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Forests and grasslands combined cover more than 57 percent of Asia-Pacific’s landmass, yet forests alone account for only 20 percent – and they are under threat, the FAO warns. Forests cover one third of the Earth's landmass, performing vital functions. Around 1.6 billion people - including indigenous cultures - depend on forests for their livelihoods. Forests are the most biologically-diverse ecosystems on land, home to more than half of the terrestrial...

Initiatives being adopted in the Asia-Pacific region to improve the environmental sustainability of agricultural activity must include ways and means to reduce the gap between wealthy urban areas and the poorer countryside, the FAO has stressed. In many cases, the failure to address the question of lower farm incomes is at the heart of a decline in smaller farms and may results in increased urbanization and social upheaval. As countries attempt to...

Governments from 41 countries across Asia and the Pacific today concluded a five day regional conference on improving their responses to future food security challenges and moves to put an end to hunger. At its conclusion, the Ministers and Heads of Delegations of the Thirty-Second FAO Regional Conference for Asia and the Pacific (APRC), with some 164 delegates, endorsed four FAO regional initiatives. The conference was hosted by the Ministry of Industry...

From a quick response to natural disasters like Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines to its four regional pro-active food security initiatives, a renewed FAO is well positioned to help member states across Asia and the Pacific defeat hunger and food insecurity, the FAO’s Director-General said today. With Asia and the Pacific largely on track to meet the Millennium Development Goal of halving the proportion of those suffering from chronic hunger by...

Forest loss and degradation remain major problems confronting the Asia-Pacific region which, if not addressed, will leave future generations a legacy of damaged ecosystems and irrecoverable losses of biodiversity, FAO is warning.  Forest and grasslands cover 57.5 percent of Asia-Pacific’s massive land surface and provide vital ecosystems that support agriculture and livelihoods, which in turn ensure food security and nutrition for billions of people. These lands offer vast potential to...

The mission for an end to hunger in the world’s most populous region received a boost today, with FAO member countries responding positively to a call by the Organization’s Director-General for a “massive effort” to end hunger in Asia and the Pacific. Speaking during a side event at the Thirty-Second FAO Regional Conference for Asia and the Pacific, FAO Director-General José Graziano da Silva, pointed out the “remarkable results” achieved in...

While the environments of small islands in the Pacific and landlocked countries with no access to the sea may seem polar opposites, they share common problems that need collaborative efforts to address and resolve if food security is to be guaranteed for future generations, a specially convened meeting in the Mongolian capital has heard. Concerns about the effects of climate change on agricultural production has brought together some 50 delegates including...

Retail food outlets in Pacific island countries are increasingly selling imported processed foods that are pricing locally produced, healthier foods out of the market and affecting the health of islanders, FAO warned today. In order to restore a viable market for local food producers and reduce demand on imported products, a policy-driven, multi-sector approach is required, FAO said in a discussion paper being presented at its 32nd Regional Conference for Asia...

Faced with growing threats to rice production, countries in Asia and the Pacific are engaging in a Regional Rice Strategy, initiated by FAO last year at the request of member States, and further discussed during a side event at the Organization’s 32nd Regional Conference for Asia and the Pacific, held 10 -14 March. “Rice is life,” said Hiroyuki Konuma, FAO Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative for Asia and the Pacific. “More...

The Asia-Pacific region is on-track to meet the Millennium Development Goal of reducing hunger by half by 2015, the FAO’s Regional Conference for Asia and the Pacific has heard in its opening session today. But the FAO is warning countries across this vast region they must redouble their efforts to improve and increase food production systems along the entire value chain in order to head off a food security crisis...