Innovate and maximise forest potential to fight food and climate challenges, says FAO

Innovation is essential for maximising the potential of forests and addressing global challenges while paving the way towards a sustainable future for the forestry sector, according to the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations.

In its report, “The State of the World’s Forests 2024: Forest-sector innovations towards a more sustainable future”, FAO explores ways to scale up forest conservation, restoration and sustainable use through innovation.

Although some countries have made significant progress in reducing deforestation - Indonesia by 8.4 per cent and Brazil’s Legal Amazon by 50 per cent - climate change is increasing the vulnerability of forests to threats such as wildfires and pests.

The report highlights the rising intensity and frequency of wildfires, even in previously unaffected areas, releasing an estimated 6,687 megatonnes of carbon dioxide globally, whereas boreal fires have also reached a new high.

Extended droughts are worsening fire severity and fuel consumption, accounting for nearly a quarter of total wildfire emissions, according to the report.

In addition to fires, invasive species, including insects, pests, and disease pathogens, are also endangering tree growth and their survival. According to projections, areas of North America will suffer devastating damage from insects and disease by 2027.

Global wood production has reached record levels, and the global demand for roundwood is expected to rise by as much as 49 per cent between 2020 and 2050, posing additional challenges to the forest sector.

To address these issues, the report underscores the importance of innovation in achieving the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) outlined in the 2030 Agenda.

Innovative forest-based solutions needed

“The speed at which new challenges to sustainable development are rising is only matched by the rate at which innovations are emerging to deal with them,” FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu says in the report’s foreword.

Innovation, according to Qu, is vital to accelerating the transformation of agrifood systems and achieving three major Global Goals: eradicating hunger, food insecurity and malnutrition; eliminating poverty and driving forward economic and social progress for all; and promoting the sustainable management of natural resources.

“But innovation does not arise in a vacuum. It requires enabling policies; strong, transformative partnerships; investment; an inclusive culture that is open to and encouraging of new ideas; and a willingness to take calculated risks,” Qu emphasised.

Five types of innovation

The report singles out five types of innovation that can enhance the potential of forests to address global challenges: technological, social, policy, institutional, and financial. It also presents 18 case studies from around the world, where innovations are being tested and implemented.

Among technological innovations, the report highlights the development of Artificial Intelligence (AI), which can support efforts to stop and reverse deforestation and degradation.

AI could automate the analysis of vast amounts of data collected by drones, satellites and space stations, and it holds promise for controlling invasive species such as mammals, plants and invertebrates.

FAO also notes the dynamic relationship between social, policy and institutional innovation in the forest sector, therefore treating the three categories together in its report.

The organisation remarks that social innovations arise from interactions among stakeholders and can foster inclusivity and participation.

FAO encourages the promotion of gender-responsive policies, balanced employment opportunities, and the monitoring to ensure that women, youth and Indigenous people are included in locally-led solutions.

In terms of financial innovations, FAO advocates for increasing financing from national sources for forests and nature-based solutions, particularly by engaging the private sector to put more money into the sustainable development of forests and conservation.

Other innovations aim to make financing more environmentally and socially responsible, incentivising measures to reduce the environmental footprint of investments. An example of that is forest resilience bonds, which support restoration projects.

Overcoming barriers

To promote and scale up innovation in the forestry sector, the report suggests five key actions: raising awareness, building skills and knowledge, fostering partnerships, ensuring accessible financing, and creating supportive policies and regulations.

FAO also identifies four barriers to scaling up innovation: lack of innovation culture, risk, limitations in resources, and unsupportive policies and regulations.

The report emphasises the need for inclusive and gender-responsive approaches to ensure that innovation benefits all, including men, women, youth, and marginalised groups.

[By Xhoi Zajmi I Edited by Brian Maguire | Euractiv's Advocacy Lab ]