Promoting forest-based food security and poverty alleviation

This event will showcase effective policies, measures and practices in promoting forest-based food security and nutrition, and poverty reduction, and in particular with regards to access to social protection.

It will take place within the 9th World Forest Week.

Background
Forests are vital for the livelihoods of nearly one-third of the world's population, with roughly 40% of the rural poor in developing regions residing in or near forested areas. However, these communities face poverty, vulnerabilities, and food insecurity due to a complex interplay of environmental, economic, social, and political factors, exacerbated by ecological degradation and climate change.

Forests traditionally provide essential food and nutrition for forest-dependent people (FDP), especially those who are marginalized and vulnerable. Recognizing this, the transformation of agrifood systems aims to re-establish the vital link between food and forests. Sustainable forest management can ensure a stable source of nourishment, contributing to food security, poverty eradication, and ecological improvement, particularly for FDP.

Social protection, forest and landscape restoration, and sustainable forest value chain development have been recognized as critical strategies to achieve these goals while ensuring conservation of ecosystems and natural resources.  Governments, along with forest and farm producer organizations, are crucial actors in implementing these strategies.  


Expected outcomes

• Showcase effective policies, measures and practices in promoting forest-based food security and nutrition, and poverty reduction.
• Highlight innovative approaches, practices and tools, that empower forest-dependent communities and small-scale producers to access social protection, engage in forest landscape restoration, and participate in value chains for enhanced food security, poverty reduction, and income generation.
• Facilitate discusses on lessons learned and identify key actions to scale up successful practices for ensuring food security and poverty alleviation.  

Agenda

Time	Item and presenter
12:30 – 12:35	Opening remarks Mr. Zhimin Wu, Director of the Forestry Division, FAO
12:35 ­– 12:45	Crop forest in China Mr. Junkai Gao, Deputy Director-General, Department of Reform and Development, NFGA, China
12:45 ­– 12:55	Kenya’s new social protection policy: opportunities for forest-dependent communities Mr. Richard Obiga, Senior Programme Officer, National Social Protection Secretariat, Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, Kenya
12:55 – 13:05	Strengthening coherence between forestry and social protection for poverty reduction and food security Ms. Qiang Ma, Forestry Officer, Forestry and Livelihoods Team, Forestry Division, FAO
13:05 – 13:15	GhaFFaP’s role in facilitating forest farmer enrollment in Ghana’s social protection registry Mr. Eric Dalinpuo, the Executive Director of the Community Action in Development and Research (CADER), Ghana
13:15 – 13:25	Enhancing social protection for forest-dependent communities in Nepal: assessment findings and next steps Ms. Racchya Shah, Country Facilitator of Forest and Farm Facility (FFF), Nepal
13:25– 13:35	Forest landscape restoration and value chain development in Tanzania within the AFR100 initiative Mr. Dos Santos A. Silayo, Chief Executive, Tanzania Forest Services (TFS) Agency, Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism, Tanzania
13:35 – 13:40	Empowering Tanzanian women and youth through beekeeping for sustainable rural livelihood and environmental conservation Ms. Maria Shininiy, Maasai beekeeper in Arusha region Mr. Damian Sulumo, Chief Executive Director, Network of Farmers and Pastoralists Groups MVIWAARUSHA
13:40 – 13:55	Questions and answers
13:55 – 14:00	Closing remarks Mr. Thomas Hofer, Team Leader, Forestry and Livelihoods, Forestry Division, FAO

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