Forests have a key role in tackling global challenges, such as food insecurity, poverty, the far-reaching impacts of climate change, land and water degradation, and the loss of biodiversity.   West Africa hosts almost 11% of the world's 12 million m² of dense tropical forests, according to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).  Within the ECOWAS, forests represent very diverse biomes, ranging from the tropical forests of Upper Guinea to the dry forests of the Sahel region.  The forests of West Africa are home to a significant portion of biodiversity due to the richness of fauna and flora present in the territory,...

Tinkunaku es una comunidad indígena Kolla, que habita en el departamento de Orán, en la provincia de Salta, y que ha configurado su modo de vida siguiendo los flujos de la naturaleza. Tiene como entorno a la ecorregión de Las Yungas, la cual alberga cerca del 50% de la biodiversidad de Argentina. Sus integrantes viven de la agricultura y la ganadería de subsistencia que practican en trashumancia, en torno a los “ayllus” de San Andrés, Los Naranjos, El Angosto de Paraní y Río Blanquito, que conforman su territorio. El pastoreo trashumante es una práctica ganadera ancestral de acompañamiento y cuidado. Implica...

Finding innovative solutions for achieving a sustainable balance between agricultural and forestry goals, while halting deforestation, were top of the agenda at a recent gathering of conservation and farming experts in the Italian capital Rome. During the 27th Session of the Committee on Forestry (COFO), held from 22-26 July, representatives from Indonesia, Peru, Uganda, Japan and the European Union (EU), together with experts of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), and stakeholders gathered for the 9th World Forest Week (WFW) side event “Greening synergies Innovative solutions to halt deforestation through sustainable agricultural supply chains and financial enablers”. The...

For Panama, involving and consulting Indigenous Peoples in forest protection is key to achieving climate and conservation outcomes. The importance of their participation is so recognized that the country has enshrined these rights into law.   The process of Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) of Indigenous Peoples as an essential requirement for any activity that affects their ancestral lands, territories, and natural resources, was regulated into Panamanian law in 2016.    It establishes the consultation and FPIC of Indigenous Peoples when legislative and administrative measures are to be implemented that affect their collective rights, including their lands, territories, resources, livelihoods, and culture.   FPIC is...

Forest-rich Democratic Republic of Congo knows that ensuring the rights of Indigenous Peoples is vital for the country’s conservation of forests and other natural resources. The Democratic Republic of Congo which has more than 137 million hectares of lush forests - representing 58 percent of its land surface and essential for global biodiversity - adopted a law in 2022 to protect and promote the rights of Indigenous Peoples.  This law guarantees certain rights of Indigenous Peoples within the framework of REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation in developing countries). In addition, there are also progressive legal provisions in the country...