SDG 2: Zero hunger

Sustainable Development Goal

It is time to rethink how we grow, share and consume our food. If done right, agriculture, forestry and fisheries can provide nutritious food for all and generate decent incomes, while supporting people-centred rural development and protecting the environment.

With the global population expected to reach 9.7 billion people in 2030. it is estimated that approximately 70 percent more food will be needed.

Forests & SDG 2: 

End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture

Forests contribute directly to food security by providing food, supplying wood energy for cooking food, and enhancing the resilience of the ecological and social systems surrounding agriculture. Foods from forests – such as leaves, seeds, nuts, fruits, mushrooms, honey, insects and wild animals – provide dietary diversity, including vital micro-nutrients. 

Since trees are often more resilient to adverse weather conditions than agricultural crops, forest-based food items also serve as an important safety net in times of crisis and emergencies.

Trees outside forests (ToF) enhance the resilience of the ecological and social systems surrounding agriculture, and serve as crucial income generating opportunities for farmers and smallholders. Especially in agroforestry systems, ToF can significantly increase the productivity of agricultural crops.

How PEFC contributes to SDG 2

PEFC safeguards the availability of food from forests, requiring that forests need to maintain their capability to produce wood as well as non-wood forest products on a sustainable basis.

The inclusion of TOF in our latest standard makes PEFC certification accessible to the millions of farmers and smallholders that do not own or manage forests, but rather trees on agricultural or settlement land that were previously outside the scope of certification.

This positively impacts on the lives of small farmers. It improves the management of trees in agriculture, promotes good agricultural practices, while at the same time increasing the amount of wood available to society for products from sustainably managed sources.

Selected PEFC criteria (abbreviated) and standards

6.2.4 The annually allowable use of non-wood forest products shall be included in the management plan at a level which can have an impact on their long-term sustainability.

8.3.1 The standard requires that the capability of forests to produce a range of wood and non-wood forest products on a sustainable basis shall be maintained.

8.3.4 The standard requires that harvesting levels of both wood and non-wood forest products shall not exceed a rate that can be sustained in the long term, and optimum use shall be made of the harvested products.

8.6.3 The standard requires that sites areas fundamental to meeting the needs of indigenous peoples and local communities (e.g. health, subsistence) shall be protected.

8.6.4 The standard requires that management shall promote the long-term health and well-being of communities, supported by engagement with local communities and indigenous peoples.

Appendix 2: Guidelines for the interpretation of requirements for Trees outside Forests (TOF)

Management of the agricultural components within a TOF system shall follow good agricultural practice and available guidelines.