Workshop on Forests and Water in drylands: A Virtuous Cycle - Information exchange from the Mediterranean to Central Asia

Geneva

The workshop brought together countries and stakeholders from the region encompassing the whole Mediterranean to Central Asia to discuss the nexus forests and water and drylands, with the aim to:

• Present the functions of the forests in drylands, their specific relationship to water management as well as the challenges
• Elaborate on challenges/possible solutions, such as trade-offs between water use by trees in drylands, with decreased run-off and water availability for other land uses, and the environmental services and goods provided by forests and other wooded lands
• Exchange experience on forest and water management tools and policies that enhance both forests and water, including on management and adaptation measures under climate change
• Share experience and case studies of integrated management of forests and water in drylands
• Explore the potential and challenges of existing or future use of payments for ecosystems services (PES) in this area
• Identify areas of gaps and future work on forests and water in drylands.

The workshop was organized by the the Swiss Federal Office for the Environment and the UNECE Water Convention secretariat, in close cooperation with the UNECE/FAO Forestry and Timber Section, the FAO Forest Conservation Team (FOMC) and the secretariat of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification.

The workshop was part of the UNECE/FAO Forest and Water Week (ru), that was held from 4 to 8 July 2011. A workshop on “Payments for Ecosystem Services: What role for a green economy” was held on 4-5 July.

The workshop was targeted to countries in the UNECE and the Mediterranean region - including North Africa and West Asia - having semi arid and arid forest cover. It was addressed to all those who are responsible for forest and water managements in dry regions: first and foremost national policy makers responsible for forestry, water and related ecosystems, but also local authorities, landowners and managers, practioners and representatives of academia, research institutes, non-governmental and other international organizations.