical instruments around the world are made of wood, crafted from trees found in our forests.

Every time you hear a note from one of these instruments, you are hearing the voice from nature.

The link between wood and music goes back a long time – some dating back as much as 20 000 years!

For example, in my home country China, the guqin instrument – a seven-string instrument has been around for over 4 000 years.

Dear Friends,

Music has always been a bridge – between generations, among people, and between people and nature.

Today, it is exciting to see that young people are transforming the ways in which trees are used to make instruments.

Youth-led initiatives are blending innovation with tradition to promote sustainable sourcing, instrument preservation and forest restoration.

Musicians and consumers are increasingly aware of the importance of sustainability.

Many are choosing instruments made with responsibly sourced wood, such as ebony from sustainably managed forests and urban-salvaged timber.

These choices are important – they are about ecological balance, cultural continuity, livelihoods, and a sustainable future for people and the planet.

They also contribute to the transformation of global agrifood systems to be more efficient, more inclusive, more resilient and more sustainable, aAnd to the Four Betters: for better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life - leaving no one behind.

Let us make the most of this event to talk about how to manage forests sustainably and preserve the musical traditions that forests inspire.

Let us share stories and enjoy the talents of the musicians who will perform here tonight.

Above all, let us celebrate our joint commitment to ensuring a better future for our forests!

Thank you.