International Forest Day : Forest, Crucial Ecosystems For Food Security

Forests, pillars of global food security and nutrition, are the livelihoods of millions of families. They provide essential foods such as fruits, seeds, roots and wild meat, which are basic resources for indigenous and rural communities. Forests are a vital source of energy, provide wood for cooking, play a key role in agriculture by hosting pollinators, and contribute to soil enrichment, climate regulation and biodiversity conservation. In addition, forested watersheds supply freshwater to more than 85% of the world's major cities. In times of crisis, forests become an economic and food lifeline, providing up to 20% of family income in rural areas and ensuring a healthy diet.    With this in mind, the Minister of Forestry and Wildlife, Jules Doret Ndongo, was in Douala on Friday 21 March to plant trees at the Ngondo site as part of activities to commemorate the 2025 edition of the International Day of the Forest.
The commemoration was also an opportunity for the Minister to call on the people of the Littoral Region to participate in the reforestation process that the government has embarked on to protect the forest. He also reiterated the government's commitment to proper management of the ecosystem. "The International Day of the Forest is an opportunity to celebrate the forest and its diversity, to highlight the importance of these ecosystems in the fight against climate change and to warn of the danger of their degradation," he said.
Minister Jules Doret Ndongo added that the theme, "Forests and Food" highlighted the critical role forests play in food security and nutrition, providing a wide range of edible plants, animals and fungi, as well as supporting sustainable agricultural practices and livelihoods. He did not fail to mention the cultu...