Forestry South Africa

Forests are critical to livelihoods says FAO director general

Forests and trees contribute far more to human livelihoods than is commonly known, playing crucial roles in food security, drinking water, renewable energy and rural economies...

6 Jul 2018

FAO, UNHCR's forest management tool a guide to restoring deforestation in displaced communities

More than four out of five forcibly displaced people worldwide use wood fuel for cooking and heating. This is the main driver of forest degradation and deforestation in displacement-affected areas...

22 Jun 2018

Baobab trees have more than 300 uses but they're dying in Africa

Baobab trees keep soil conditions humid, favour nutrient recycling and avoid soil erosion. They also act as an important source of food, water and shelter for a wide range of animals...

By Aida Cuní Sanchez 15 Jun 2018

Repositioning family farming in global agriculture

The UN has officially declared 2019 to 2028 as the decade of family farming - aiming to reposition family farming at the centre of agricultural, environmental and social policies in the national agendas by identifying gaps and opportunities to promote a shift towards a more equal and balanced development...

By Ntswaki Motaung 14 Jun 2018

FAO's how-to guide to transforming food and agriculture

FAO's set of 20 interconnected actions offers a practical guide for countries on how to strengthen food security, generate decent employment, spur rural development and economic growth, conserve natural resources and respond to climate change...

8 Jun 2018

How planting trees can protect cocoa plants against climate change

Worldwide, areas suitable for cocoa production are predicted to shrink by up to 20-30% over the next 30 years. This is because cocoa trees are already struggling to cope with drier, hotter conditions...

By Philippe Vaast 21 May 2018

More scientists, researchers needed for interdisciplinary plant disease research network

The Connected Virus Network Launch Conference drew dozens of world-class researchers from sub-Saharan Africa and the UK, confirming a growing network whose collaborations promises to yield solutions to devastating crop diseases...

18 May 2018

New practical guidelines to promote more transparent, pro-poor forest concessions

The voluntary guidelines offer suggestions on how to shift from short-term harvesting objectives, which can lead to forest degradation or even deforestation, to long-term forest management, building the case for truly sustainable forestry in the tropics...

14 May 2018

Challenges and opportunities as the fourth industrial revolution bring change to agriculture

Through the fourth industrial revolution's converging technologies, South Africa has the opportunity to become an early adopter, accelerating its agro-processing development...

8 May 2018

Hidden danger: Why soil pollution should be a top priority globally

Little is know about the scale and severity of soil pollution, which poses a serious threat to agricultural productivity, food safety and human health...

3 May 2018

Innovation, people key to creating a sustainable bioeconomy

A sustainable bioeconomy "is foremost about nature and the people who take care of and produce biomass." This means family farmers, forest people and fishers, who are also "holders of important knowledge on how to manage natural resources in a sustainable way."

25 Apr 2018

Forestry South Africa

#MandelaMonth

Unboxing diversity in advertising

Using the spirit of Ubuntu to address knowledge gaps on Wikipedia

Steers funds Shout initiative in launching their fourth Shout 'dream station' library on Mandela Day

Business

Extinction is a natural process, but it's happening at 1,000 times the normal speed

'South Africa Matters' in the spotlight at 2018 In Good Company Conference

Energy transition's impact on jobs needs standardised metrics

Here's how to navigate the complexity of philanthropy

5 expectations of the African millennial consumer

Was the water shortage caused by farmers, city dwellers or drought?