|
Editorial: No such thing as a free lunch - invest in healthy soils
by Monique Barbut, Executive Secretary, United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification
On the 17th of June we will mark the World Day to Combat Desertification at Expo Milano 2015 with the slogan, No such thing as a free lunch - invest in healthy soils. ...
It is an illusion that we can take from the land without putting anything back. ...
To my mind, in 2015 there is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to move past the illusion. ...
Read more ...
FAO Forestry news
XIV World Forestry Congress, Durban, South Africa:
7–11 September 2015
Co-organizers promote XIV WFC at FAO Conference, "Congress must leave a lasting legacy"
The 39th Session of the FAO Conference was the latest international gathering to be briefed on the merits of visiting South Africa and participating in September's Congress. In side event presentations, informal speeches and promotional material at an atrium information booth, the Republic of South Africa's delegation, led by the Deputy Minister for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, and Congress co-organizer FAO informed delegates, many of whom represented non-forest sectors, why a strong country presence in Durban is so important for the future of forestry and the communities it supports.
 Congress newsletter issue No.2 now online
The 2nd issue of the Congress trilingual newsletter is now out and is full of important information.
Read the latest updates, including on the TREEHOUSING wood housing design competition, the Forests and people photo contest, plus information on all side events.
Don't overlook the key date of 30 June: the last day for early-bird registration.
FAO Conference endorses Forestry programme support to member countries
FAO’s highest governing body, which met in Rome in June, has approved the report of the 22nd Session of the Committee on Forestry, with countries expressing strong support for the Committee's recommendations. The 39th Session of the FAO Conference noted key areas of work, including the relevance of working towards the Zero Hunger Challenge and achieving zero illegal deforestation, and FAO's lead role in the Collaborative Partnership on Forests.
Read more in the report of the 22nd Session of the Committee on Forestry, which was held from 23–27 June 2014. The 39th Session of the FAO Conference was held at FAO headquarters from 6–13 June 2015, and its final report will be uploaded at this site. A summary of the Conference outcomes will be provided in a forthcoming issue of inFO news.
FAO and Asia-Pacific forest sector partners raise the bar on sustainable forest management
FAO's dynamic engagement with key Asia-Pacific forestry partners has further evolved, following the recent signing of two strategic memoranda that will take action on sustainable forest management to a new level. Policy development, knowledge transfer and capacity building, forest restoration and addressing deforestation are some of the key areas where FAO will strengthen its support to countries in the region through collaborative work with AFoCO and APFNET.
Read more about the two new memoranda of understanding signed by the FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific with: (i) The Association of Southeast Asian Nations and the Republic of Korea Forest Cooperation (AFoCO); and (ii) the Asia-Pacific Network for Sustainable Forest Management and Rehabilitation (APFNET).
FAO-forest industries collaboration moves forward on several fronts
FAO-private sector collaboration strengthened in May with a major body on sustainable forest industries committing to several initiatives. A joint event on the role of forests and forest products at UNFCCC COP 21 in Paris, promoting the benefits of a bioeconomy at XIV WFC Durban, and the recently negotiated agreement with major global retailer IKEA in Viet Nam are some of the forthcoming activities. Key partner, the International Council of Forest and Paper Associations, will also sponsor prizes for two young designers in the Congress's TREEHOUSING wood design competition.
Read more about the work of the Advisory Committee on Sustainable Forest-based Industries, including its 56th Session held in Washington D.C., USA, from 5–6 May 2015.
Côte d’Ivoire scales up initiatives to combat deforestation
The President of the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire has added his voice to global efforts to combat climate change and increase food security, by launching a national tree-planting campaign. Under the theme “I’m planting a tree for a greener Côte d’Ivoire”, the President urged the population to support the campaign, in order to halt and reverse deforestation’s negative impacts on the country, its people and the environment. FAO was invited to participate in the ceremony, through its local representative, in view of its support to the forest sector.
Read more about Côte d’Ivoire’s national tree-planting ceremony held as part of the celebrations of the International Day of Forests. Also view photos of the Abidjan ceremony, which was presided over by H.E. President Alassane Ouattara.
Starting a conversation with local people on forest ecosystem payments
Ensuring the sustainability of forest resources must start with discussions with local forest communities on forest policy and management, with government as the guarantor of communities' rights and access and the enabler of payments for forest ecosystem services. Preserving the forest heritage also requires the creation of and respect for institutional frameworks and regulations, FAO representatives at a workshop in Uganda proposed.
