Sustainable forest management as means to enhance self-reliance and promote climate resilience in displacement settings

Abstract

This issue brief was developed by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) as part of the project Greening the Humanitarian Response, funded by the Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (DG-ECHO).The brief explores the interconnections between access to natural resources, energy needs, environmental degradation, climate vulnerability, and social cohesion, all within the context of safeguarding forcibly displaced populations and host communities while fostering resilience. These challenges are further compounded by factors such as food insecurity, poverty, inequality, vulnerability, and conflict. It is designed to inform decision-makers, humanitarian and development practitioners, civil society, and donors.Key messages and recommendations are presented to support effective, context-appropriate, multisectoral interventions that integrate forests, energy, livelihoods, and climate considerations. The proposed measures aim to enhance the livelihoods and climate resilience of displaced and host communities, mitigate environmental degradation, and strengthen collaboration between humanitarian and development actors.