31 October 2008 -
The availability and quality of clean water in many regions of the world is threatened by overuse, misuse and pollution. In this context, the relationship between forests and water must be given high priority. Forested catchments supply much of the water for domestic, agricultural, industrial and ecological needs. Detailed understanding of the interface of forests and trees with water is necessary to maximize the benefits that forests provide without detriment to water resources and ecosystem function, and this knowledge needs to be embedded in policies. This study, initiated in the context of the Global Forest Resources Assessment 2005, highlights the need for holistic management of complex watershed ecosystems, taking into account interactions among water, forest and other land uses as well as socio-economic factors. It explains the role of forests in the hydrological cycle, with a particular focus on critical, “red flag” forest situations such as mountainous or steep terrain, river and coastal areas and swamp ecosystems, as well as the special case of mountainous small islands. It addresses the protection of municipal water supplies and emerging systems of payment for watershed services. This state-of-knowledge publication will be of interest to a broad range of technical experts, scientists and decision-makers.
Hard copies can be requested from: FO-Publications@fao.org [ more...]
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20 October 2008 -
Delegates from 46 countries have met in Rome to explore collaboration on sustainable forest management issues, with a focus on climate change, water, and energy. The European Forest Week (EFW) was co-organized by the Ministerial Conference on the Protection of Forests in Europe, the United Nations Economic Commission, the Food and Agricultural Organization and the European Commission. See the EFW Web site for the summary report by the Earth Negotiations Bulletin. [ more...]
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6 August 2008 -
From 12 to 15 May a workshop on Prevention and regional cooperation regarding forest fires in the Mediterranean region took place in Sabaudia, Italy. The workshop was organized by FAO, the European Commission and the Corpo Forestale dello Stato, Italy. Forty seven persons from fifteen member countries of Silva Mediterranea, as well as the Global Fire Monitoring Centre, the European Commision and FAO participated. The report contains a brief description of the sessions as well as the final recomendations with emphasis for more support to fire prevention. [ more...]
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