Advancing the forest and water nexus

by Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

Author	: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Publisher	: Food & Agriculture Org.
Total Pages	: 140
Release	: 2019-10-18
Genre	: Technology & Engineering
ISBN	: 925131859X

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Forests are intrinsically linked to water – forested watersheds provide 75 percent of our accessible freshwater resources (Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, 2005) – and both forest and water resources are relevant to the achievement of all 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Despite the important interlinkages, the forest-water nexus is often unaccounted for in policy and planning. For example, three quarters of forests are not managed for soil and water conservation, which poses a fundamental challenge to achieving sustainable and resilient communities and ecosystems. It is paramount to employ an integrated approach to forest and water resources in management and policy that takes into account the complexity and contextual nature of forest-water relationships. To achieve this, we must improve our understanding of forest-water relationships within local contexts and at different scales, as well as our ability to design, implement, and learn from landscape approaches that both rely on these forest-water relationships, and impact them. In this context, FAO’s Forest and Water Programme has developed a module-based capacity development facilitation guide for project and community stakeholders involved in forest, water and natural resource management to ensure we apply our knowledge to better manage forests and trees for their multiple benefits, including water quantity, quality and the associated socio-economic benefits that people within and outside forests so heavily depend on.

Moving forward

by Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

Author	: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Publisher	: Food & Agriculture Org.
Total Pages	: 60
Release	: 2020-09-30
Genre	: Technology & Engineering
ISBN	: 9251333793

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The sixth edition of this biennial publication showcases the breadth of work and main achievements and partnerships of FAO Forestry in implementing the FAO Strategic Objectives as well as its linkages to the SDGs, with descriptive information on project and programme delivery and funding resources. It is also intended to serve as a reference for delegates attending the 25th Session of the Committee on Forestry during discussions on programme implementation as well as a resource for new staff, partners and the media to help them better understand FAO's forestry programme and its linkages with other sectors, partners and international processes. Approximately 30 programme activities are documented with a selection of related photographs, with a foreword by the Assistant Director-General of Forestry.

A guide to forest–water management

by Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

Author	: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Publisher	: Food & Agriculture Org.
Total Pages	: 184
Release	: 2021-08-24
Genre	: Technology & Engineering
ISBN	: 9251348510

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Many people worldwide lack adequate access to clean water to meet basic needs, and many important economic activities, such as energy production and agriculture, also require water. Climate change is likely to aggravate water stress. As temperatures rise, ecosystems and the human, plant, and animal communities that depend on them will need more water to maintain their health and to thrive. Forests and trees are integral to the global water cycle and therefore vital for water security – they regulate water quantity, quality, and timing and provide protective functions against (for example) soil and coastal erosion, flooding, and avalanches. Forested watersheds provide 75 percent of our freshwater, delivering water to over half the world’s population. The purpose of A Guide to Forest–Water Management is to improve the global information base on the protective functions of forests for soil and water. It reviews emerging techniques and methodologies, provides guidance and recommendations on how to manage forests for their water ecosystem services, and offers insights into the business and economic cases for managing forests for water ecosystem services. Intact native forests and well-managed planted forests can be a relatively cheap approach to water management while generating multiple co-benefits. Water security is a significant global challenge, but this paper argues that water-centered forests can provide nature-based solutions to ensuring global water resilience.

Unasylva 251

by Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

Author	: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Publisher	: Food & Agriculture Org.
Total Pages	: 88
Release	: 2019-12-05
Genre	: Technology & Engineering
ISBN	: 9251319103

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Water – drinkable, usable water – is likely to be one of the most limiting resources in the future, given the growing global population, the high water demand of most agricultural production systems, and the confounding effects of climate change. We need to manage water wisely – efficiently, cost-effectively and equitably – if we are to avoid the calamity of a lack of usable water supply. Forested watersheds provide an estimated 75 percent of the world’s accessible freshwater resources, on which more than half the Earth’s people depend for domestic, agricultural, industrial and environmental purposes. Forests therefore, are vital natural infrastructure, and their management can provide “nature-based solutions” for a range of water-related societal challenges. This edition of Unasylva explores that potential.

