Skip to content

Asia-Pacific Network for Global Change Research

Asia-Pacific Network for Global Change Research

Read our Science Bulletin
Report

Nature-based solutions for food security and community resilience to climate change impacts: A case study of food forest in Vietnam

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.