In Italy stable meadows are disappearing through the abandonment of the countryside and soil consumption. Across Europe they occupy a surface area as large as France, and the most flourishing meadows are found in Ireland, Spain and Portugal. They’re fundamental for maintaining biodiversity, be it vegetal or animal, and for
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), together with the Alliance of Bioversity International and The International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) released a new study identifying hundreds of diverse plant and animal species that Indigenous Peoples around the world depend on and care for to generate food sustainably
Deforestation rates are significantly lower in Indigenous and Tribal territories where governments have formally recognized collective land rights, according to a new report. Jointly published by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Fund for the Development of Indigenous Peoples of Latin America and the
The Director-General of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Audrey Azoulay opened the UNESCO Forum on Biodiversity by pointing out that one year after its emergence, the COVID-19 pandemic has confirmed what we had already known; “by threatening biodiversity, humanity is threatening the conditions for its own survival”. “The pandemic demonstrated that
Natural ecosystems, such as forests, grasslands and oceans, do a pretty good job of storing carbon and supporting biodiversity. It’s therefore no surprise that Nature-based Solutions (NbS) – actions to protect, sustainably manage and restore natural or modified ecosystems, for the benefit of people and nature – are being widely
Recognizing that the continued deterioration and degradation of the world’s natural ecosystems were having major impacts on the lives and livelihoods of people everywhere, world leaders called for increased resolve to protect biodiversity at the UN. A record number of countries – nearly 150 countries and 72 Heads of State
The Asia-Pacific region is one of the world’s most ethnically and culturally diverse regions. It is also one of its most biodiverse. Yet local marine ecosystems are nearing a tipping point as a result of various environmental stresses caused by unsustainable human practices. In a newly released report, The Changing Sails: Accelerating
With a climate changing faster than most crops can adapt and food security under threat around the world, scientists have found hope in a living museum dedicated to a staple eaten by millions daily: the humble potato. High in the Peruvian Andes, agronomists are looking to the ancestral knowledge of
African ministers agreed to make the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment (AMCEN) the region’s forum for developing regional environment policies with mechanisms for implementation. The Conference focused on the need for African countries to pursue global and regional frameworks and policies to achieve the SDGs and Africa’s Agenda 2063
The world has a unique opportunity to stem the tides of climate change, ensure future food security, protect biodiversity, and make healthier diets widely accessible, according to a new global report. With the global population expected to increase by two billion in the next 26 years, food insecurity is a
The exchange of knowledge and good practises is a fundamental principle and major strength of the European Region of Gastronomy Platform. Something that was very well demonstrated once again during the 16th European Region of Gastronomy Platform meeting, held on 11-13 February 2019 in Sibiu, Romania. Representatives from the European Regions
A traditional saffron cultivation system in Iran, an argan-based agro-pastoral system in Morocco, and an ancient olive trees system in Spain today won recognition from FAO as Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS). All the sites feature unique ways to produce nutritious foods and/or spices using traditional knowledge and skills while improving
Our food is eating up the world’s tropical forests, thanks to growing global trade in agricultural commodities from tropical countries. Land for agricultural production comes at the cost of natural habitats, and habitat destruction affects the climate, water cycles and the species that live in them. Perhaps nowhere is this
A new standard sets out criteria for identifying key biodiversity areas, and SA will be among the first to do a complete national assessment. The recent adoption of the Key Biodiversity Areas Standard is a major breakthrough for global conservation. It has brought together 12 of the largest conservation nongovernmental
Fiji and the Pacific Region, for the first time hosted the United National World Tourism Organisation’s (UNWTO) 30th Joint Meeting of the Commission of East Asia and Pacific (CAP) and Commission of the South Asian (CSA). The Joint Commission Meeting was preceded by a Regional Seminar on Climate Change, Biodiversity
