July 2014: The Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) has released a factsheet on the links between ‘Forests, Food Security and Nutrition,’ in the context of a growing global population and rising demand for food.

The publication notes that while agricultural expansion continues to be a major driver of deforestation, forests provide an important source of food and contribute to overall nutritional health. While forests contribute only 0.6% of the global food supply, they provide important micronutrients, employment and income to purchase food for an estimated 54 million people, fuel wood and charcoal for cooking, and a safety net in times of food shortages, according to the brief.

The factsheet also highlights that children in 21 African countries eat a wider variety of food when tree cover increases, due in part, to the ecosystem services provided by forests.

CIFOR is part of the CGIAR consortium. [Publication: Forests, Food Security and Nutrition]