International Day of Forests and World Water Day 2016

JOINT CELEBRATION OF THE

INTERNATIONAL DAY OF FORESTS AND THE WORLD WATER DAY

STATEMENT BY THE DIRECTOR OF THE FAO LIAISON OFFICE TO THE UN CARLA MUCAVI

ECOSOC, UN Headquarters, New York

 

Mr. Chairperson, the President of ECOSOC,

Excellencies,

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

FAO welcomes the joint celebration of the International Day of Forests, and the World Water under the theme of Forests and Water: Sustaining Life and Livelihoods. This theme, chosen this year by the Collaborative Partnership on Forests, which FAO is proud to chair, is indeed appropriate.

 

A large part of the world’s drinking water comes from forested areas, and millions of people depend on high-quality freshwater flowing from forests. Forests help maintain water quality, influence the volume of available water, and regulate surface and groundwater flows. Forests also help reduce water-related risks such as landslides, floods and droughts and prevent desertification and salinization.

 

One of the targets of SDG 6 on water and sanitation states is to increase water-use efficiency across all sectors and ensure sustainable withdrawals and supply of freshwater. Agriculture plays a major role in achieving this target. According to FAO AQUASTAT, agriculture represents about 70% of the world fresh water withdrawals.

 

How to increase food production using less water is one of our great challenges. Satisfying expected increases in water, energy and food needs require a shift to more sustainable consumption and production approaches, with more efficient and sustainable agriculture and food systems.

 

FAO is working with governments and partners to make this shift happen. This needs to be a joint effort involving different actors. Forest and water communities will need to work hand in hand with the stakeholders of these and other sectors to ensure that we design and adopt solutions that are feasible, realistic, and fair for all concerned. The 2030 Development Agenda provides the framework for those actions to happen.

 

Thank you very much for your kind attention.