International Day of Forests

Forests, crucial ecosystems for food security

Forests, pillars of global food security and nutrition, are the livelihoods of millions of families. They provide essential foods such as fruits, seeds, roots and wild meat, fundamental resources for indigenous and rural communities.

But its function goes far beyond. Forests are a vital source of energy, providing wood for cooking, playing a key role in agriculture by hosting pollinators and acting in soil enrichment, climate regulation and biodiversity conservation. In addition, forested watersheds supply freshwater to more than 85% of the world's major cities. In crisis situations, forests become an economic and food lifeline, providing up to 20% of family income in rural areas, guaranteeing healthy diets.

But these ecosystems are in danger.

We lose 10 million hectares annually due to deforestation and approximately 70 million hectares affected by fires. Protecting and restoring our forests is urgent and necessary: the well-being of the planet and future generations depends on them.

Join the cause and defend the theme of International Day of Forests 2025: "Forests and Food". The future of food begins in the forests!

Join the celebration at the UN

The UN Forum on Forests (UNFF) has organized a celebration to discover how forests fuel food security, support livelihoods, and sustain our planet!! Join us and spread the world with its material in 6 languages! UNFF, established in 2000, is the UN international meeting space where countries, experts, and organizations come together to talk about forests and how to protect and manage them sustainably.

The State of the World's Forests 2024 (latest edition)

This latest digital edition provides highlights on the state of the world’s forests and explores the transformative power of evidence-based innovation in the forest sector, ranging from new technologies to creative and successful policies and institutional changes, to new ways of getting finance to forest owners and managers.

Did you know?

More than five billion people around the world use forest and non-timber forest products for food, medicine and livelihoods.
Over 2 billion people rely on wood and other traditional fuels for cooking
Wild meat is an important protein source for Indigenous Peoples and rural communities particularly in tropical regions. Over 3,200 species of wild animals are used as food.
In some countries and regions, forests and trees provide around 20% of the income for rural households.
Additional data

FAO online event

Celebrating the role of forests in food systems

Friday, 21 March, 2:00-4 :00 pm (CET)

Find out more about the connection between forests and food . Featuring stories from around the world, speakers will showcase forest-based wild foods and explore how forests contribute to food security, nutrition and livelihoods.