Policy documents
HLPE Report - Sustainable forestry for food security and nutrition
This report is an evidence-based, comprehensive analysis of the diverse, direct and indirect, contributions of forests and trees to food security and nutrition. Chapter 1 examines the linkages between forests and food security and nutrition and proposes, for the purpose of this report, a conceptual...
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
Sustainable Forestry for Food Security and Nutrition - HLPE e-consultation on the V0 Draft of the Report
In October 2014, the UN Committee on World Food Security (CFS) requested the High Level Panel of Experts on Food Security and Nutrition (HLPE) to conduct a study on Sustainable Forestry for Food Security and Nutrition. The findings of this study will feed into CFS 44 Plenary session (October 2017).
As part of the process of elaboration of its reports, the HLPE is organizing a consultation to seek inputs, suggestions, and comments on the present V0 draft. This open e-consultation will be used by the HLPE to further elaborate the report, which will then be submitted to external expert peer review, before finalization and approval by the HLPE Steering Committee.
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?
Consultation
Sustainable Forestry for Food Security and Nutrition - E-consultation to set the track of the study
At its 41st session in October 2014, the CFS has requested the HLPE to prepare a study on Sustainable Forestry for Food Security and Nutrition, to feed into CFS debates at the CFS Plenary session of October 2017.
As part of its report elaboration process, the HLPE is launching an e-consultation to seek views and comments on the following scope and building blocks of the report, outlined below, as proposed by the HLPE Steering Committee.
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...