More collaboration needed between forestry and livestock sectors to build resilience in dryland ecosystems, FAO session concludes
©FAO/Kai Wiedenhoefer
14/09/2023
Amman, 14 September 2023 - Delegates from around the world came together this week to discuss strategies to transform agricultural production systems in dryland areas at the Third Session of the Committee on Forestry Working Group on Dryland Forests and Agrosilvopastoral Systems.
The three-day Session in Amman brought together over 90 Working Group members and observers from four regions to consider methods of building resilience in dryland areas.
Experts discussed the linkages between forest, agriculture and pastoralism, including the benefits of optimized extensive grazing livestock farming in the restoration of silvopastoral landscapes, and how to promote and scale up these systems to support countries in responding to their reforestation plans.
The session also highlighted the importance of the silvopastoral approach in managing and restoring drylands to better address drought management and agricultural and forestry productivity, as well as the potential role of South-South knowledge sharing and cooperation to enhance dryland forest management and agrosilvopastoral restoration. Attendees also considered upcoming opportunities to capitalise on global initiatives, including the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists 2026 (IYRP), to increase awareness of dryland areas and further strengthen dryland production systems.
“In the past few days, we have addressed critical topics, from climate change to land degradation, to biodiversity loss, food security and in livelihoods of people - and the multiple roles of forests and rangelands in providing solutions to these challenges,” said Tiina Vahanen, Deputy Director of FAO’s Forestry Division, in her closing remarks.
“It is clear that we have no time to lose to address these big challenges. It is equally clear that we need to address economic development and protection of environment together - they are strongly interconnected.”
The session was held concurrently with the 26th Session of the Near East Forestry and Range Commission. Both events were officially opened by Princess Basma bint Ali of Jordan, FAO’s Goodwill Ambassador for Near East and North Africa, at a high-level ceremony on 10 September.
Working Group on Dryland Forests and Agrosilvopastoral Systems
The Working Group on Dryland Forests and Agrosilvopastoral Systems was established in 2014 as a subsidiary body of the Committee on Forestry, FAO's highest governing body on forestry.
Since its last meeting in 2021, the Working Group has given technical inputs on assessments and initiatives, including a FAO report, Grazing with trees; supported the implementation of FAO South-South initiatives including the Making Every Voice Count for Adaptive Management initiative (MEV-CAM), the WeCaN Nurturing Community of Knowledge Practice for Women in dryland forests and agrosilvopastoral systems, and the Sustainable Forest Management Impact Program on Dryland Sustainable Landscapes; and worked with IYRP and the Global Landscapes Forum on several high-level events.
The Working Group also collaborated with the IYRP to develop a Drylands Summer School, which took place from 12–15 September in conjunction with the Working Group’s 3rd Session, and worked with 17 partners to produce FAO’s first elearning course on dryland management.
The three-day Session in Amman brought together over 90 Working Group members and observers from four regions to consider methods of building resilience in dryland areas.
Experts discussed the linkages between forest, agriculture and pastoralism, including the benefits of optimized extensive grazing livestock farming in the restoration of silvopastoral landscapes, and how to promote and scale up these systems to support countries in responding to their reforestation plans.
The session also highlighted the importance of the silvopastoral approach in managing and restoring drylands to better address drought management and agricultural and forestry productivity, as well as the potential role of South-South knowledge sharing and cooperation to enhance dryland forest management and agrosilvopastoral restoration. Attendees also considered upcoming opportunities to capitalise on global initiatives, including the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists 2026 (IYRP), to increase awareness of dryland areas and further strengthen dryland production systems.
“In the past few days, we have addressed critical topics, from climate change to land degradation, to biodiversity loss, food security and in livelihoods of people - and the multiple roles of forests and rangelands in providing solutions to these challenges,” said Tiina Vahanen, Deputy Director of FAO’s Forestry Division, in her closing remarks.
“It is clear that we have no time to lose to address these big challenges. It is equally clear that we need to address economic development and protection of environment together - they are strongly interconnected.”
The session was held concurrently with the 26th Session of the Near East Forestry and Range Commission. Both events were officially opened by Princess Basma bint Ali of Jordan, FAO’s Goodwill Ambassador for Near East and North Africa, at a high-level ceremony on 10 September.
Working Group on Dryland Forests and Agrosilvopastoral Systems
The Working Group on Dryland Forests and Agrosilvopastoral Systems was established in 2014 as a subsidiary body of the Committee on Forestry, FAO's highest governing body on forestry.
Since its last meeting in 2021, the Working Group has given technical inputs on assessments and initiatives, including a FAO report, Grazing with trees; supported the implementation of FAO South-South initiatives including the Making Every Voice Count for Adaptive Management initiative (MEV-CAM), the WeCaN Nurturing Community of Knowledge Practice for Women in dryland forests and agrosilvopastoral systems, and the Sustainable Forest Management Impact Program on Dryland Sustainable Landscapes; and worked with IYRP and the Global Landscapes Forum on several high-level events.
The Working Group also collaborated with the IYRP to develop a Drylands Summer School, which took place from 12–15 September in conjunction with the Working Group’s 3rd Session, and worked with 17 partners to produce FAO’s first elearning course on dryland management.