Climate change and food insecurity are major societal challenges faced by humanity. Food security depends on the sustainable management of healthy ecosystems. The syntropic food forest is a nature-based solution which is low-maintenance. It helps to regenerate a natural ecosystem by combining forest trees with fruit, nut trees, shrubs, herbs and perennials in different layers. Food forests perform well with suitable or appropriate social-cultural and environmental conditions by building capacity, providing quality food, enhancing biodiversity, and regenerating soil fertility. The development of food forests as nature-based solutions in the project area has contributed to the reduction in crop loss from drought in 2023 between 20-35%, reduced flood damage as a result of tree growing along stream banks, increased crop yield about 25%, and improved income and livelihoods for local villagers from selling food forest products. In addition, the project has raised awareness about climate change impacts and food forests as nature-based solutions for more than 2000 people in the locality.
Report