The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations leads international efforts to defeat hunger. Serving both developed and developing countries, FAO acts as a neutral forum where all nations meet as equals to negotiate agreements and debate policy. FAO is also a source of knowledge and information. We help developing countries and countries in transition modernize and improve agriculture, forestry and fisheries practices and ensure good nutrition for all.

Accra, 12 November 2007 – Although women play key roles in forest protection and conservation, policies and laws are biased in favor of men, said the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) today at the opening of a gender workshop for forestry in Africa.

1 October 2007 – Costa Rica’s pilot project to convert polluting wood residues into a profitable “green” energy source, presents new prospects for timber industries in developing countries, FAO said today.

More and more countries, forest services, projects, universities, research centres, NGOs and other organizations continue to develop their own software, very often for specific objectives and not necessarily to sell it for a profit. For this reason the Forestry Department of FAO invites you and/or your organization/agency/network to participate in a global electronic survey on non commercial software used in the management of forests in the tropic by filling out the questionnaire not later than 30 November 2007.

Chiang Mai/ Bangkok 16 October 2007: Asian countries will need to make dramatic adjustments in how they manage forests in the face of rapid globalization according to leading UN forestry experts. The world’s forests are linked by issues of climate change, products trade, water management, tourism and cross-border movement of pests and diseases in ways that seemed unimaginable just a few years ago.

30 July 2007 - Record summer temperatures and hot dry winds have made parts of the Mediterranean a tinder box with fire-fighters working around the clock to control blazes threatening people and vegetation.

31 May 2007 - Forest fires are increasing as a result of climate change, and they are affecting larger areas and becoming more severe in several regions of the world, FAO said today, calling upon countries to invest more in fire preparedness and prevention.

Cairo, 19 April 2007: The Regional Office for the Near East of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations will today launch the Forestry Outlook Study for West and Central Asia (FOWECA), which was carried out by the Near East Forestry Commission with the involvement of all member countries.

Rome, 13 March 2007 - The Republic of Korea signed an agreement today with FAO promising to forge resources with Japan in order to strengthen sustainable forest management.