IDF 2016: FAO Press release
March 21, 2016
Food security depends on water security, and, in turn, water security depends on forests, an International Day of Forests event at FAO HQ in Rome heard today.
FAO Director-General Jos茅 Graziano da Silva highlighted the major role of forests in the water cycle, from recharging groundwater, contributing to precipitation and acting as natural water filters. Forested watersheds and wetlands supply 75 percent of the world’s accessible fresh water for domestic, agricultural, industrial and ecological needs.
“The close link between forests, water management, agriculture and food security is, in itself, reason enough for halting or reversing deforestation and forest degradation,” FAO Director-General Jos茅 Graziano da Silva said.
“Forests and trees are essential for maintaining resilient production systems, communities and ecosystems.”
Countries are increasingly committing to restoring degraded forests and lands, the Director-General said. However, more than US$ 300 billion per year are needed to achieve the Sustainable Development Goal 15 target of a land degradation-neutral world by 2030.
Read the full FAO press release on the .