Key messages

• Forests are home to most of the world’s terrestrial biodiversity.
• Forests and woodlands are made of over 60,000 tree species.
• Animals pollinate the majority of flowering plants, improving forest regeneration and the production of many forest plants.
• Genetic diversity helps forests to cope with climate change and other treats.
• More than a billion people depend directly on forests for food, shelter, energy and income.
• Wild species continue to be an important source of food, income and cultural identity for millions of indigenous and rural people, particularly in tropical and subtropical regions.
• Biodiversity is under serious threat from deforestation, forest degradation and climate change.
• Managing forests sustainably, and restoring them when needed, are crucial for people, biodiversity and climate.

Videos

Living with wildlife in Botswana: Godlop's story Meet Godlop, a community scout in Botswana working to promote co-existence between livestock and wildlife with support from the Sustainable Wildlife Management Programme. [more]

Following a passion for wildlife and community development: Chipo’s story Experience a typical day in the life of Chipo, a young community natural resource monitor who is working in the planned Mucheni Community Conservancy in the northwest of Zimbabwe. The Sustainable Wildlife Management (SWM) Programme is supporting Chipo, and Community Conservancies in this region to improve livelihoods and the sustainable management of wildlife. [more]

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Publications

Collaborative Partnership on Sustainable Wildlife Management strategic roadmap 2023-2025 The Collaborative Partnership on Sustainable Wildlife Management (CPW) has launched a two-year roadmap aimed at sustainably using and conserving wildlife while ensuring benefits for local people and their livelihoods [more]

RESSOURCE Project: Sahelian wetlands The RESSOURCE Project is working to support communities in conserving Sahelian wetlands and water birds in Chad, Egypt, Mali, Senegal and Sudan, where millions depend on wetlands to meet their food and financial needs. [more]

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Press releases and editorials

FAO welcomes European Union contribution of €25 million to advance wildlife conservation and food security 27 July 2023 Rome - The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has welcomed €25 million in additional funding from the European Union (EU) to extend and scale up the Sustainable Wildlife Management (SWM) Programme . [more]

Partnerships key to meeting wildlife conservation targets 2 March 2023 Building partnership and enhancing collaboration with Indigenous Peoples, local communities and business is key for meeting targets on reversing biodiversity loss, Tiina Vähänen and Kristina Rodina de Carvalho explain in an op ed for World Wildlife Day. [more]

Bringing water lilies back into nature and back to Senegalese kitchens 18 November 2022 FAO is boosting biodiversity to ensure healthier ecosystems and healthier diets. Maia Diagne and her community are working to revive the traditional cultivation of white water lilies with the help of the FAO-led RESSOURCE Project, the Sahelian wetlands site of the Sustainable Wildlife Management Programme. [more]

More press releases

Expert interviews

FAO contributes to World Migratory Bird Day 10 May 2019 World Migratory Bird Day takes place twice a year to highlight the need for the conservation of migratory birds and their habitats. In this video interview, Bruno Portier, Forestry Officer, RESSOURCE Project Advisor, FAO, explains how, FAO is actively contributing to the Day through the RESSOURCE project. [more]

Addressing human-wildlife conflict important to achieving SDG 2: Zero Hunger 22 November 2018 Human-wildlife conflicts must be addressed in order to deal with food security and contribute to achieving Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 2: zero hunger, says Kristina Rodina, a Forestry Officer dealing with Wildlife and Protected Area Management at FAO. [more]

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Audio

Forestry Officer, Albert Nikiema, elaborates on the need for improved management of genetic resources