Nam Ha Protected Area in Luang Namtha province, Lao PDR, is home to a variety of animals, plants, and birds, as well as a home to the people—whose lives have been intertwined with the forests for centuries. Photo: Nam Ha National Protected Area
When we think of food sources, especially in Southeast Asia, many of us would probably picture rice fields or farms dedicated to agricultural production. However, forests are also a cornerstone of food security and a source of livelihood for local communities.
The Asia-Pacific region is home to some of the world’s most diverse and ecologically significant forests, encompassing various ecosystems, plant and animal species, and habitats.
This encompasses tropical rainforests, temperate forests, mangrove swamps, and montane ecosystems. They provide many essential ecosystem services. One is that they are a vital source of diverse food for the nutritional needs and well-being of around 2.4 billion people globally, particularly those in rural areas and Indigenous communities.
This array of food includes fruits, nuts, berries, mushrooms, numerous edible plants and animals like insects, mammals, birds, and fish. These and many other forest foods add variety and flavour to diets while providing essential vitamins, minerals, fats and proteins.
In addition, during shortages and emergencies caused by droughts, extreme weather events, and wars, forests offer a backup plan against hunger and malnutrition.
In times of crisis, forests can provide up to 20% of household income and ensure access to nutritious food, making them both an economic and food lifeline. Healthy forests also help reduce soil erosion and protect against floods, stabilising landscapes and minimising the impacts of natural disasters.
Moreover, forests are a vital energy source, providing wood for cooking. They also host pollinators for food production and contribute to soil enrichment, climate regulation, and biodiversity conservation. Forested watersheds supply freshwater to over 85% of the world’s major cities.
Unfortunately, according to the State of the World’s Forests 2024 and related reports, while the Asia-Pacific region has seen a modest net gain in forest area since 2000 because of reforestation and afforestation projects, natural forests with high biodiversity and ecosystem resilience continue to decline due to pressures including land conversion and urbanisation.
It is also estimated that we lose 10 million hectares annually due to deforestation, and approximately 70 million hectares are affected by wildfires. The overexploitation of forest resources, including wildlife, timber, and non-timber forest products (NTFPs), remains a significant threat to forest biodiversity in the region. Other major drivers of forest cover loss are climate change and invasive alien species.
As we celebrate this year’s International Day of Forests (IDF) with the theme “Forests and Food,” the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity (ACB) raises awareness of the vital role of forests in food security and calls for collective action to protect, restore, and sustainably use this valuable natural resource for the benefit of both people and planet.
The ASEAN Heritage Parks (AHP) Programme is an ongoing flagship initiative of the ASEAN that supports the effective management of critical ecosystems. The AHPs best represent ASEAN biodiversity and are pioneers in fostering healthy ecosystems. This includes support for community livelihood activities, which provide multiple benefits to people and nature.
The ACB, as the AHP Secretariat, currently maintains a comprehensive database of ASEAN AHPs. This will soon include information on forest restoration initiatives. The database will be regularly updated to contain consolidated and standardised biodiversity data, interactive dashboards, and a repository of restoration tools and documented practices.
This is also related to the ASEAN Green Initiative (AGI), which aims to recognise grassroots initiatives and business and private sector efforts on ecosystem restoration activities across the region. The goal is to plant at least 10 Million Trees across the 10 ASEAN countries in 10 years.
In 2023, the ASEAN awarded eight successful restoration projects for their contributions to the AGI. On its second iteration, the AGI Secretariat ensures inclusivity among all sectors to ensure that all restoration efforts in ASEAN are equally recognised.
The AGI will also highlight critical areas that serve as home to endemic, endangered, and important plant species or sites classified as key biodiversity areas and protected areas, including some of the AHPs. The ACB promotes indigenous species sourced from the AHPs and ensures quality seedlings for restoration initiatives.
As part of providing effective mechanisms for ecosystem restoration, the Conservation Action Fund of the ASEAN Youth Biodiversity Programme provided a seed fund of up to 4,000 EUR per project for several youth-led forest ecosystem restoration projects in Indonesia and the Philippines.
The recently concluded “Development of Programming Directions on Forest Biodiversity Mainstreaming in Asia-Pacific” project, a collaboration between the ACB and the FAO, analysed the current state of knowledge and experience about forest biodiversity mainstreaming in Asia and the Pacific region and identified regional priorities that will inform the development of the FAO Global Programme on Biodiversity Mainstreaming in Forestry.
This includes supporting key actions for achieving the targets specified in the ASEAN Biodiversity Plan to enhance the engagement of the forestry sector in biodiversity conservation.
Finally, as part of the KM GBF Target 2 (Ecosystem Restoration) Partnership, the ACB, as a regional and subregional technical and scientific cooperation (TSC) support centre for Asia, will lead the capacity development for planning, monitoring and reporting on ecosystem restoration, including forests.
Through this partnership, the ACB will co-organise the first regional workshop in collaboration with FAO and the Secretariat of the CBD to identify the current status, priorities, and plans, as well as the tools, methodologies, and resources available for the restoration of forests and other critical ecosystems.
More than what usually meets the eye, forests play a vital role in achieving food and nutrition security. As we recognise this critical role as we celebrate this year’s International Day of Forests, let us take a stand and pursue opportunities for collective action to support sustainable forest management practices, promote restoration and afforestation efforts, and counter the proliferation of illegal logging and wildlife trade.
This goes hand-in-hand with our initiatives related to empowering local communities and Indigenous peoples who are not just the first beneficiaries but also the front liners in forest conservation, ensuring that our forests continue to feed us and provide other essential ecosystem services for us and for generations to come.
