The key to sustainable forest development

Forests are not just about trees, they are about people. Forestry includes social issues, policies and institutions, production of goods and services and the livelihoods linked to forests and trees outside forests. Considering the sometimes forgotten human dimension of forestry, “You are the key” was the title selected for the 20th Session of the Committee [...]

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Side event on Sidelined Agriculture

FAO’s side event, together with Denmark and IFAD, drew a large audience. People were literally stopped at the door because there was no room. All panelists in the event highlighted that agriculture MUST be part of the solution. But Agriculture remains sidelined in the negotiations… Read the Earth Negotiations Bulletin on the Side report on [...]

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Dryland options?

The UNCCD (United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification) organized a side event on the role of drylands under the new climate change policy framework. Caterina Batello, Senior Agriculture officer from FAO was there and reports that the link between climate change, desertification and biodiversity loss was discussed. These links are considered evident and everybody agrees [...]

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Not enough on Agriculture Adaptation.

Cary Fowler, Executive Director of The Global Crop Diversity Trust, hosted by FAO, told about his analysis of the current negotiation text, that agricultural adaptation to climate change seems partially overlooked. Even a 2° increase in temperature will pose a significant challenge for crops, decreasing yields dramatically unless adaptation efforts are strengthened. This, in turn, would put [...]

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Drylands pastoral systems – mitigation and adaptation review

This Land and Water Discussion Paper highlights the significant untapped potential for climate change mitigation and  adaptation associated with improved management of grazing lands in pastoral systems and rangelands. Grasslands and rangelands deserve greater attention, not only for their large extent, widespread degradation and limited resilience to drought and desertification, but also for their potential [...]

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