Agricultural expansion is responsible for almost 90 percent of deforestation worldwide, making it a leading driver of biodiversity and habitat loss. Cropland expansion is the main driver, causing almost 50 percent of global deforestation, followed by livestock grazing, which accounts for 38.5 percent. This situation of great concern presents a critical question: How can agriculture continue to feed growing populations while contributing to the urgent restoration of the planet's ecosystems?

Climate change mitigation programmes mostly aim to reduce emissions, protect natural forests and afforest abandoned areas. However, it is also important to adequately address the issues of the 2 billion family farmers who cultivate a third of the planet's surface area. About 550 million family farms – 84 percent of which are less than 2 ha – produce a significant share of the world's food. These smallholder farmers are especially vulnerable to climate and environmental change because their livelihoods often depend primarily on agriculture.

Over the last 35 years, farmer field schools (FFS) have demonstrated their relevance in answering the growing international call for a re-direction in agriculture. FFS on forestry and agroforestry-related areas have helped rural people to deepen their knowledge of trees and forests, and stabilize and increase food, fibre and energy production while rehabilitating soils and pastures, and restoring biodiversity, shade trees, watersheds and landscapes. It emerged from an FAO stocktaking that FFS partners and programmes across Africa, Asia and Latin America have gained substantial knowledge in advancing small-scale forestry and agroforestry in an inclusive way. FFS on forestry and agroforestry can enable smallholders across the globe to advance the understanding, skills and social organization needed for more regenerative natural resource stewardship.