Welcome to this latest edition of Infosylva.

We open this edition with news from the Forest and Landscape Investment Forum (FLIF), which was held in Kigali, Rwanda 16-17 May under the aegis of FAO. At the meeting, experts highlighted findings that show that not only can investing in forest and landscape restoration improve the livelihoods of millions of people, but that it can also help combat desertification and the negative impact of climate change. (In English – FAO’s webstory here)

FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific warns that managing forests sustainably, one of the key Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), might not be achieved by 2030 unless more drastic measures are taken to contain indiscriminate deforestation. That practice seems to be out of control in many Asian countries and harms the efforts these countries are making to reduce hunger and poverty. (In English)

Risk management in agriculture in Caribbean countries needs to integrate a clearer gender focus in protecting small producers who are victims of disasters, as such events can affect men and women producers in different ways. In the Caribbean area, women are reported to be responsible for 43 percent of agricultural production. (In Spanish)

At the 2nd International Conference on Environment, hosted by the Italian national police force the Carabinieri in Rome earlier in May, the manager of the FAO-EU FLEGT Programme illustrated the environmental loss caused by illegal logging. Robert Simpson also pointed out the loss of tax revenues to governments, money which should benefit citizens and forest communities. (In English)

New research carried out in the United States maintains that forests around electric power lines seem to enhance the protection of the birds that live in the area. (In French)

In the Spanish city of Malaga, 30 experts in communicating forest issues were meeting at the end of May to discuss different techniques put in place and lessons learned in Europe and other regions in relation to disseminating themes related to forests and climate change. (In Spanish – FAO’s webstory in English here)

And don’t forget to leaf through our new publications. Agroforestry in rice production landscapes in Southeast Asia: a practical manual (In English), will guide you in designing viable agroforestry solutions in rice production areas of Southeast Asia, while the Yearbook of Forest Products 2015 (In English), our yearly statistical update on timber and other forest products, will provide you with comprehensive data on forest products worldwide.