Guidelines on the Implementation of Nature-based Solutions (NbS) to Combat the Negative Impact of Climate Change on Forestry

by Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

Author	: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Publisher	: Food & Agriculture Org.
Total Pages	: 61
Release	: 2023-09-12
Genre	: Technology & Engineering
ISBN	: 9251380953

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Climate change is one of the most critical social and environmental concerns and the biggest threat to economic stability in human history. Türkiye, Azerbaijan, and Central Asia countries, namely Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, are vulnerable to the negative impacts of climate change. Although average forest cover is only 10.2 percent of these countries (FAO-SEC countries), they play an essential role in climate change mitigation and adaptation, including human well-being and biodiversity co-benefits. The NbS concept has gained attention since the late 2000s. Its practical contribution to global climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts has found significant implementation opportunities in forestry to support the protection and conservation, restoration and expansion, and sustainable management of forests under the impact of climate change.Globally, implementing NbSs to combat the negative impact of climate change on forestry is promoted by the United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF), United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the Paris Agreement, United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), The United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.Regionally, implementing NbSs to combat the negative impacts of climate change on forestry has been included in the forest policy initiatives of the countries in the sub-region recently. As a result, governments have implemented NbSs through national strategies and programs to address societal challenges by enhancing ecosystem services and promoting human well-being and biodiversity co-benefits. For example, Azerbaijan has implemented afforestation, reforestation, rehabilitation, and restoration activities in forest fund lands on an average of 9 727 hectares (ha) annually since 2000. Kazakhstan aims to save the Aral Sea basin from salinity and improve soil fertility through afforestation activities of saxaul species on 0.25 million ha, and the afforestation area in the Aral Sea will be extended by 1 million ha till 2025. Kyrgyzstan has planned a 1,000-ha annual plantation program to expand protected natural areas to 10 percent. Tajikistan implements 2,000 ha of annual plantation activities to increase the greenhouse gas (GHG) mitigation potential through participatory forestry sector development. Türkiye implemented afforestation, soil conservation, forest rehabilitation, pasture rehabilitation, private afforestation, artificial regeneration, and establishment of energy forests activities on 9.62 million ha from 1946 to 2022. Turkmenistan conducts afforestation activities with drought-resistant plant species and established the "Golden Century Lake" in the Karakum Desert to improve the climate conditions and conserve biodiversity. Uzbekistan declared the Aral Sea region

Evaluation of FAO’s contribution to Sustainable Development Goal 6 – “Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all”

by Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

Author	: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Publisher	: Food & Agriculture Org.
Total Pages	: 122
Release	: 2023-03-08
Genre	: Business & Economics
ISBN	: 9251376425

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This evaluation assessed the extent to which FAO’s work has been relevant and effective in supporting its Members to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6). Water resources management is central to any consideration of agricultural production, ecosystems sustainability, rural livelihoods and climate change adaptation and resilience, issues that lie at the heart of FAO’s mandate. The evaluation found that FAO has a comparative advantage in several key SDG 6 target areas and addressed needs and demands from Members in all SDG 6 target areas. Irrigated agriculture (target 6.4) represents an area of high demand from Members and a dominant theme in the reviewed case studies. Regional initiatives are effective in addressing specific needs and challenges of individual regions. FAO has performed well in its custodial role for SDG indicators 6.4.1 and 6.4.2. However, overall FAO’s strategic approach to water-related activities remains. The links between agriculture and water quality and pollution (target 6.3) were not adequately addressed. Despite limited evidence on full transformational changes, the evaluation highlights several activities and approaches that, if nurtured, could form the basis for transformational change.