Read more on the validation workshop on the practical guide on payment for forest ecosystem services in sub-Saharan Africa and also visit the FAO Regional Office for Africa website.
Global news
Preparing the ground for smallholder farmers' engagement with biotechnology
Smallholder farmers will embrace biotechnology for sustainable forest management and forest biodiversity, if equipped with the right technical knowledge, tools and training, an international symposium concluded. EMBRAPA’s recent event gathered 80 stakeholders and partners to share experiences in forest biotechnology and propose how major obstacles impeding biotechnology’s wider application could be overcome.
Read more in the summary of the International symposium “Forest biotechnology for smallholders”, Foz do Iguaçu, Paraná, Brazil, from 19–22 May, organized by the Brazilian Agricultural Research Institute for Forests (EMBRAPA) in Paraná. Also visit the Forest Biotech for Smallholders symposium website.
"Business unusual" to unleash huge potential of African family forest farms
African governments should move quickly to empower family forest farmers and forest producer groups, by switching to "business unusual" and supporting locally controlled farm forestry, including in the growing bioeconomy, participants at a Forest and Farm Facility-organized meeting heard. Local forest and farm producers will also raise their voices through a declaration to be shared at September's XIV World Forestry Congress and the pre-Congress Building Momentum event.
Read more about the 1st African Farm/Family Forestry Producer Organizations conference, Forestry for improved livelihoods held in Nairobi, Kenya, from 9 to 11 June 2015. Also visit the Forest and Farm Facility website to view the outcome of the Nairobi Conference.
Greater investment in R&D will produce major benefits for teak growers
Globally, the proportion of teak production and trade is relatively small, but it is the only valuable hardwood whose area is increasing and in tropical countries it is a major component of forest economies, providing employment and income for teak growers and traders, smallholders, farmers and the wood industry workforce. But, as a global conference concluded, teak trade will not reach its full potential without greater investment in research and development.
Read more in the summary of the 3rd World Teak Conference, organized by the Asociación Ecuatoriana de Productores y Comercalizadores de Teca y Maderas Tropicales, with FAO, the International Teak Information Network, the International Union of Forest Research Organizations and Soluciones Ambientales Totales, in Guayaquil, Ecuador from 11–15 May 2015.
Gearing up woody biomass production to meet Europe’s energy and industrial needs
In both developing and industrialized countries, woody biomass for energy and industrial use is an increasingly important economic activity, within a sector where more than 50 percent of global wood production is for energy. However, as participants at an FAO-hosted meeting learned, sustainable woodfuel production and the expansion of the biomass sector will require a combination of transfer of knowledge and good practices, and innovative technological and logistical solutions.
Read more in the informal summary of the International conference on mobilization of woody biomass for energy and industrial use hosted by FAO headquarters on 19 May 2015, including the three European Union-funded projects discussed at the event: INFRES; LogistEC and EuroPrunning.
Meetings and events
Meetings
- Forest and Landscape Restoration Mechanism, FAO headquarters, Rome, Italy:
Regional Forestry Commission meetings 2015–16
Collaborative Partnership on Forests events calendar
United Nations events 2015
Expo Milano 2015
Feeding the planet - energy for life, Milan, Italy, 1 May to 31 October 2015
17 June: No such thing as a free lunch: invest in healthy soils -Global observance of World Day to Combat Desertification
This high-level event will feature statements by UN Convention to Combat Desertification Executive Secretary, Monique Barbut, FAO Deputy Director-General Natural Resources, MariaHelena Semedo, and other keynote speakers. View the programme
18 June: Healthy soil, healthy world - Soil Conservation Seminar. View the programme
25 June: Energy for Life. Breathe. Austria.
What are the links between forests, food and life? H.E. Andrä Rupprechter, Federal Minister for Agriculture, Forestry, Environment and Water Management of Austria, will lead a panel of eminent international speakers to discuss the links between forests and food. The event will be moderated by The Economist's political editor, James Astill.
Also view the FAO video A greener Europe, produced in English, German and Italian.
International Days - June to August 2015
Videos
Come to the Wildlife Forum
Video invitation from the Collaborative Partnership on Forests to attend the Wildlife Forum on 9 September 2015 during the XIV World Forestry Congress.
International Day of Forests celebration
Watch six teams of students take part in three rounds of passionate debates on the motion Forests and climate change, Bangkok, Thailand, FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific.
|
|
http://forestry.fao.msgfocus.com/u/1hxJbhZmls
