Forests as foundation of food security and nutrition

Forests contribute to food security and nutrition in various ways, closely linked to the four dimensions of food security and nutrition through the provision of nutritious food, income, employment, energy, and ecosystem services. Protecting and sustainably managing forests can help build healthier diets, resilient livelihoods, and sustainable food systems.

Forests play a vital role in global food security and nutrition, occupying one third of the Earth’s land and housing 80% of terrestrial biodiversity. Forests contribute to food security and nutrition in various ways, closely linked to the four dimensions of food security and nutrition through the provision of nutritious food, income, employment, energy, and ecosystem services. Key forest products rich in essential nutrients include fruits, seeds, nuts, edible roots and tubers, and protein sources like wild meat from over 3,200 animal species. More than 2 billion people use woodfuel for cooking, while 765 million people use wood energy to sterilize their water by boiling, which is often the only available means that forest-dependent communities have to obtain safe drinking water and water for food processing.

Forest ecosystem services support agricultural, livestock and fishery production through water regulation, soil protection, nutrient circulation, pest control and pollination. However, current challenges include rising global food prices, climate change threats, deforestation, and a projected population increase necessitating a 60% rise in agricultural output by 2050. 

The First International Conference on Forests for Food Security and Nutrition in 2013 highlighted forests’ vital role in food security and nutrition, leading to increased global efforts to achieve related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 1 (No Poverty), SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), and SDG 15 (Life on Land). In 2017, the Committee on World Food Security endorsed voluntary policy recommendations to integrate sustainable forestry with food security and nutrition. These recommendations represented an important global effort to promote the integrated management of forests and agricultural systems while addressing food security and nutrition objectives. 

The future of forests and food security is essential to global well-being, requiring integrated, coordinated efforts. Such actions will enable current and future generations to recognize the critical role of forests in sustainable food security, nutrition, and other benefits offered by healthy forests. 

Reference:  Laura, S. (March 2025). Forests and Foods: Nourishing People, Sustaining the Planet. United Nations. Retrieved August 3, 2026 from https://www.un.org/en/un-chronicle/forests-and-foods-nourishing-people-sustaining-planet