Forests cover nearly one-third of the Earth's land, offering vital benefits such as soil and water protection, climate regulation, and biodiversity preservation. They provide essential materials like wood and fibers, as well as food and medicine, which support millions of livelihoods globally. The resilience and adaptability of forests and trees largely stem from their genetic diversity. But what makes forests and trees resilient and adaptable? The answer lies in their genetic diversity. The Second Report on the State of the World’s Forest Genetic Resources highlights the urgent need to conserve and sustainably utilize these genetic resources. This is crucial for addressing challenges like deforestation, climate change, and poverty. By advancing research, improving policies, and fostering global cooperation, we can protect forest genetic diversity, ensuring that forests continue to thrive and serve future generations.

In the countries of the Central American Integration System (SICA) lies the Dry Corridor, considered one of the most vulnerable ecoregions to climate variability and change. It is characterized by long periods of drought with rising temperatures or intense rainfall. People dependent on agriculture are the most affected socially, economically, and environmentally, with serious consequences for their food security and nutrition. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) works with Central American governments to promote innovative solutions that support the work, leadership, and knowledge of women and men in preparing, alongside their rural communities, to face climate change, the degradation of natural resources, and limited access to technology and innovation — all key to achieving inclusive rural development, thus strengthening resilience and improving livelihoods.

A new silk farming industry is emerging in Mukono, Uganda, managed by Waiswa Aggrey Mubeerwa for the Seres Textile Company Limited. Established in 2019, the facility awaits the arrival of an extracting machine to begin exporting silk. This initiative is part of a South-South Cooperation (SSC) project implemented by FAO, working with the Ugandan government and China's Ministry of Agriculture. Uganda's climate is ideal for mulberry trees, the sole food for silkworms. With proper training and resources, farmers can significantly increase their income, as a kilogram of silk can earn around USD 50 in China. By the end of 2024, the project had distributed 200,000 mulberry cuttings and trained 44 farmers. The SSC project aims to enhance agricultural productivity across Uganda, benefiting 70,000 farmers in various sectors, transitioning from subsistence farming to commercial operations essential for poverty alleviation.

In Nawalpur District, Nepal, a group of women in Binayi Triveni, led by Meena Poudel, is transforming forest management into a thriving local economy. By clearing underbrush that previously contributed to wildfires, they have significantly reduced forest fire incidents by 70% over the past year. Meena serves as the Secretary of the Binayi Community Forest User Group, which focuses on responsible forest stewardship. Their efforts have led to the production of over 60,000 kilograms of organic fertilizer annually, with plans to more than double that output. This initiative represents a proactive approach to environmental challenges, turning risks into economic opportunities.

Since 1945 FAO has strived to increase food security, promote sustainable agriculture and innovation, build resilience and empower people for a better life and future. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations envisions a world where everyone has access to enough high-quality food to lead active healthy lives.

Givi Chubinidze, a winemaker from Georgia's Imereti region, carries on his family's winemaking tradition, which has been passed down for generations. His ancestors cultivated indigenous grape varieties like tsitska, krakhuna, and adanasuri, and Givi named his wines Nanua after an ancestor who served as a royal wine-cellar keeper. Currently, he cultivates around 120 endemic grapevine varieties on his land to adapt to climate change, believing these grapes embody Georgia's cultural heritage. In 2024, Givi received a matching grant from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) through the European Neighbourhood Program for Agriculture and Rural Development (ENPARD) to enhance his wine production by integrating modern food safety standards with traditional methods, aiding rural development and food safety in the region.

In Mauritania, camels are driving sustainable development as improved milk production and training empower communities and create new economic opportunities.

Indigenous Women are vital food providers, custodians of seeds, and guardians of biodiversity. They preserve Indigenous knowledge, agri-food systems, and cultures, deeply connected to their ancestral lands. Despite their significant contributions to food security and medicine, they often remain invisible in statistics and decision-making due to a lack of disaggregated data and persistent discrimination. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is collaborating with Indigenous Women and universities to address this data gap and involve them in decision-making. Since 2015, FAO has partnered with Indigenous Women’s organizations to run leadership schools on Human Rights and Food Security, training over 300 women to participate in international negotiations and processes.

Mireille, Eloi, and Daniel transformed their agricultural businesses in Benin by utilizing RuralInvest for growth and funding.

At 5,100 meters above sea level, Bolivia's Huayna Potosí glacier faces thinning and retreating at an annual rate of about 24 meters. The landscape, once filled with thick blue ice, now reveals bare rock and a newly formed meltwater lake. A team of scientists ascends the glacier to install equipment that measures water accumulation in the form of snow, vital for the glacier's survival. Their work provides crucial data on the impacts of ice loss on ecosystems and communities relying on glacier water. This research aids in raising awareness among decision-makers and establishing an international monitoring network to understand how climate change affects the cryosphere. As glaciers retreat faster than expected, efforts in Bolivia focus on conserving remaining water by creating reservoirs and developing collaborative water usage arrangements to prevent future conflicts.

On the global market, the asaí berry is widely promoted as a superfood, brimming with antioxidants that boost the immune system, protect cellular integrity and alleviate inflammation. However, for the Porvenir Indigenous Peoples’ community in Bolivia, the asaí palm is worth so much more than its fruits’ nutritional and health benefits. These trees are a precious natural resource that sustains their livelihoods and their environments. Before, the community harvested the asaí palm by chopping down entire trees for their fibrous cores, which were processed and sold as heart of palm. Now, thanks to asaí berry production, the community has eliminated the need to cut down palm trees, protecting both the species and their future earnings.

Alex Sybron, 33, transitioned from a budding cricket career to becoming the Chief Plant Breeding Officer at Jamaica's Bodles Research Station, focusing on improving seed quality for the agricultural sector. Encouraged by his mother to pursue education after a potential injury, he discovered a passion for plants. Collaborating with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Sybron’s team works to ensure disease- and pest-free seeds, which are vital for enhancing crop productivity. Jamaican hot peppers, known for their unique heat and flavor, are a primary export, but issues like low seed quality and poor planting practices challenge production. Training sessions for farmers emphasize best practices to improve yield and combat plant diseases.

Family farming is crucial for global food security, producing over 80% of the world’s food, with FAO working to strengthen policies and support sustainable agricultural development.

Chipo Munsaka explains her first name means "a gift for conserving wildlife," which sums up her commitment to addressing conflicts between humans and wildlife. Chipo works as a Resource Monitor in northern Zimbabwe with the Mucheni Community Conservancy, which is being established by the Sustainable Wildlife Management (SWM) Programme. Populations of many wildlife species in Zimbabwe have been declining over the last 30 years due to droughts, habitat loss, poaching, and the sale of wildlife products. The SWM Programme supports community conservancies to improve land use planning and promote wildlife corridors to reduce conflict and create benefits for communities that coexist with wildlife.

Biodiversity is essential for food security and the environment, involving diverse agricultural practices such as using indigenous seeds, combining crops, and restoring pollinator populations. Our agrifood systems depend on a wide variety of domesticated and wild species, but biodiversity is declining due to factors like land use changes, climate change and over-exploitation. In Luweero District, Uganda, Jane Nakandi Sebyaala, a coffee and banana farmer, leads the Twezimbe Kassala Community Seed Bank, which focuses on preserving indigenous seeds. These seeds can be replanted multiple times and flourish without heavy chemical inputs. Following training by the Food and Agricultutral Organization (FAO), Jane and her community began collecting and planting indigenous seeds, resulting in healthier, more resilient crop yields, particularly maize and beans.