Forests and trees provide billions of people with food, medicine and sustainable incomes.
Climate change, biodiversity loss and unsustainable forest management are making forests weaker and putting their vital services at risk.
The global forest science community calls for the best use of knowledge to strengthen forests.
Vienna, 24 March 2025 - In 2012, the UN General Assembly proclaimed 21 March as the International Day of Forests. In 2025, forests and foods is the theme for the day. The Vienna-based International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO), one of the world's largest and oldest research collaborations, is taking this as an opportunity to emphasize the role of forests and forest science for food security.
"The importance of healthy and species-rich forests for the environment and the economy cannot be overestimated," says IUFRO Senior Advisor Dr Christoph Wildburger and highlights the fundamental climate-protecting function of forests as CO2 and water regulators. "Forests also ensure diversified food production: for example, forests are indispensable for pollinating insects such as bees. They protect rivers and water catchment areas thereby preserving the habitat of fish. Forests also provide green fodder for domestic animals, firewood and protein-rich game meat. They contribute to the livelihoods of more than five billion people worldwide," he says.
Science and research provide the basis for evidence-based policy
IUFRO President Daniela Kleinschmit, Professor of Forest and Environmental Policy at Albert-Ludwig University of Freiburg, Germany, calls on political and economic decision-makers worldwide: "Findings from science and research provide a sound basis for recommendations for the survival of forest ecosystems—and thus for safeguarding human well-being. This is of particular importance for people whose livelihoods and food sources are directly threatened by the consequences of climate change, loss of biodiversity, and damage to ecosystems."
Anyone who obtains food primarily from forests has a great interest in keeping them healthy. Ecologically resilient forests guarantee an intact basic supply, enable cultural vitality, and foster economic progress. "Forest protection measures to mitigate the effects of climate change and to preserve biodiversity—especially in tropical regions of the world—are based on one key success factor: they work best when they are implemented in agreement with the local people who rely on forests for their immediate livelihoods and food sources," Professor Kleinschmit explains. "Forests can promote the food sovereignty of the local population. Their agricultural and forestry expertise is a valuable resource and should be integrated into political and administrative measures," she adds.
Forests provide more than timber: food worth billions
Forests not only provide raw materials for the wood-processing industry but also food, fuel, and much more. This means income and jobs, especially for the most vulnerable groups in society worldwide and for people who live near forests. While farmers and private individuals in many European countries, for example, primarily value timber from their forests as an additional source of income, people in other regions of the world rely more on food and firewood from the forest. The economic benefits of these products should not be underestimated. In 2022, the global trade volume of pine nuts and wild mushrooms amounted to around 1.8 billion US dollars! Access to wild food from the forest also provides more variety in the diet and thus improves health. Surveys in 24 tropical countries have shown that the sale of wild foods accounts for four percent of private household incomes.
Science delves into the ways forests support food production, health, and resilience
For ten years, IUFRO has been examining the contribution of forests to achieving global sustainability goals on behalf of the United Nations and conducting comprehensive interdisciplinary studies as part of its Science-Policy Programme. Study coordinator Dr Wildburger explains: "In our global study on forests and food security back in 2015, we were able to show how forests and trees complement agricultural production and thus contribute to livelihoods of the local population, especially in the poorest regions of the world." Professor Kleinschmit, co-author of the study, adds: "Science also shows that agriculture systems that integrate forests and trees are more resilient to extreme weather events such as heavy rain, drought, or storms."
IUFRO's global study on forests and water, published in 2018, emphasizes that forests and trees ensure a balanced water supply and safeguard water quality. The 2020 assessment on the role of forests in poverty reduction shows that trees provide products and services that improve the lives of many people living in poverty and mitigate risks in crisis situations. In 2023, IUFRO also analyzed the contribution of forests and trees to human health and stressed the importance of forests in providing medicines, food, and other products to strengthen human health.
New global IUFRO assessment on resilience announced for June 2025
The aspects addressed in the former publications will be brought together in a new large-scale study: in June 2025, IUFRO will present a global assessment on the topic of Forests for Social and Economic Resilience. It assesses the multidimensional relationships between forests and social and economic resilience from different perspectives. To facilitate evidence-based action by political decision-makers, the team of authors is producing an accompanying policy brief that summarizes the study results in a compact format.
Join the launch webinar of the resilience assessment!
June 5, 2025, International Environment Day, 02:00 pm CEST Registration link
About International Day of Forests 2025
Watch thisVIDEOby the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
The International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO) is a non-profit and non-governmental worldwide network of 15,000 forest scientists across 120 countries, who work together to enhance the understanding of the ecological, economic and social aspects of forests and trees. Founded in 1892 IUFRO is headquartered in Vienna, Austria. The 29th IUFRO World Congress will take place in Nairobi, Kenya, in 2029.
