The agri-food systems of the world are under tremendous stress from loss of biodiversity and climate change. In the NENA region, increasing productivity to meet the growing demand for food has often been associated with unsustainable agriculture practices that result into widespread land and water degradation, biodiversity loss, deforestation and degradation of vegetation cover and depletion of aquifers. 

Forests and trees have multiple linkages and relationships with agri-food systems. While it is well acknowledged that healthy forests and sustainable agriculture depend upon each other, evidence shows that, in the Near East and North Africa region (NENA), agriculture remains the main driver of deforestation. This calls for an urgent need to transform agri-food systems to provide growing population with healthy, affordable diets in a way that is economically profitable and environmentally friendly. 

FAO’s Strategic Framework 2022-2031 was developed to support the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Its strategic narrative is aimed at transformation to more efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agri-food systems for better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life, leaving no one behind. 

In line with the new FAO’s Strategic Framework, the 35th Session of the Regional Conference for the Near East identified four priorities for transforming agri-food systems, responding to COVID-19 and achieving the SDGs in the region. The third priority on Greening Agriculture focuses on addressing the sustainability of natural resources in its broad sense, including in land, water, forestry, marine and aquatic resources and biodiversity and calls for a transformative shift that brings the issues of sustainability, climate adaptation and resource efficiency to the forefront. 

Central to agri-food systems transformation is the need for a multi-sectorial approach that acknowledges its multiple objectives and identifies and addresses possible trade-offs while strengthening actions that offer synergetic responses. Multi-sectorial dialogues are therefore an essential element of this transformation process. 

Considering this, at the invitation of the Arab Republic of Egypt, the Twenty-fifth Session of the Near East Forestry and Range Commission (NEFRC-25) will be held virtually from 19 to 21 October 2021 through Zoom. The opening session will take place at 10:00 hours (Cairo time) on Tuesday, 19 October 2021. 

The Near East Forestry and Range Commission is a regional forum that brings together the heads of the forestry, rangelands, protected areas and related institutions to deliberate on policy and technical matters with the aim of ensuring the conservation and sustainable management of these resources to sustain the provision of the multiple goods and environmental services that they provide at local, national and global levels in the path towards achieving the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals. Delegates will also take stock of global policy processes of relevance to the Commission. 

The event objectives are: 

1. Raising awareness about the need to move away from the current unsustainable agricultural practices to sustainable agri-food systems that improve food security and nutrition while at the same time protect, restore and sustainably manage forests, rangelands and related natural resources towards achieving the sustainable development goals (SDGs).

2. Sharing country experiences and good practices in pursuing synergies and managing trade-offs between agriculture and forests to achieving food security without leading to deforestation, land degradation and biodiversity loss.

3. Agreeing on clear practical recommendations to member countries, FAO and other stakeholders to ensure more efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agri-food systems with far less environmental

footprints to be submitted to the 36th Session of the FAO Regional Conference for the Near East (NERC) for formal endorsement by the Member countries. 

Event details:

· Date: 19 – 21 October 2021.

· Time: 10:00 (Cairo Time)

· Registration: https://fao.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJEpcOGvpzoiG922w3O6Jd67FbEgeR5ZTXs5