Forests in dry regions may appear less impressive than tropical rainforests, yet they support livelihoods and food security for more than two billion people. FAO highlighted their importance in an October call for stronger protection and investment. Drylands cover roughly forty-one percent of the Earth's land surface and contain over a quarter of its forest area. Trees there provide fuel, animal feed and food, while protecting soils and water resources. They can be especially valuable when agricultural harvests fail.
Around a quarter of dryland forest ecosystems are already degraded, with land-use changes and unsustainable extraction among the pressures. Longer droughts can intensify water stress and fire risk. FAO proposes a support platform to help countries coordinate restoration, improve monitoring and obtain longer-term finance. The proposal aims to move beyond isolated projects towards action connected with national priorities. Existing solutions are not the only issue; countries also need conditions that allow those solutions to expand. Local communities, including pastoralists and small farmers, should benefit from that shift.