During the 30th Session of the Asia-Pacific Forestry Commision held in Sidney (Australia), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan (MAFF) launched a new global project aimed at addressing the critical issue of deforestation, while also highlighting the transformative role that agriculture supply chains can play as a solution. Over the course of three years, from October 2023 to September 2026,  the "Building Global Capacity on Halting Deforestation and Conversions from Agricultural Commodities" (BiG-CHANCE) project sets out to harmonize the agricultural and forestry sectors to achieve climate, biodiversity, land...

Would you like to contribute to our survey on 'Needs Assessment and Engagement Survey - Assessing needs and opportunities for promoting forest positive agriculture and sustainable food systems'? Help us identify gaps and needs, and explain how the UNFSS Forests & Food Systems coalition (FFS) can support stakeholders from both public and private sectors in forestry, agriculture, and trade, in addressing the topic of forest positive agricultural value chains. 

Capacity development activities in forest monitoring, including face-to-face workshops and online courses, can serve as important tools for increasing awareness on gender. However, women and other underrepresented groups, including youth, Indigenous peoples and people with disabilities, face significant barriers to accessing opportunities to participate in training and other capacity development initiatives, particularly in the forest sector. These barriers commonly include household burdens such as childcare, as well as social norms that undervalue the role of women in forestry. While there are a number of strategies for improving women’s participation in these initiatives, it can be useful to canvas ideas directly from...

In July, 2023, the UN Food Systems Summit +2 Stocktaking Moment (UNFSS+2) emerged as a pivotal assembly held in Rome at FAO headquarters. With over 20 heads of state, 125 ministers, various stakeholders and 3,000 virtual participants, this biennial event, mandated by the UN Secretary-General, served as a global stocktaking aimed at reviewing the progress made in implementing the outcomes of the 2021 UN Food Systems Summit. At its core, UNFSS+2 was intricately woven into the broader fabric of the 2030 Agenda, championing sustainable management, conservation of precious resources, and notably, the need to recognize the pivotal role of agriculture as...

Would you like to contribute to our survey on 'Needs Assessment and Engagement Survey - Assessing needs and opportunities for promoting forest positive agriculture and sustainable food systems'? Help us identify gaps and needs, and explain how the UNFSS Forests & Food Systems coalition (FFS) can support stakeholders from both public and private sectors in forestry, agriculture, and trade, in addressing the topic of forest positive agricultural value chains.