The main aim of this study is to facilitat e access to comprehensive and comparable information on the current and past extent of mangroves in the 124 countries and areas where they are known to exist, highlighting information gaps and providing updated information that may serve as a tool for mangrove managers and policy- and decision-makers worldwide.

Ce second numéro de FAO-Info vous présente de façon succincte les principales activités menées par la Représentation au cours des mois mars et avril 2013. Ces activités s’articulent notamment autour de la formation des producteurs des régions du Sud, Centre et l’Est sur la thématique des « Champs Ecoles Paysans » et du personnel de la Représentation sur l’utilisation du nouvel outil de gestion Citrix et GRMS.

This paper presents an overview of the various approaches that developed and developing countries have used in designing national forest funds. It is based on a study of legislation in over forty countries and a review of some of the few empirical studies of forest fund performance. The overview may serve as checklist of issues and options for policymakers who are designing funds. It also may illuminate ongoing discussions about appropriate international roles in forest financing. The paper presents some of the common arguments for and against the use of dedicated funds.

Mangroves, commonly found along sheltered coastlines in the tropics and subropics, fulfil important socio-economic and envioronmental functions: providing wood and non-wood forest products, protecting shores against wind, waves and water currents; conserving biological diversity; protecting coral reefs, sea-grass beds and shipping lanes against siltation; and providing habitat, spawning grounds and nutrients for a variety of fish and shellfish, including many commercial species.

The preliminary conclusions put forward in this Rural Sector Note may be used as basis for further discussions between the Government and the World Bank to ascertain the mutual interest in any programme or project follow up.

Forests play major roles in climate change. They contribute carbon emissions when destroyed or degraded and they suffer from changing climate, drought and extreme weather. Managed sustainably, they can provide a unique environmental service by removing excess carbon from the atmosphere, storing it in biomass, soils and products. In addition, sustainably produced wood fuels offer an environmentally benign alternative to fossil fuels.

Forests and woody vegetation cover a total surface area of 1.3 million ha in 2015 (FAO 2015) that represents 8% of the country surface area. It includes 1 million ha of forests and 0.3 Million ha of shrubs and other woody area. The forest area has increased from 643,000 ha in 1990 to 1,041,000 ha in 2015 ((FAO 2015) that corresponds to an increase by 62% in the last twenty five years or an annual increase of 1.9%.

Most of the terrestrial biodiversity within the Asia-Pacific region is contained within forests. Protected areas are the mainstay for biodiversity conservation although other forest areas are also important. Habitat destruction and extraction of high-value species are major threats to biodiversity. Ecosystem stability is based on interdependence among constituent species and with biodiversity loss, resilience to change is reduced. Awareness raising, stringent environmental impact assessments, and improved law enforcement are required.

This guide complements the Food Security and Climate Change Challenge Badge activity booklet. The resources and activity ideas are designed to support you and your group and to help you educate children and youth about climate change and food security. The guide contains simple teaching tools to make learning appealing and fun, and provides a selection of activities and exercises to carry out individually or in your group. The guide can be used to achieve the Food Security and Climate Change Challenge Badge or can be used separately.

This report takes place within the framework of the regional project “Maximize the production of goods and services of Mediterranean forest ecosystems in the context of global changes” (2012-2016) financed by the French Global Environment Facility together with the German Cooperation (GIZ), the French Ministry of Agriculture, Agrifood, and Forestry, and the European Union in 5 countries in North Africa (Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia) and the Near East (Lebanon, Turkey).

FAO and the Global Mechanism of the UNCCD have joined efforts to prepare this discussion paper on sustainable financing for FLR. It provides an overview of existing funding sources and financial instruments that could be used and adapted specifically for the implementation of FLR efforts at the national, regional and global levels. It identifies innovative financing mechanisms to support the achievement of these global targets and discusses the main challenges for enhanced FLR financing.