Traditional knowledge held by indigenous and local communities across Africa could play an important role in strengthening food security and conserving biodiversity, according to experts.
Speaking during a webinar organized by the African Forest Forum this week, experts said forests provide vital food, nutrition and income for millions of people. However, they warned that both forest ecosystems and the knowledge systems that sustain them are under increasing threat.
Doris Mutta, a senior program officer at the African Forest Forum, said forests and tree-based systems complement agricultural production by providing more diverse and nutritious diets.
"Our conventional agricultural strategies have not been adequate in eliminating global hunger, resulting in unbalanced diets that lack nutritional diversity and enhance exposure of the most vulnerable groups to volatile food prices," she said.
According to Mutta, rural and indigenous communities across Africa rely on wild and cultivated forest products to meet daily dietary needs and build resilience to climate change.
