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Forests, trees and agroforestry play an important role
Trees and agroforestry — the practice of planting trees on farmland — support climate change adaptation, conserve biodiversity, and promote sustainable development through their ecosystem services. Landscapes including this one in Papua, Indonesia can provide:
Nutritious forest foods (2017-12-10) by Icaro Cooke Vieira/CIFORThe CGIAR Research Program on Forests, Trees and Agroforestry (FTA)
Nutritious foods
...including leaves, fruits and vegetables. In the forests surrounding Kapuas Hulu, Indonesia, for example, Rosalina Heni [pictured] often feeds her family with the plants she forages, including pantok palm-tree shoots. Micronutrient-rich diets like this stave off malnutrition.
Bushmeat market (2012-08-02) by Ollivier Girard/CIFORThe CGIAR Research Program on Forests, Trees and Agroforestry (FTA)
Jobs
Many people rely on tree products to earn a living. The women in this picture are buying and selling meats and vegetables which are only found in their native forests.
Mangrove SWAMP project (2016-03-08) by Mokhamad Edliadi/CIFORThe CGIAR Research Program on Forests, Trees and Agroforestry (FTA)
Ecosystem services
Trees trap carbon, release oxygen, promote biodiversity, regulate the water cycle, prevent erosion, fertilize the soil and much more. Mangroves like the ones pictured here are especially remarkable providers of ecosystem services.
Charcoal transport (2020-05-13) by Fiston Wasanga/CIFORThe CGIAR Research Program on Forests, Trees and Agroforestry (FTA)
Important products such as wood and charcoal
Firewood and charcoal are especially valuable in sub-Saharan Africa where nearly 60 percent of households use wood for their daily cooking and other energy needs. The merchants in this picture are transporting charcoal to Kisangani city, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
Trees can help meet the most pressing global challenges
The benefits you've just read about can contribute to achieving the U.N. sustainable development goals (SDGs) of "No Poverty," "Zero Hunger," "Climate Action" and “Life on Land,” among others.
Degraded landscape (2010-02-25) by Moses Ceaser/CIFORThe CGIAR Research Program on Forests, Trees and Agroforestry (FTA)
Achieving the SDGs is critical
...as human activity has already degraded and deforested large areas of land.
Planting Gnetum (okok) (2012-06-23) by Ollivier Girard/CIFORThe CGIAR Research Program on Forests, Trees and Agroforestry (FTA)
It is possible to restore the balance of nature
...so that trees, people and the rest of the environment exist in harmony.
Cabbage seedlings (2013-10-19) by Ricky Martin/CIFORThe CGIAR Research Program on Forests, Trees and Agroforestry (FTA)
In fact, it's already happening!
Farmers, indigenous groups, donors and policy makers have already begun working together to transition towards healthier, more sustainable landscapes.
That's where our work comes in...
The CGIAR Research Program on Forests, Trees and Agroforestry (FTA) is the largest non-profit research organization focused on the role of tree-based landscapes in sustainable development, food security and addressing climate change.
We do research for development.
FTA work areas (2021-09-30) by Juan Pablo Ramos & Perdana Maulansyah Putra/FTAThe CGIAR Research Program on Forests, Trees and Agroforestry (FTA)
FTA operates in 74 countries
Together with our managing partners, we provide innovative research, technical solutions, training, monitoring and policy support where it is most needed.
We have written 6,000 research publications in 10 years
This work, accomplished by FTA's partner organizations and scientists, centers on the organization's 25 operational priorities including restoration, food systems, climate change, sustainable finance, seed banks and more!
Peatland restoration (2019-04-10) by Aris Sanjaya/CIFORThe CGIAR Research Program on Forests, Trees and Agroforestry (FTA)
FTA also oversees hundreds of on-the-ground projects
...with the support of its generous donors,
Peatland fire-prevention talks (2019-04-09) by Aris Sanjaya/CIFORThe CGIAR Research Program on Forests, Trees and Agroforestry (FTA)
Influences policies at all levels of governance
— both local and global —
Mrs. Justina Serrano Alvarez (2018-03-07) by Aguila Guerrero/CIFORThe CGIAR Research Program on Forests, Trees and Agroforestry (FTA)
And empowers women, youth and indigenous groups
...to participate in key decision-making processes. Their voices in policy help ensure that the benefits from trees and forests are fairly shared regardless of class, status or ethnicity.
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Explore forests, trees and agroforestry
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Sources:
Forests, trees and agroforestry (FTA) website
FTA program overview
FTA 2020 Science Conference
Further readings:
https://www.cifor.org/feature/mangrove-natures-carbon-storehouse/
https://forestsnews.cifor.org/66346/under-fire-five-facts-about-wood-fuel-in-sub-saharan-africa?fnl=en
https://sdgs.un.org/goals
https://www.foreststreesagroforestry.org/
https://www.foreststreesagroforestry.org/publications/
https://www.foreststreesagroforestry.org/partner-institutions/
https://www.foreststreesagroforestry.org/research/fta-priorities/
https://www.cgiar.org/funders/
FTA managing partners:
1. The Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR)
2. World Agroforestry (ICRAF)
3. Bioversity Alliance and CIAT
4. Centro Agronómico Tropical de Investigación y Enseñanza (CATIE)
5. French Agricultural Research Centre for International Development (CIRAD)
6. International Bamboo and Rattan Organisation (INBAR)
7. Tropenbos International (TBI)