The 26 December 2004 earthquake and tsunami devastated the lives of millions. With considerable determination, local communities have joined national and international organizations and governments to bring relief and start the recovery work. FAO has been involved in assisting the affected countries in numerous ways so that agricultural activities may be resumed. While short-term assistance is indispensable, strategic planning for medium and long-term rehabilitation in collaboration with partners and governments is required for appropriate intervention.

This month, we invite you to participate in the e-consultation on Voluntary Guidelines on Responsible governance of tenure of land and other natural resources. Following a lengthy regional consultation process, additional input is being requested prior to the drafting of the Zero Draft Guidelines. FAO Headquarters marked World Water Day 2011, examining the urgent need for safe water supplies for the world’s rapidly growing urban populations.

New Zealand works closely with FAO in support of shared food and agricultural development and food security goals. Over the past five years, the country has channelled more than US$7.5 million into FAO projects, principally for emergency assistance in the Asia and Pacific region. Other areas of New Zealand cooperation – both in the region and further afield – include support to development projects ranging from food safety to livestock development.

Meeting symbol/code: APRC 00 3

Dans ce numéro, nous examinerons les projets en cours dans le cadre du lancement d’un nouveau partenariat mondial sur les sols, une initiative ambitieuse pour soutenir les efforts entrepris au niveau mondial sur les problèmes communs de gestion des sols. Nous examinerons également un projet régional centré sur l’assistance apportée à quatre pays andins – la Bolivie, la Colombie, le Pérou et l’Equateur – sur les questions d’adaptation au changement climatique et de gestion des risques de catastrophes dans le secteur agricole.

Throughout its history, Mozambique has had to deal with cyclones and floods, and when these are severe they have a devastating impact. Apart from the immediate threat to human life, such natural disasters seriously impede economic growth. There is no doubt that the Limpopo valley floods in 2000 were one of the worst flood disasters in Mozambique’s history. At least 700 people died, and some 500,000 to 650,000 were displaced and temporarily sheltered in over 100 camps set up by the government.

Second issue of the Journal, which is now published in both hardcopy and in electronic formats and provides an open, impartial and practice-oriented global forum for promoting the latest knowledge in land tenure. This issue features five continents and subcontinents exploring common challenges including tenure governance, the legal recognition of customary tenures, land scarcity and redistributive reforms, and the increasing role of information technology in tenure systems.

Cuando en el año 2000 se aprobaron los Objetivos de Desarrollo del Milenio (ODM), la comunidad internacional contrajo un compromiso sin precedentes para satisfacer las necesidades de los pobres del mundo y salvaguardarlos de las amenazas del siglo XXI2. Los mandatarios de 147 Estados reafirmaron los principios de reducción de la pobreza, gobernanza democrática y protección de los derechos humanos, que han sido el núcleo del sistema de las Naciones Unidas desde su creación tras la Segunda Guerra Mundial.

Une dclaration du Directeur gnral de la FAO et du Roi du Npal, un aperu de certains aspects des montagnes et des activits apparentes entreprises dans des pays comme la Bolivie, l'Italie, le Kirghizistan et le Prou, et des informations sur les forts montagnardes, les forts tropicales de brouillard et les montagnes sacres compltent cette incursion d'Unasylva dans les montagnes.

En este nmero es nuestro propsito analizar los planes en curso con vistas al lanzamiento de la Alianza Global por el Recurso Suelo, una iniciativa ambiciosa destinada a apoyar los esfuerzos mundiales encaminados a resolver los problemas comunes relacionados con la ordenacin de suelos. Tambin examinamos un proyecto regional enfocado en la asistencia a cuatro pases andinos Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador y Per que hacen frente a problemas relacionados con la adaptacin al cambio climtico y la gestin riesgos en casos de desastre en el sector agrcola.

Statements from FAO's Director-General and the King of Nepal, profiles of mountain issues and activities from countries such as Bolivia, Italy, Kyrgyzstan and Peru, and information on mountain forests, tropical cloud forests and sacred mountains complete Unasylva's foray into the mountains.

Ce double numéro d’Unasylva se propose de sonder les relations complexes existant entre les forêts, les arbres et les catastrophes, et d’examiner comment il est possible de gérer au mieux les forêts et les arbres à la fois pour résister aux chocs et pour protéger contre les chocs. Les forêts et les arbres peuvent servir de tampons naturels contre les catastrophes et les chocs. Ils ont un rôle déterminant à jouer dans la protection contre les catastrophes et la réduction de leur impact.