The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan (MAFF) launched a project this week that aims to tackle global deforestation by leveraging the transformative role that agricultural supply chains can play as a solution.

The three-year project – entitled Building Global Capacity on Halting Deforestation and Conversions from Agricultural Commodities – was announced during the 30th Session of the Asia-Pacific Forestry Commission in Sydney.

It aims to ensure the agricultural and forestry sectors work in mutually beneficial ways to achieve climate, biodiversity, land degradation and sustainable development targets.

"In the journey to address deforestation and mitigate climate change, we are breaking new ground by showcasing that agriculture can be a formidable ally in our fight against deforestation, driving positive change through sustainable practices,” said Zhimin Wu, Director of FAO’s Forestry Division.

Tetsuo Tanimoto, Director of the International Forestry Cooperation Office, Planning Division, Forestry Agency, from the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan said: "The collaboration between FAO and the Government of Japan exemplifies our commitment to addressing one of the most pressing challenges of our time – halting deforestation. Through this project, we hope to set an example for effective international cooperation in promoting sustainable agriculture and forest management."

Using agriculture to drive positive change

With financial support from the Government of Japan, the project, which runs from October 2023 to September 2026, will support governments worldwide to analyze and better understand the many causes and solutions to deforestation in their local context, and promote sustainable agriculture as a key solution.

As the world faces multiple crises including climate change, biodiversity loss and food insecurity, and with deforestation continuing despite numerous commitments and initiatives from public and private sectors, there is a growing urgency for more comprehensive and coordinated approaches.

“The new project aims to empower countries to move to a more multi-dimensional approach to ending deforestation, recognizing its intricate interconnections with the agricultural sector,” said Serena Fortuna, FAO Senior Forestry Officer, who is leading the project from FAO’s side.

“The project aims to create win-win solutions for all parties involved including by leveraging  REDD+ strategies, Nationally Determined Contributions and national pathways for food systems transformation.”

Supporting countries to change approach

The project will focus on a number of key areas including:

• Developing and applying frameworks to analyze the effectiveness of measures for reducing deforestation, policy coherence and cost-effectiveness. This approach draws on the collective experience of REDD+ actions designed to reduce deforestation and will be tested in two countries to provide data-driven insights that inform more effective policies.
• Developing a toolkit, an e-based knowledge product, that empowers governments to foster forest-positive agricultural supply chains and reshape decision-making through guidance, tools and technical support. The toolkit will be adaptable to different regions and contexts, and integrates gender equality and social inclusion.
• Promoting knowledge sharing through global dialogues and e-learning courses on key solutions of fighting deforestation and advancing sustainable agriculture, and through regional workshops that encourage collaborative learning, in collaboration with UN-REDD and the UN Food Systems Summit Forests and Food Systems Coalition.

The project will also work to strengthen cross-border partnerships and global knowledge on agriculture-forestry linkages.

This initiative aligns with FAO's Strategic Framework for 2022-2031, which places a focus on transforming agrifood systems towards greater sustainability.