Sustainable forest management not only helps reduce forest degradation but also supports poverty reduction and improves livelihoods. Achieving these outcomes requires the meaningful participation of all groups that depend on and contribute to forest resources, including women, who play important roles in forestry and agroforestry systems. For this reason, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) calls for greater recognition of women’s contributions to forestry and agroforestry systems across Europe and Central Asia. 

Agriculture plays a central role in Uzbekistan’s economy. While being a major source of greenhouse gas emissions, it is also highly exposed to climate risks. To this end, the Government of Uzbekistan has officially endorsed a new investment roadmap to support the transition towards climate-smart agrifood systems, marking an important step from the ambitious national climate commitments to concrete investment action.

The CACFish meeting marked an important step towards establishing a practical, regionally harmonized data collection mechanism to support evidence-based fisheries management across Central Asia and the Caucasus.

The Central Asia Water-Land Nexus (CAWLN) programme launched its implementation phase at the Eighth Assembly of the Global Environment Facility (GEF). Funded by the GEF and implemented by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the regional programme brings five countries together to advance integrated approaches to land and water management in Central Asia. 

A virtual event organized by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) on 28 May showcased practical, scalable solutions from across Europe and Central Asia, highlighting how circular bioeconomy approaches in agriculture can drive innovation, support sustainable development and help translate commitments into concrete action on the ground. The event marked the launch of the publication “Case studies promoting bioeconomy through agricultural practices in Europe and Central Asia”, which presents examples of sustainable and circular agricultural practices already being implemented across the region.

A new generation of ideas and partnerships took centre stage recently in Dushanbe at the GENERATION YSInvest event organized by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Held alongside the Thirty-fifth Session of the FAO Regional Conference for Europe, the multi-day event was structured around three interconnected pillars – youth engagement, science and innovation, and investment – highlighting how inclusive dialogue and coordinated action can drive sustainable change in the region.

Partnership, sustainability, digital innovations, investment and empowering women farmers – these were the core topics of several side and special events at the Thirty-fifth Session of the Regional Conference for Europe, held from 11 to 15 May in Dushanbe, Tajikistan.

On the occasion of World Bee Day (20 May), Slovenia is hosting the third International Forum for Action on Sustainable Beekeeping and Pollination today and tomorrow. The event was organized by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) with the support of the International Federation of Beekeepers' Associations, Apimondia.

Held from 22 to 24 April 2026, the Regional Ecological Summit in Astana, Kazakhstan, offered a clear signal: as countries in Central Asia face intensifying climate pressures and resource constraints, environmental challenges in the region are no longer treated as isolated national issues, but as shared risks requiring coordinated responses. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), represented by Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative Viorel Gutu, took part in discussions, highlighting the role of agrifood systems in addressing these challenges, both as a source of pressure and as part of the solution.

The 23 April event marked an important step towards strengthening climate resilience in the agricultural sector and supporting rural livelihoods, particularly among women farmers. It was framed by the project Promoting Rural Women’s Empowerment in Kosovo, funded by the Austrian Development Agency (ADA) and jointly implemented by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and UN Women. Among other topics, discussions centred on a joint assessment report being developed to provide an in-depth analysis of current and projected climate risks affecting agriculture.