Managing Forests and Water for People under a Changing Environment

by Ge Sun

Author	: Ge Sun
Publisher	: MDPI
Total Pages	: 198
Release	: 2020-05-13
Genre	: Science
ISBN	: 3039288237

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Forests cover 30% of the Earth’s land area, or nearly four billion hectares. Enhancing the benefits and ecosystem services of forests has been increasingly recognized as an essential part of nature-based solutions for solving many emerging global environmental problems today. A core science supporting forest management is understanding the interactions of forests, water, and people. These interactions have become increasingly complex under climate change and its associated impacts, such as the increases in the intensity and frequency of drought and floods, increasing population and deforestation, and a rise in global demands for multiple ecosystem services including clean water supply and carbon sequestration. Forest watershed managers have recognized that water management is an essential component of forest management. Global environmental change is posing more challenges for managing forests and water toward sustainable development. New science on forest and water is critically needed across the globe. The International Forests and Water Conference 2018, Valdivia, Chile (http://forestsandwater2018.cl/), a joint effort of the 5th IUFRO International Conference on Forests and Water in a Changing Environment and the Second Latin American Conference on Forests and Water provided a unique forum to examine forest and water issues in Latin America under a global context. This book represents a collection of some of the peer-reviewed papers presented at the conference that were published in a Special Issue of Forests.

Multifunctional Land-Use Systems for Managing the Nexus of Environmental Resources

by Lulu Zhang

Author	: Lulu Zhang
Publisher	: Springer
Total Pages	: 147
Release	: 2017-04-08
Genre	: Technology & Engineering
ISBN	: 331954957X

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This book comprehensively describes the major ecosystem services in dryland environments that are provided by typical land use, including forestland, grassland and farmland, using the Loess Plateau, Northwest China as an example. It offers extensive information on land policy, implementation and scientific evidence, and discusses the restoration of the degraded Loess Plateau environment, which that brings new challenges in the sustainable use of natural resources, in particular soil and water. It presents a transdisciplinary and up-to-date understanding of interlinkages and competition between different ecosystem services and illustrates benefit sharing among different users and stakeholders, land- management practitioners and local governments. It is a major contribution to the on-going debate on future land-development strategies and identifies areas where there is a need for more research. This book is a valuable resource for students, scientists and policy makers.

The Nexus of Climate Change and Land-use – Global Scenario with Reference to Nepal

by Medani P. Bhandari

Author	: Medani P. Bhandari
Publisher	: CRC Press
Total Pages	: 79
Release	: 2024-04-01
Genre	: Science
ISBN	: 1040085571

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The interplay between land use and climate change is a crucial aspect of sustainable development, especially in Nepal. This book delves into the intricate connections between land-use and climate change in Nepal, shedding light on significant challenges and potential opportunities. Nepal, with its diverse topography and ecosystems, is exceptionally susceptible to the impacts of climate change. The distinctive land-use patterns, encompassing agriculture, forest cover, and urbanization, significantly influence the country's climate resilience and carbon balance. However, rapid population growth, urban expansion, and changing land-use practices have led to environmental degradation and a surge in greenhouse gas emissions. The alarming deforestation, driven by agricultural expansion, infrastructure development, and unsustainable logging, has contributed to carbon emissions and the depletion of vital ecosystem services. Consequently, the conversion of forested land into agricultural fields has negatively affected biodiversity, soil erosion, and water resources, intensifying the vulnerability of communities to climate change. Nevertheless, embracing sustainable land-use practices like afforestation, reforestation, and agroforestry holds promise for mitigating the impacts of climate change and enhancing resilience. The promotion of climate-smart agriculture, watershed management, and community-based forestry can aid in conserving ecosystems, sequestering carbon, and improving livelihoods. This study illustrates the intricate relationship between land-use and climate change, emphasizing the importance of striking a balance in land-use practices, conserving forests, and biodiversity, and promoting sustainable agriculture. These efforts are indispensable for achieving climate resilience and sustainable development in Nepal. By addressing the nexus between land-use and climate change, Nepal can pave the way towards a more sustainable and climate-resilient future. The purpose of this book is to present the core concepts of this issue, inspire further research, and propose solutions to mitigate the problems caused by human disturbances in the Earth's ecosystem.