Forests as Climate Allies: Reviving Food Systems

Context:

This analysis, released ahead of International Day of Forests (March 21), it explores the critical yet overlooked role of forest-based food systems in enhancing climate resilience, biodiversity, and nutritional security. The article advocates for integrating these systems into India’s climate and food security strategies, offering valuable insights into sustainable development as of March 25, 2025.

1. Forest Significance: Forests, beyond being Earth’s “lungs,” serve as “hidden kitchens,” providing food and supporting climate resilience, a focus of the 2025 International Day of Forests theme, “Forests and food.”
2. Global Food System Impact: Food systems contribute one-third of global greenhouse gas emissions, driving deforestation and biodiversity loss, yet forest-based solutions remain underutilized.
3. Indigenous Decline: Traditional forest food systems, once vital for indigenous communities like the Soligas (e.g., ragi balls with wild greens), are vanishing due to modernization and policy neglect.
4. Climate Resilience Potential: Reviving these systems offers a low-cost, sustainable alternative to bolster food security amid climate challenges like droughts and floods.
5. Rural Benefits: Agroforestry—integrating native fruit trees with crops—can enhance rural food systems, boost incomes, and strengthen livelihoods in India’s countryside.
6. Urban Opportunities: Urban greening initiatives (e.g., Green India Mission, Smart Cities Mission) could create “food forests” in cities, supporting marginalized communities and biodiversity.
7. Policy Gaps: India’s forest policies prioritize timber over food, neglecting secure land tenure for forest-dependent communities, crucial for sustainable management.
8. Mission LIFE Link: The initiative promoting indigenous herbs and medicinal plants aligns with revaluing forest foods, urging a policy shift toward ecological and nutritional integration.

Key Terms:

• Forest-Based Food Systems: Traditional practices using forest resources for food and nutrition.
• Climate Resilience: Ability to adapt to and recover from climate-induced disruptions.
• Agroforestry: Farming system combining trees with crops for sustainability.
• Food Forests: Urban green spaces designed to produce edible plants.
• Green India Mission: National program for afforestation and ecological restoration.
• Smart Cities Mission: Initiative to develop sustainable urban infrastructure.
• Mission LIFE: Campaign encouraging sustainable lifestyles and indigenous resources.

Link To The Original Article – https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/food-from-the-woods-the-forgotten-link-to-climate-resilience/article69369862.ece