Near East Forestry and Range Commission to meet in Jordan
Amman - The 26th session of the Near East Forestry and Range Commission of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) will take place in Amman, Jordan, from 10 to 13 September as the country hosts a week of events addressing key forestry and rangeland issues in the region.
Resilience to climate change, pest and disease control, empowerment of forest-dependent communities and South-South knowledge sharing for better restoration systems will be high on the agenda.
Princess Basma bint Ali of Jordan, FAO’s Goodwill Ambassador for Near East and North Africa, will give a keynote speech at a high-level ceremony to open the event, which is hosted by Jordan’s Ministry of Agriculture.
In parallel, experts across the region will gather for the 5th Near East Forestry Week to discuss emerging topics and share knowledge and experiences on forest and rangeland management. Key priorities under discussion at side events and technical workshops will include rural transformation and inclusive value chains, food security and healthy diets for all, building resilience to multiple shocks and greening agriculture, water scarcity and climate action.
Working Group on Dryland Forests and Agrosilvopastoral Systems
The 3rd session of the Committee on Forestry Working Group on Dryland Forests and Agrosilvopastoral Systems (11-13 September) will be held concurrently with the Commission and will discuss the linkages between forests and agriculture, building resilience and strengthening global initiatives to transform dryland production systems.
The Working Group will also run its first Drylands summer school from 12-15 September, bringing together participants from countries across dryland regions to raise awareness of dryland conservation and ensure the full potential of drylands is sustainably harnessed.
It will also explore transformative approaches to building climate resilient drylands in support of the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists (IYRP), which will be held in 2026.
The year will highlight the value of healthy rangelands and sustainable pastoralism, and advocate for increased investment in the pastoral livestock sector, scaling-up sustainable land management practices, ecosystem restoration, and equitable access to markets.