Himlal Baral

You are already at the latest version As the global population continues to grow, the demand for forest products and services also increases. However, with natural forests in the tropics declining and becoming less accessible for timber production, there is a growing reliance on planted forests to meet these demands. Planted forests are often seen as a solution to environmental issues although this viewpoint is debated, with many considering that planted forests are not ‘nature positive’.

As Indonesia navigates rising demands for food, energy and climate mitigation, a strategic question sits at the centre of national development debates: how can growth continue without converting more natural forests? A recent perspective published in the Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science offers a clear, compelling and science-based response.

Agroforestry — the integration of trees into farms and landscapes — is emerging as one of the most promising pathways for climate resilience, food security and rural prosperity in Nepal, according to a new chapter authored by the Center for International Forestry Research and World Agroforestry (CIFOR-ICRAF) scientists in the recently released volume, Agriculture Sector Transformation in Nepal: A Roadmap (Springer Nature, 2025).