3. The Historical, Environmental and Socio-Economic Context of Forests and Tree-Based Systems for Food Security and Nutrition

Abstract

Forests and tree-based systems are an important component of rural landscapes, sustaining livelihoods and contributing to the food security and nutritional needs of hundreds of millions of people worldwide. Historically, these systems developed under a wide variety of ecological conditions, and cultural and socio-economic contexts, as integrated approaches that combined management of forest and agricultural areas to provide primarily for the needs of producers and their local communities. Today they serve food and nutrition demands of growing global populations, both urban and rural. Population increase, globalisation, deforestation, land degradation, and ever-increasing demand and associated conflict for land (including forest) resources are placing pressure on these lands. Farmers have been encouraged to intensify food production on existing agricultural lands, by modifying some traditional practices (such as agroforestry) or abandoning others (such as shifting cultivation) that evolved over centuries to cope with biophysical constraints (e.g. limited soil fertility, climate variability) and changing socio-economic conditions. This chapter provides an overview of forests and tree-based systems and their role in enhancing food security and nutrition for rural communities and those served through the marketplace. The variability and viability of these management systems are considered within and across geographical regions and agro-ecological zones. Also discussed is the role of the social, cultural and economic contexts in which these systems exist, with a focus on three factors that affect the socio-economic organisation of forests and tree-based systems, namely: land and tree tenure and governance, human capital (including knowledge and labour) and financial capital (including credit). How these biophysical and socio-economic conditions and their complex interactions influence food security and nutrition outcomes, particularly for vulnerable segments of the population (i.e., the poor, women and children), are of particular concern.

Population structure of Gyrinops versteegii within floristic community in Nggalak Protection Forest, Flores Island, Indonesia

“…This can be done by conducting propagation and cultivation program using agroforestry system to increase the population of Gyrinops versteegii outside its natural habitats. Agroforestry, as a form of land use management, is regarded to be able to contribute to solve both on environmental problems and also the community interests (Parotta et al 2015). The cultivation of G. versteegii on agroforestry lands has been widely practiced, both on its original distribution areas, such as in East Nusa Tenggara, as well as in other areas such as West Java, Central Java, East Java, Bali, West Kalimantan, East Kalimantan, West Nusa Tenggara, Gorontalo, and Papua (Turjaman and Hidayat 2017;Rawana et al 2018).…”

Traditional knowledge for sustainable forest management and provision of ecosystem services

“…Complex forest management practices based on traditional knowledge, including natural forest management, shifting cultivation, and agroforestry systems, continue to provide the material and nonmaterial needs of societies without jeopardizing the biodiversity and functional integrity of forests and associated ecosystems (Parrotta et al 2015). Examples of such systems are discussed in the articles included in this short Special Issue of International Journal of Biodiversity Science, Ecosystem Services & Management (IJBESM).…”

Food production and gender relations in multifunctional landscapes: a literature review

“…In Sub-Saharan Africa, women's access to trees and their fruits, are often conditioned on their relationship to men, e.g. their husband, and they stand to lose access in case of divorce (Parrotta et al 2015). This is the case in many parts of the world also for access to land (Lastarria-Cornhiel et al 2014).…”