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Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, FAO

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has called for increased global investment in the protection, restoration and sustainable management of dryland forests, warning that the ecosystems are critical to the livelihoods and food security of more than two billion people.

The call was contained in the FAO’s new Call to Action on Dryland Forests, launched in Rome during a high-level dialogue on dryland forests for food, nutrition and resilience.

The dialogue formed part of the 10th World Forest Week, held alongside the 28th Session of the FAO Committee on Forestry at the organisation’s headquarters.

FAO Director-General QU Dongyu said dryland forests were essential to present and future generations but remained underrecognised, under-monitored and under-financed.

“Dryland forests are central to our lives, and that of future generations,” QU said in a video message.

The FAO initiative is calling on governments, donors and development partners to strengthen the sustainable management, restoration and governance of dryland forests.

It also urges countries to incorporate dryland forests more effectively into national climate, biodiversity and land-use policies while increasing financing for their conservation and sustainable use.

Drylands account for approximately 41 per cent of the Earth’s land surface and contain about 27 per cent of the world’s forest area.

Although characterised by water scarcity, these areas contain forests, woodlands and trees outside forests that provide essential resources for millions of households.

Dryland forests supply wood, fuelwood, fodder, wild foods and medicinal plants, while also helping communities cope with drought and other environmental pressures.

The ecosystems contribute to agricultural and livestock production by protecting soils and water resources and supporting food and income generation when crops fail.

However, FAO said approximately 25 per cent of dryland forest ecosystems are already degraded.

Land-use changes, including agricultural expansion, urbanisation and unsustainable extraction of natural resources, are among the major drivers of degradation.

Climate change is adding further pressure through longer droughts, increasing water stress and heightened wildfire risks.

The effects are particularly significant for smallholder farmers, pastoralists, Indigenous Peoples and local communities, as well as women and young people who depend heavily on natural resources.

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FAO said proven approaches to restoring dryland ecosystems already exist, but greater coordination, financing and long-term planning are required to implement them on a larger scale.

Central to the new initiative is the proposed Dryland Forest Support Accelerator, an FAO-anchored and country-driven platform designed to help governments integrate dryland forests into national planning.

The proposed platform would support countries in incorporating dryland forests into climate commitments, including nationally determined contributions and land degradation neutrality targets.

It would also help improve monitoring systems, strengthen coordination between sectors and facilitate access to long-term financing.

FAO said the initiative is intended to move efforts beyond fragmented projects and create conditions for sustained action at national and international levels.

The organisation urged governments and development partners to recognise dryland forests as an important component of global climate, biodiversity and land agendas.

The Traffic NG
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Amarachi Ihesiulo
The Traffic NG

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