The living forest: Food, forests and the future of community-driven restoration

The world’s forests stand at a crossroads. Rising global temperatures, deforestation and unsustainable land use threaten both biodiversity and the livelihoods of 1.6 billion people who depend on forests for survival. However, in the heart of these landscapes, communities are leading the charge for restoration, implementing innovative, locally-driven solutions. From the Andes and the Amazonian Basin to the Guinea forests of West Africa and Southeast Asia’s island forests, grassroots organizations are reviving ecosystems and strengthening social fabrics. Faced with climate-related challenges such as water shortages, they’re integrating restoration with food security, economic empowerment and climate resilience through agroforestry, wildlife conservation and food–forest approaches. This session will highlight the transformative efforts of GLFx chapters and Restoration Stewards working with forest-dependent communities to restore landscapes and redefine the future of forests.