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Forests for a sustainable future: educating children — testing lessons in the Philippines
Children in primary school today will play a significant role in bringing about the changes needed to ensure a sustainable future for forests. “Forests for a sustainable future: educating children” is a project funded by the German Federal Ministry for Food and Agriculture (BMEL) and launched by FAO in 2019 to educate children aged 9 to 12 in the United Republic of Tanzania and the Philippines about the importance of managing forests sustainably.
Through interactive hands-on forest teaching modules designed in collaboration with national partners, the project aims to inform young generations about the value of forests, build the skills of the adults of tomorrow to make decisions in favour of their sustainable use and management and inspire the future generation of foresters.
Learners at a primary school in Manila are seen participating in lessons which include games and activities indoors and out. Pupils and teachers share their impressions after the lessons.
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Mangrove forests are mostly found in warm areas with calm coastlines, shallow water, and soft ground. The size and type of mangroves can vary depending on environmental conditions. Sustaining a rich food web - from detritus decomposers to fish, mammals and birds - mangrove ecosystems represent an interphase between terrestrial and marine communities. In the first study of its kind, FAO with experts around the world uncovered a wealth of information on the extent of mangrove forests globally. The study also gives a glimpse into what causes mangrove losses and gains. Find out more about this precious ecosystem and see how mangroves affect our daily lives.
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For generations, Ariel Benitez's ancestors, the Ava Guaraní people, one of the Indigenous Peoples living in eastern Paraguay, have been harvesting the green leaves of the yerba mate tree to make the bitter, caffeinated brew beloved in South America and beyond. With wild yerba mate trees increasingly scarce due to climate change, this community, with FAO’s assistance, is planting new trees to support the environment and their livelihoods. They've planted more than 1,500 of them in combination with several other species of native trees, which are important for both the local ecosystem and as traditional sources of food and medicines.
A project in Tanzania supported by FAO is setting up forestry and land restoration school clubs to impart skills to children so that they grow up with a practical knowledge of how to restore and conserve forests.
Aucca has spent the past 30 years honoring his grandparent’s request and is leading local communities in a push to protect forests across South America.