World Forest Week: FAO Calls for Investment in Arid Zones

During World Forest Week, FAO calls on governments and donors to increase investments in arid zone forests, which cover nearly 41% of land and host over two billion people. These forests are vital for food, income, drought mitigation, and soil protection, but about a quarter are degraded due to agricultural expansion, urbanization, and resource exploitation. Climate change worsens these issues with longer droughts and higher fire risks. FAO suggests establishing an 'accelerator' to support these forests by integrating them into climate policies, improving funding access, and enhancing monitoring.