the indicator thus provides information on the impact of policies which reduce the occurrence of such influencing factors in particular air pollution it can be based on a variety of information including data on forest health the extent to which forests fulfill targets related to their environmental economic and social functions and on forest management practices sustainable forest management for a variety of uses is essential to achieving sustainable development it is a critical means to eradicate poverty to significantly halt deforestation and to halt degradation of natural resources and the loss of biodiversity