Warsaw, 17 NovemberThomas Hofer

Team Leader (Watershed Management and Mountains)

FAO

Discussion Forum:

Sustainable landscapes: food

security and adapting to climate

change

FAO's mandate is to raise levels of nutrition,

improve agricultural productivity, better the lives

of rural populations and contribute to the growth

of the world economy.

The mandate of FAO

Areas of work with landscape approach

• Fire management

• Agroforestry

• Urban and peri-urban forestry

• Dryland management and restoration

• Climate smart agriculture

• Mountain development, watershed

management

25% of earth surface

60-80% of freshwater

~ 300 mio vulnerable people

Why focus on mountains?

Reading a watershed landscape

Watershed management plan

The earthquake of 8.10.2005 (I)

The estimated death

toll exceeds 80,000

The earthquake of 8.10.2005 (II)

Objective: to support ERRA to implement the

livelihood rehabilitation strategy

Slogan: “building back better”

Budget: USD 6,570,000

Duration: Jan 2007 – Jun 2011

Output 3: NRM and livelihood improvement

through integrated watershed management

in 17 sites

FAO-SIDA Project

Assessment, landslide treatment plan

Watershed management committee

Watershed management plan

Implementation

Integration

• Watershed management committees allowed for

participatory planning;

• Communities gained confidence, voice;

• Resilience created: flood 2010;

• Livelihood, nutritional situation improved;

• Replication of pilot interventions, particularly

bioengineering;

• Watershed management funds;

• Capacities built.

Impacts

Conclusions (I)

Mountain / watershed landscapes and their

livelihood / food security systems are particularly

vulnerable to climate change!

Conclusions (II)

Landscape approach in mountain / watershed

areas creates climate change resilience and

improves food security:

• Addresses different landuse systems;

• Diversifies livelihood options;

• Tests climate change adaptation options;

• Builds on local experiences in mountain areas related to

variability.

• Promotes participatory approaches

• Establishes enabling institutional mechanisms, offers

new ways of collaboration

Many thanks for your kind attention!