Droughts of the twenty-first century are characterized by hotter temperatures, longer duration, and greater spatial extent, and are increasingly exacerbated by human demands for water. This situation increases the vulnerability of ecosystems to drought, including a rise in drought-driven tree…

Climate change is a potential threat to achieving food security, particularly in the most food insecure regions. However, interpreting climate change projections to better understand the potential impacts of a changing climate on food security outcomes is challenging. This paper addresses this…

The goal of the project is to reduce food insecurity and improve livelihoods of poor people living in African drylands by restoring degraded land, and returning it to effective and sustainable tree, crop and livestock production, thereby increasing land profitability and landscape and livelihood…

A new study has assessed the vulnerability of 571 European cities to heatwaves, droughts and flooding caused by climate change. The causes of vulnerability differ across Europe and the researchers say the results could be used to design policies to mitigate the impacts.

Climate-smart interventions in agriculture have varying costs and environmental and economic impacts. Their implementation requires appropriate investment decisions by policy makers that are relevant for current as well as future scenarios of agro-ecology, climate and economic development. Decision…

Given that land and soils are increasingly threatened by degradation, this project investigated how SDG target 15.3, which strives to achieve a land degradation neutral world by 2030, can be implemented. The report suggests necessary steps towards the implementation of Land Degradation Neutrality…

A new study has quantified the economic impact of reducing avoidable food waste in Germany, Poland and Spain. The researchers modelled impacts on production, GDP and employment. The results show that reducing food waste from households has the greatest impact, although policy measures should be…

FAO report calls for a more pro-active and long-term planning to become more resilient against droughts

Recent hydrological extreme events demonstrate the vulnerability of European society to water-related natural hazards, and there is strong evidence that climate change will worsen these events in the coming years. Future hydrological extremes may be very different from today’s reality and difficult…

Almost four years ago, CIFOR organized a side event on the tropical dry forests of Africa at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Conference of the Parties in Durban, South Africa. At that event, we identified the major issues affecting dry forests in Africa and…

Like the baboon, or that woman who made flour so long ago, we depend ultimately on Nature. We can dream that we are managing our world and its ecosystems, but in reality it is Nature that manages us.

The challenge to increase food production is greater than ever, as the worlds population is set to increase to a predicted nine billion by 2050 (United Nations, 2008), requiring a 70 to 100% increase in global food production (Food and Agriculture Organization, 2009a; World Bank, 2008). The primary…

Global analyses of vulnerability reveal generic insights into the relation between socio-ecological systems and the stress impacting upon them including climate and market variability.

The Global Calculator is a free and interactive tool that helps you to understand the link between our lifestyles, the energy we use, and the consequences for our climate.

CrisisWatch, is a monthly global conflict tracker, is an early warning bulletin designed for busy readers in the policy community, media, business, civil society and the interested general public. It provides a succinct, regular update on the state of play in all the most significant conflicts and…

Land resources are one of nature’s most precious gifts. They feed us and help our societies and economies to thrive.

Land provides humans with the means to live, and from the first steps tread upon it, has been a patient provider of vital resources.

Doing business with nature: opportunities from natural capital aims to lay out the challenges and opportunities of companies whose future growth depends on a healthy and sustained supply of nature’s goods and its services (natural capital).

The links between climate change, economic development and poverty reduction have gained increasing attention over recent years in both the academic and policy literature.

The International Responsibility Dimension of the SDGs: Tracking Germany’s External Footprints. Germany, like other countries, has committed to global achievement of the SDGs, as expressed, for example, in its new National Sustainable Development Strategy. But the growing externalization of Germany…

The consequences of climate change are already being felt all over the globe. But some regions are particularly affected. These so-called “hotspots” are areas where strong physical and ecological effects of climate change come together with large numbers of vulnerable and poor people and communities…

The Atlas of Vulnerability and Resilience is an overview on studies on different aspects of vulnerability and resilience relevant in the field of civil protection / contingencies and disaster risk management.