Synopsis (short abstract)Recognizing that environmental degradation, poverty and food security are strongly linked, the FAO Strategic Framework (2000-2015) stipulated that one of its corporate objectives is to support the conservation, improvement and sustainable utilization of natural resources for food and agriculture. FAO ’s agriculture, natural resources, forestry, fisheries, social and economic, and technical programmes devote considerable portions of their resources and effort towards this objective an d to meet the sustainable development targets set by the World Food Summit (WFS), the World Summit for Sustainable Development (WSSD) and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).