What have we learnt from FAO evaluations to protect biodiversity?

Sustainable agriculture is a way of farming that protects biodiversity. It uses practices that conserve soil and water, reduce pollution, and promote the health of ecosystems. Sustainable agriculture can help to ensure that we have enough food to eat in the future, while also protecting the environment.

FAO promotes sustainable agriculture as one of the solutions to the challenge of biodiversity loss. FAO is working with farmers, governments, and businesses to develop and implement sustainable agricultural practices. We provide technical assistance and training to help farmers adopt these practices.

Sustainable agriculture is a win-win solution. It can help to protect biodiversity, while also providing us with the food we need to survive. FAO is committed to promoting sustainable agriculture as a way to build a more sustainable future for all.

Here are some of the benefits of sustainable agriculture:

• It can help to protect biodiversity by conserving habitats and promoting the use of native species.
• It can improve soil health by reducing erosion and increasing organic matter.
• It can reduce water pollution by using less water and preventing runoff.
• It can help to mitigate climate change by sequestering carbon in the soil and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
• It can improve food security by increasing yields and making crops more resistant to pests and diseases.
• It can boost rural economies by creating jobs and increasing income for farmers.

What have we learnt from FAO evaluations?

⦿ Key recommendations from the terminal evaluation of the project 'Securing biodiversity conservation and sustainable use in China’s Dongting Lake Protected Areas' on the sustainability plan that required finalization and addressing potential risks to long-term impact, the need for the social impact of biodiversity conservation efforts to be fully considered and systematically recorded and that the future project designs should be updated with operational partners to address any contextual changes.

⦿ The terminal evaluation of the project 'Implementing the socio-ecosystem connectivity approach to conserve and sustainable use biodiversity in the Caribbean Region of Colombia' found a high effectiveness of the project in obtaining the expected results, exceeding in some cases, the established goals. Likewise, the processes and mechanisms implemented by the project for the involvement of relevant stakeholders generated a very high ownership of the project. Due to the successes achieved, the evaluation identified good practices and lessons learned that may be useful for the design of similar projects.

⦿ The evaluation of the project 'Strengthening community resilience to climate change in Blantyre, Zomba, Neno and Phalombe districts' found that communities adopted conservation and safeguarding biodiversity actions to address negative effects caused by floods, heavy winds and prolonged droughts. Some of the key transformational strategies introduced by the project towards anticipating and responding to the effects of climate hazards and shocks include managing and conserving soil, land, water, agro–forestry, and improving child care and overall food and nutrition security.

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