The discussion forum will present and discuss emerging findings of a global scientific assessment of the relationship between forests and trees and food security and nutrition. Mandated by the Collaborative Partnership of Forests, a Global Forest Expert Panel is investigating the diverse roles of forests in contributing to food security, dietary diversity and nutrition. The aim is to prepare a report that can be used for relevant international policy processes and the discussions on the post-2015 development agenda.
Coordinating lead authors of the assessment will present preliminary outcomes focusing on drivers of forest-food systems and response options across the landscape. The speakers will present the current evidence-base, as well as research gaps, constraints and opportunities.
The session will discuss direct and indirect roles of forests and trees in food systems the importance of food production systems across the forest-agriculture continuum for food security, dietary diversity and nutrition, and the ensuing implications for land use. The social, economic and environmental synergies and trade-offs between forests and food security and related management interventions, as well as relevant response options will also be discussed. It is intended that the debate also touches upon questions of sustainable land use under a post-Kyoto climate agreement.
Key questions addressed:
- Do prevailing paradigms comply with scientific evidence and discourse around the role of food production systems across the forest-agriculture continuum for food security and nutrition?
- How do social, economic and environmental drivers, such as climate change impact on forest and tree-related food systems?
- What are the resulting synergies and trade-offs between different land uses and what are the response options from a dynamic and integrated landscpaes perspective?
Background reading:
Sustaining forests and people by conserving lesser known underutilised wild edibles
Forests, food security and nutrition
Forests, food security and gender: linkages, disparities and priorities for action
Managing landscapes for greater food security and improved livelihoods
Towards food security and improved nutrition: Increasing the contribution of forests and trees
Jamnadass, R. et al. (2013): Agroforestry for food and nutritional security. In: Unasylva 241, Vol 64, 2013/2
