In the Asia-Pacific region, people are highly dependent on forests and agroforests for food security. However, the complex linkages between forestry and food security are not well understood. The production and protection roles of trees and forests are crucial for the sustainability of farming systems. These roles include: protecting watersheds, mitigating soil erosion, supporting farming on marginal lands, supplying animal feeds, providing direct sources of food and nutrition, serving as pools of genetic resources, and enhancing the socioeconomic condition of rural households through income and employment generation.
Key issues are emerging concerning the linkages between forestry/agroforestry and food security. Dynamic in nature, these issues focus on: increases in population and demands for food and forest products, forest conversion and deforestation, trade and marketing, resource access and tenure, gender, management of fragile lands, and appropriate technical solutions.
Asia-Pacific countries face common problems and opportunities. There are many constraints that presently limit the contributions of forestry and agroforestry to food security. These constraints are multifaceted and include problems that are related to: institutional barriers, production, technology, resource access and equity, trade, information, industrialization and urbanization, and food deficits and malnutrition.
Policy disincentives and incentives, international cooperation mechanisms, and transitional economies form another set of key problems and opportunities. This will be a critical area for future improvement if food security is to be achieved in the Asia-Pacific region.
Special attention should also be addressed to problematic areas of the forestry/food security interface, in particular to: major watersheds and forested areas, dry zones, temperate zones, small islands and urban forestry. All these areas will become increasingly important as population and landuse pressures become more acute throughout the region.
Therefore, it is strongly recommended that UNDP, in concert with other like-minded donors, provide intercountry support to enhance the contributions of forestry and agroforestry to security in the region. Future support and activities should be focused on four areas:
Moreover, it is recommended that UNDP and other donors consider providing support for existing networks that have a proven track record of delivering intercountry support within the forestry/agroforestry sector. One such entity is the Asia-Pacific Agroforestry Network, established by FAO with Government of Japan and UNDP funding during 1991-1997, and hosted by the Government of Indonesia.