Promoting forest-based food security and poverty alleviation

THURSDAY 25 JULY 2024

12.30–14.00 CEST
ETHIOPIA ROOM

Overview

Forests are crucial for the livelihoods of nearly one-third of the world's population, with roughly 40 percent of the rural poor in developing regions living in or near forested areas. These forests provide essential food and nutrition for forest-dependent people (FDP), especially those who are marginalized and vulnerable. However, these communities face poverty, instability, and food insecurity due to a complex interplay of environmental, economic, social, and political factors, exacerbated by ecological degradation and climate change.

To address these challenges, transforming agrifood systems is vital to enhance the link between food and forests. Sustainable forest management can ensure forests remain a stable source of nourishment, contributing to food security, poverty eradication, and ecological improvement for FDP while conserving ecosystems and natural resources.

Social protection, forest and landscape restoration, and sustainable forest value chain development are critical strategies to achieve this, and governments and Forest and Farm Producer Organizations (FFPOs) play crucial roles in implementing these strategies.

Objectives

Showcase effective policies, measures and practices in promoting forest-based food security and nutrition, and poverty reduction.
Highlight innovative approaches, practices and tools, that empower forest-dependent communities and small-scale producers to access social protection, engage in forest landscape restoration, and participate in value chains for enhanced food security, poverty reduction, and income generation.
Facilitate discussion on lessons learned and identify key actions to scale up successful practices for ensuring food security and poverty alleviation.

Webcast

Organized by the National Forestry and Grassland Administration (China), National Social Protection Secretariat (Kenya), FAO and the Forest and Farm Facility.

Speakers

Opening remarks

Zhimin Wu
Director of the Forestry Division
FAO

Kenya’s new social protection policy: opportunities for forest-dependent communities

Richard Obiga
Senior Programme Officer, National Social Protection Secretariat
Ministry of Labour and Social Protection
Kenya

Crop forests in China

Junkai Gao
Deputy Director-General
Department of Reform and Development
National Forestry and Grassland Administration
China

Strengthening coherence between forestry and social protection for poverty reduction and food security

Qiang Ma
Forestry Officer, Forestry and Livelihoods Team
Forestry Division
FAO

GhaFFaP’s role in facilitating forest farmer enrolment in Ghana’s social protection registry

Eric Dalinpuo
Executive Director
Community Action in Development and Research (CADER)
Ghana

Enhancing social protection for forest-dependent communities in Nepal: assessment findings and next steps

Racchya Shah
Country Facilitator
Forest and Farm Facility
Nepal

Forest landscape restoration and value chain development in Tanzania within the AFR100 initiative

Dos Santos A. Silayo
Chief Executive, Tanzania Forest Services Agency, Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism, Tanzania

Empowering Tanzanian women and youth through beekeeping for sustainable rural livelihood and environmental conservation

Maria Shininiy
Maasai beekeeper in Arusha region
Tanzania

Damian Sulumo
Chief Executive Director, Network of Farmers and Pastoralists Groups MVIWAARUSHA

Closing remarks
Thomas Hofer
Team Leader
Forestry and Livelihoods
Forestry Division
FAO

Forestry