Description:
Cities are facing complex challenges related to increasing population and development of buildings and infrastructures, while they have to face impacts of crisis and emergencies: financial crisis, soaring food and energy prices, climate change and extreme weather events (island heat effect, rain and wind storms, floods and drought). In many countries, migration due to war and civil arrest add to the complexity. Consequences on food and nutrition security, poverty and environmental degradation, including depletion of biodiversity, need to be faced. Pollution and sedentary lifestyles are also affecting human health of urban dwellers. Optimization of forest and trees as green infrastructure is a key element of more resilient and healthy cities for all. FAO is supporting countries in putting in place multi stakeholder platforms of dialogue, between sectors and disciplines that still do not use to work together (citizens, local authorities, forestry, health, urban agriculture). The FAO “Food for Cities” priority initiative on urban issues facilitates an integrated approach. Forestry Department also supports the development of strategic planning tools in urban forestry responding to local needs (e.g. Strategies and Priority Action Plans with special attention to woodfuel demand and supply, urban watershed management, desertification control). FAO is also developing guidelines for policy and decision making on urban and peri-urban forestry. Invited speakers from municipalities, international organizations, and governments will present the solutions they are putting in place in order to design, implement and manage greener cities within integrated landscape approach. They will share their experiences on how it contributes to addressing food and nutrition security, health, and green economy challenges. The objective is to share on the priorities in order to green the urban agendas and urbanize the green and forestry agendas.