This double issue of Unasylva aims to tease out the complex interrelationship between forests, trees and disasters, and to examine the ways in which forests and trees can best be managed both to resist shocks and to protect from shocks. Forests and trees can act as natural buffers against disasters and shocks. They have a powerful role to play in protecting against disasters and in reducing their impact. Indeed, the long-term perspective implicit in sustainable forest management is also a valuable approach to planning for disaster risk reduction.

Meeting Name: Near East Forestry and Range Commission (NEFRC)
Meeting symbol/code: FO:NEFRC/2015/5
Session: Sess. 22

Meeting Name: North American Forest Commission
Meeting symbol/code: FO:NAFC/2016/3.7
Session: Sess. 28

Sphagnum (peat moss) biomass provides a GHG-neutral alternative to fossil peat in professional horticulture. So far however, it has only been collected in the wild. Small-scale land-based Sphagnum farming is currently practiced on degraded peatlands. Sphagnum farming has also been tested on specially constructed floating mats that guarantee a constant water supply. This water–based cultivation allows bog waters to be used as reservoirs to irrigate cultivated areas in dry periods.

Meeting symbol/code: FO:LACFC/2015/Inf.3
Session: Sess. 29

Meeting Name: European Forestry Commission
Meeting symbol/code: FO:EFC/2015/3 - ECE/TIM/2015/3
Session: Sess.38 - Sess.73

Meeting Name: North American Forest Commission
Meeting symbol/code: FO:NAFC/2016/Inf.1
Session: Sess. 28

Meeting Name: Near East Forestry and Range Commission (NEFRC)
Meeting symbol/code: FO:NEFRC/2015/4
Session: Sess. 22

Meeting Name: North American Forest Commission
Meeting symbol/code: FO:NAFC/2016/4
Session: Sess. 28

The Land and Water Days are jointly convened by FAO, IFAD and WFP as part of efforts aimed at reaching effective and lasting impacts for land and water actions on the ground.

Meeting Name: North American Forest Commission
Meeting symbol/code: FO:NAFC/2016/Inf.2
Session: Sess. 28