Forests are a nutritional bounty - virtual natural supermarkets for 1 billion of the world's poorest people. And as the world's population is expected to balloon to 9 billion people by 2050, it is imperative that we figure out how to feed the global population while maintaining the world's very important forest cover. We hope you enjoy this new multimedia feature that talks about some of the interesting ways that people around the world are promoting both forest conservation and food security.
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New tree-planting and water-use methods boost soil carbon to aid food security in AfricaInnovative tree-planting techniques that amp up levels of soil organic carbon, an indicator of soil quality, are being encouraged on agricultural land in West Africa and the Sahel to strengthen food security in the region. -
Overhunting bush animals threatens food security of Central Africa’s rural communitiesWild animals such as bonobos and large antelopes are being unsustainably hunted to meet overwhelming domestic demand for bushmeat. This is having serious impacts on both species diversity and rural forest communities who depend on wild sources of meat for up to 80% of the protein in their diets. -
Costa Rican farmers beat climate change by protecting their soilFarmers toiling the slopes of Costa Rica’s Irazu volcano are using electric fences, improved pastures and practising ‘contour farming’ -- planting crops across the slope -- in their efforts to fight soil erosion and conserve water in a region that experts have declared is “highly vulnerable” to climate change. -
Are we ready for a ‘new agriculture’ that won’t cost us the Earth?Our current food production model clears biodiverse forest ecosystems for agriculture, simplifying our diet so much that 98 percent of the world’s food is supplied from just 12 plant crops and 14 animal species. Experts are now concerned that this simple diet is actually hurting our health and that of our environment. -
Keeping cultures alive: How cooking and singing can save the Amazon forestBOGOR, Indonesia (16 April 2012)_Scientists are hoping to strike a cultural chord with Amazonian forest communities by combining in-depth research with traditional stories, songs and recipes as a way to promote forest conservation and food security. -
Mango trees help make food crops in Bangladesh more productiveJust planting a few mango trees in and around different food crops is proving to be an extremely effective agricultural system – improving food security, livelihoods, local land ownership, poverty alleviation and other developmental needs in the Padma floodplain of Bangladesh, shows new research. -
Diversified forest gardens can reduce food security risks in Latin AmericaForest gardens within coffee plantations in Candelaria Loxicha, Mexico, play a vital role in supporting farmers’ livelihoods by providing basic food and cash income from diverse crops when coffee plantations provide insufficient yields, says a new study. -
Rush to acquire African farmland risks countries bearing costs of global resource scarcity, says studyThe recent rush to acquire farmland in order to meet rising global demands for food and fuel is putting African countries at risk of bearing the social, economic, and environmental costs of global resource scarcity, says a new CIFOR study. -
Cooperation between Lao farmers needed to meet market demands for foodA recent report urges farmers in Lao People’s Democratic Republic to form cooperatives to help meet market demands as the country transitions from practicing subsistence to commercial agriculture.
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Dry forests are particularly susceptible to climate change, yet they are also the main food supply for around 30 countries in Africa. -
Dennis Garrity, Chair of the CGIAR Inter-Center Working Group on Climate Change, comments on the potential of evergreen agriculture in Africa. -
Peter Minang, ASB Partnership, on the links between agriculture, forests and food security in Africa. -
Terry Sunderland, CIFOR Senior scientist, talks about importance of Africa's dry forests in mitigating climate change and ensuring food security. -
Sheila Sisulu, Deputy Executive Director for Hunger Solutions for the World Food Programme, talks about the role that dry forests play in providing food security and livelihoods for women.
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The role of wildlife for food security in Central Africa: A threat to biodiversity? -
Food security: Why is biodiversity important? -
Conservation of soil organic carbon, biodiversity and the provision of other ecosystem services along climatic gradients in West Africa -
Decision-making by farmers regarding ecosystem services: Factors affecting soil conservation efforts in Costa Rica -
Agroforestry for livelihood security in agrarian landscapes of the Padma floodplain in Bangladesh -
The emergence, persistence and current challenges of coffee forest gardens: A case study from Candelaria Loxicha, Oaxaca, Mexico
The stories, photos and videos produced as part of this feature all have Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommerical-Share Alike License. Media are welcome to use this content with appopriate attribution.
