Near East Forestry And Range Commission Concludes With Focus On Sustainable Management And Ecosystem Restoration

The 27th Session of the Near East Forestry and Range Commission recently concluded in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Co-organised by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the National Center for Vegetation Cover Development and Combating Desertification (NCVC), the event gathered decision-makers, experts, and specialists from 27 countries over three days. Discussions focused on sustainable forest and rangeland management, addressing global initiatives to boost forest production and livelihoods.

Participants explored various challenges such as drought, wildfires, forest health, and invasive alien species. The session also highlighted mangrove restoration for coastal resilience. The agenda included discussions on the Green Cities initiative, tree-planting to combat sand and dust storms, and using big data and artificial intelligence to transform agrifood systems. These topics aimed at formulating strategic recommendations for the upcoming 38th Near East Regional Conference.

The commission adopted recommendations urging members to participate in the United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration. This involves submitting initiatives related to forests and rangelands while supporting innovative finance and sustainable management practices. Countries were encouraged to enhance cross-sector coordination for long-term land restoration within integrated development solutions.

A regional assessment of investment opportunities in forest and rangeland restoration was recommended. This includes conducting economic feasibility analyses and developing scalable models. Improving financing opportunities for ecosystem-restoration programs that provide sustainable environmental and social benefits was also emphasised.

The commission welcomed FAO's work on the Global Forest Resources Assessment along with related international initiatives like the Rio Conventions. It stressed the importance of international cooperation in achieving sustainability objectives. The role of forests and rangelands in advancing food security and sustainable growth was reaffirmed, with a call for increased investment in non-wood forest products.

Drought management in the Near East was highlighted as crucial, along with support for nature-based solutions such as forest and rangeland restoration to combat drought, sand, and dust storms. The growing threat of invasive alien species due to drought and climate change prompted calls for stronger coordination between scientists and policymakers to improve forest health management.

Addressing Wildfire Risks

Members noted the increasing impact of wildfires in the region, which pose serious environmental, economic, and social threats including risks to ecosystems, human life, livelihoods, food security, and significant greenhouse gas emissions. Recurring droughts, severe heatwaves, and prolonged dry periods have heightened wildfire risks in North Africa and West Asia.

The commission called for strengthening Integrated Fire Management (IFM) efforts; supporting the Near East and North Africa Wildfires Network (NENFIRE) Roadmap; implementing a pilot project to establish fire-resilient landscapes; enhancing prevention measures; integrated management; post-fire recovery efforts; knowledge exchange through NENFIRE; developing early-warning systems; promoting agroforestry to increase fire resilience.

Innovative Solutions for Fire Management

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's initiative to develop a regional early-warning system was welcomed by the commission. This system integrates meteorological data with vegetation information to minimise damage from wildfires. Moving forward, FAO is recommended to continue supporting national fire-management strategies aligned with international standards while encouraging innovative solutions to reduce wildfire risk.

The session underscored that recurring droughts disrupt natural systems in North Africa and West Asia. These conditions undermine progress toward Sustainable Development Goals by heightening wildfire risks that threaten ecosystems and communities alike.

With inputs from SPA