WEBINAR: Inclusive forest-positive agriculture through integrated landscape approaches: the role of government (8 September 2021, 2pm CEST).

This webinar is the first of a series of online events organized by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan (MAFF) on “Halting deforestation: approaches and tools for forest-positive commodity value chains.”

Translation will be available in English, French and Spanish.

Photo by Rémi Bertogliati on Unsplash

Near or far, the role of forests in securing clean water for residents and the agricultural lands that cities rely on is equally crucial.

Not only is clean, safe, and affordable water essential to human health and well-being, the pandemic reminds us of how critical clean water is to health and hygiene. And yet, the world is on the precipice of a historic global water crisis.

The situation is dire, but one asset is already at our fingertips. Forest can alter the movement, quality, and availability of water. With the majority of the planet’s population inhabiting cities, the connection between cities, water, and forests works at three levels: inner forests, nearby forests, and faraway forests. Here’s how each one protects water in cities, no matter how far away.

In the process of creating various conservation and development initiatives in the Waorani Territory, in the Amazon Basin, women and communities have provided a great contribution, thanks to their constant involvement and interest. This made it possible to create local capacities.

Raising awareness among forest dwellers in Bhutan about the extent to which they rely on benefits commonly known as ecosystem services can encourage their participation in the sustainable management of forests, according to the findings of a new study.

The future of the amazon rainforest, plus the people and nature who call it home, hangs in the balance and its fate rests in the hands of each and every one of us.
The Amazon and its estimated 400 million trees have played a crucial role in stabilizing the global climate and sustaining life on Earth. But now the Amazon – on fire, under siege and on the brink of collapse – needs our help.

Gresham House has raised an initial £127m (€149m) for its forestry fund, with backing from investors including the Scottish National Investment Bank.

"As investors increasingly focus on sustainable investments, forestry is emerging as one of the most impactful solutions, which combats climate change and enhances biodiversity, while also serving as an excellent investment diversifier and producing meaningful uncorrelated returns,” says Olly Hughes, managing director of forestry at Gresham House.

Human-induced climate change is making heatwaves more likely and more severe, scientists say. The EU's Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS) said the hot and dry conditions had hiked the danger of further fires.
CAMS monitors wildfires through satellites and ground-based observation statements, and said the emissions and intensity of wildfires are rapidly increasing in Turkey and Southern Italy.

A new report predicting future biomass demand will far outweigh supply urges the EU to use land and biomass more strategically. With a holistic approach to forests to improve their environmental, social and economic benefits, the Climate Smart Forest Economy Program (CSFEP), an innovative initiative from EIT Climate-KIC, The Nature Conservancy, the World Economic Forum, and the World Resources Institute, may be well-positioned to help.

For millions of people across the Americas and around the world, a vacation often means a visit to a national park. National parks can be a source of great national pride, a way to showcase unique landscapes and educate visitors about an area's flora and fauna, history, and culture. It also can be an important source of revenue that national parks and protected areas provide benefits equivalent to 3% of GDP.
However, the national parks and other protected areas are threatened by air pollution or encroaching development—they are now confronting intensifying threats due to climate change.

The European Union has drafted plans to build up forests, grasslands and other natural "carbon sinks" that absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere to help curb climate change.

Carbon sinks have gained in importance as countries strive to reach "net zero" emissions by 2050, the goal scientists say the world must meet to avoid the worst impacts of climate change.