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FAO-UNHCR issue brief outlines how to include communities for a greener humanitarian response
Rome/Riyadh – Communities must play a central role in managing forests sustainably in areas hosting large numbers of displaced people as part of a greener response to humanitarian crises, according to new guidance from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR).
The brief, Sustainable forest management as means to enhance self-reliance and promote climate resilience in displacement settings, highlights the importance of integrating environmental considerations into humanitarian action as conflict, climate change and economic turbulence increasingly force people to flee their homes.
“When people are stuck for long periods in settlements, forests offer a natural support system, providing cooking fuel, wild food, material for shelter and a source of income,” said Zhimin Wu, Director of FAO’s Forestry Division. “It is important that ways to reduce this pressure on natural resources are engrained in the humanitarian response from the start and that communities are empowered to take care of the forests they depend upon.”
“The environment is key to human security. For refugees and their host communities it is imperative that we not only protect nature but we invest whatever we can in repairing the loss and damage that has occurred," said Andrew Harper, UNHCR Special Advisor on Climate Action. "We urgently need to invest in climate-smart agriculture and nature-based solutions for displaced communities everywhere," he added.
Greater sectoral coordination
As of June 2024, more than 122.6 million people had been forcibly displaced worldwide.
Many are settled in areas that suffer extreme pressure from climate change events, such as drought, erratic rainfall, or floods. Some remain in temporary settlements for years, and their dependence on surrounding natural resources, as well as that of the host community, exacerbates pressures on already fragile ecosystems.
“Refugees, IDPs and their host communities are particularly vulnerable to food insecurity,” said Rein Paulsen, Director of FAO’s Office of Emergencies and Resilience. “According to the latest Global Report on Food Crises, 90.2 million forcibly displaced people worldwide lived in 59 countries or territories affected by food crisis in 2023.”
The new brief outlines the complex interplay between access to natural resources, environmental degradation, food insecurity, and vulnerability to climate in displacement settings. It calls for greater coordination across sectors to maximise the benefits forests can bring in displacement settings and minimise environmental impact.
It explains how this can be done with practical guidance in five key areas: encouraging innovation and good practices to build livelihood and climate resilience; enhancing energy access through clean and efficient technologies; encouraging behaviour change strategies and inclusivity; and mainstreaming a climate-resilient, people-centred approach.
In particular, the brief highlights the importance of balancing woodfuel supply and demand to ensure sustainable access while at the same time exploring alternative energy solutions including briquettes, solar-electric systems and liquefied petroleum gas.
Aimed at decision-makers, civil society, donors and humanitarian, development and peace actors, the publication also emphasises the need for improved monitoring and evaluation of efforts to improve collaboration across and between different sectors.
Greening the humanitarian response
The brief builds on the work of FAO, UNHCR and partners under the framework of the global project Greening the humanitarian response, funded by the Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations, which fosters innovative solutions to alleviate pressure on the environment and support energy access for both displaced and host communities in various parts of the world.
The project also integrates gender-inclusive practices into forest product value chains. This approach enhances opportunities for self-reliance among vulnerable groups, including women, children, the elderly and people with disabilities, while improving the success of forest management initiatives.