Reports and briefs
Living in and from the forests of Central Africa
Living in and from the forests of Central Africa is intended first and foremost as a full-scale extension tool concerning NWFPs in Central Africa. It is a work on the groups who have always lived in these forests, forests that contribute to every aspect of their daily lives, both material and...
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Reports and briefs
Reconciling forest conservation with food production in sub-Saharan Africa: case studies from Ethiopia, Ghana and Tanzania
Forest cover in sub-Saharan Africa declined by nearly 10 per cent between 2000 and 2010. Of this loss, 75 per cent was caused by the conversion of forest to agriculture, largely for food production to serve rapidly growing domestic food demand. Focusing on Ethiopia, Ghana and Tanzania, this study...
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Consultation
Online consultation on the development of a Global Core Set (GCS) of forest-related indicators
Forests play a vital role in food security and nutrition, providing food and livelihoods to many of the poorest people on earth as well as environmental services that are crucial for agricultural production. For this reason, the Collaborative Partnership on Forests (CPF) is partnering with the FSN Forum to host an online consultation on the development of a global core set of forest-related indicators.
Consultation
Online consultation on the first draft of the FAO voluntary guidelines on national forest monitoring
Reliable information on forests is fundamental for improving the management of forest resources. This information can be used as an indicator of biodiversity, hydrology, and soil conservation and is also needed to fulfil the reporting requirements of many international agreements, such as the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. In this context, the 21st Committee on Forestry requested FAO to prepare a set of voluntary guidelines on national forest monitoring.
Forests 'pivotal' for food security
Forests can play a vital role in supplementing global food and nutrition security but this role is currently being overlooked, a report suggests.
The study says that tree-based farming provides resilience against extreme weather events, which can wipe out traditional food crops.
It warns that policies focusing on traditional agriculture often overlook the role forest farming could play.
The findings were presented at the UN Forum on Forests in New York, US.
The report is the result of a collaboration of more than 60 leading scientists, co-ordinated by the International Union of Forest Research Organisations (IUFRO) on behalf of the Collaborative Partnership on Forests (CPF).
"The report is not trying to suggest that people should start relying on forests more than conventional agriculture," explained Bhaskar Vira, the chair of the panel which compiled the report.
"It is very much about the complementary roles that forests can play alongside conventional agriculture.
"The evidence shows that a large number of people still rely on the food from forests and trees to supplement their diet," Dr Vira, director of the University of Cambridge Conservation Research Institute. Read more
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Consultation
Social protection for building resilience of forest dependent people
Forest dependent people are often located in remote and poor areas where livelihood opportunities are limited. Poverty, vulnerability, marginalization and social exclusion are among the major challenges they face. In these contexts, forests often serve as a safety net to cope with crises, which can lead to the unsustainable management of forest resources. What is the role of social protection in promoting and protecting the livelihood of forest-dependent people?
FAO flagships
State of the World's Forests 2014 (SOFO)
Enhancing the socioeconomic benefits from forests Across the world, forests, trees on farms, and agroforestry systems play a crucial role in the livelihoods of rural people by providing employment, energy, nutritious foods and a wide range of other goods and ecosystem services. They have tremendous...
Reports and briefs
Advancing Agroforestry on the Policy Agenda – A guide for decision-makers
Agroforestry Working Paper, no. 1 Agroforestry systems include both traditional and modern land-use systems in which trees are managed together with crops and/or animal production systems in agricultural settings. Even though these benefits justify increased investment in the development of...
Consultation
Forests and trees provide benefits for food security and nutrition – what is your say?
Forests, trees on farms and agroforestry systems contribute to food security, nutrition and livelihoods in several ways, including as a direct source of food, fuel, employment and cash income. Such contributions are often under-estimated in policy decisions. What are the bottlenecks hindering a greater contribution of forests, trees on farms and agroforestry systems to food security? Are there examples of innovative approaches or good practices? How can forests and trees feature more prominently in food security policies?
New Voluntary Guidelines on the Responsible Governance of Tenure of Land, Fisheries and Forests endorsed
On 11 May 2012, the Committee on World Food Security (CFS) formally endorsed the Voluntary Guidelines on the Responsible Governance of Tenure of Land, Fisheries and Forests in the Context of National Food Security (VGGT).
The Voluntary Guidelines are the result of an unprecedented negotiation process, chaired by the United States that featured broad consultation and participation by 96 national governments, more than 25 civil society organizations, the private sector, nonprofits and farmers’ associations over the course of almost three years.
The new guidelines provide a set of principles and practices that can assist countries in establishing laws and policies that better govern land, fisheries and forests tenure rights, ultimately supporting food security and sustainable development. The endorsement of the Voluntary Guidelines also has significant importance for the right to food as many violations of the right to food around the world are related to access to natural resources. Margret Vidar, Legal Officer in FAO, explains the importance of the endorsement of the Voluntary Guidelines in relation to the right to food.
“Secure tenure of land, fisheries and forests is essential for the realization of the right to food of people in rural areas, who depend on them for their livelihoods”, said Margret Vidar.
“The VGGT build on the Right to Food Guidelines of 2004 and have the explicit goal of contributing to the realization of the right to food. The Right to Food Guidelines contain a section on access to natural resources, and the VGGT have provided much more details on the just and equitable governance of tenure”, she added.
For further information on the human right to adequate food and land tenure, please also see the following publications and news release by the Right to Food Team:
- The Right to Food and Access to Natural Resources
- Land Tenure, Investments and the Right to Food
- Responsible Governance of Land Tenure: An Essential Factor for the Realization of the Right to Food
For more information, please contact:
The Right to Food Team
[email protected]
www.fao.org/righttofood