18 October 2016: Publications launched in conjunction with the Habitat III conference in Quito, Ecuador, focus on the importance of urban forests, culture and heritage protection for improved quality of life in cities.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO) and the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) separately launched publications on the sidelines of the Third UN Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development (Habitat III), which will adopt a ‘New Urban Agenda.’ Both organizations emphasized the rapid pace of urbanization, especially in the developing world; by the year 2050, 54% of Africa’s population, 64% of Asia’s population, and 70% of the world’s population will live in cities.

On 16 October, the FAO launched its ‘Guidelines on Urban and Peri-Urban Forestry,’ which outlines measures for successful urban forestry and highlights the ways that such programmes contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Besides their aesthetic value, urban forests are shown to improve health and reduce environmental pollution. The guidelines indicate that, for example, a 10% increase in urban green space can postpone the average onset of health problems by up to five years.

In particular, urban green spaces are said to contribute to SDG 2 (End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture); SDG 3 (Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages); SDG 8 (Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all); SDG 11 (Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable); and SDG 15 (Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss).

On 18 October, UNESCO launched its report, ‘Culture: Urban Future,’ which provides an overview of urban heritage conservation efforts around the world, and discusses strategies that have been successful in promoting urban restoration. It is based on more than 100 case studies globally. The report calls for safeguarding cultural heritage in cities and promoting cultural and creative industries as a basis for sustainable urban development. The report also highlights the value of culture in restoring social cohesion in post-conflict situations. SDG 16 calls for the promotion of peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development. [FAO Press Release] [Guidelines on Urban and Peri-Urban Forestry] [UNESCO Press Release] [Culture: Urban Future]