FAO to lead new five-year agenda on forests and water

Comprehensive and inclusive scientific and policy discussions on the critical but complex linkages between forests and water have culminated in the endorsement by an international group of experts, who met in Kunming, China, of an agenda to inform and steer future international action. The meeting, a joint initiative of FAO, ICRAF and IUFRO, entrusted FAO to lead implementation of the five-year plan. Find more...

As part of the follow-up to the Shiga Declaration and to the Warsaw Resolution 2, many events on forests and water were organized by FAO and other institutions between 2008 and 2011. Presenting experiences ranging from research to project implementation worldwide, these events provided new, up-to-date insight into the topic as well as important recommendations for the way forward.

FAO took the initiative of synthesizing the main outcomes and recommendations resulting from this process to develop a comprehensive and practical international forests and water agenda to address future course of action.

An Extract :

Forests play a crucial role in the hydrological cycle. Forests influence the amount of water available and regulate surface and groundwater flows while maintaining high water quality. Forests and trees contribute to the reduction of water-related risks such as landslides, local floods and droughts and help prevent desertification and salinization. Forested watersheds supply a high proportion of the world’s accessible fresh water for domestic, agricultural, industrial and ecological needs in both upstream and downstream areas.

A key challenge faced by land, forest and water managers is to maximize the wide range of forest benefits without detriment to water resources and ecosystem function. This is particularly relevant in the context of adaptation to climate change, which increasingly reinforces the importance of sustainable forest management. As part of the follow-up to the Shiga Declaration and to the Warsaw Resolution 2, many events on forests and water were organized by FAO and other institutions between 2008 and 2011. Presenting experiences ranging from research to project implementation worldwide, these events provided new, up-to-date insight into the topic as well as important recommendations for the way forward.

FAO took the initiative of synthesizing the main outcomes and recommendations resulting from this process to develop a comprehensive and practical international forests and water agenda to address future course of action.

Please download the Document : Forests and Water International Momentum  and action

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