To celebrate the International Day of Forests this year, and in line with this year’s theme — Forests and Food — the UN-REDD Programme hosted a vibrant and flavorful event: a live cooking demonstration that explored the connection between forests, sustainable food systems, and climate action.
Held at the United Nations Gigiri Campus in Nairobi, Kenya, the event brought together a local chef and regional participants from the UN-REDD Programme’s Benefit-Sharing Global Knowledge Exchange.
Together, they got busy preparing three unique, forest-inspired dishes using ingredients sourced from — or closely linked to — forest ecosystems. Each delicious dish represented a key principle in the “ABCs of Forests” framework.
The event was attended by distinguished guests, including Minister Daniella Conceição Mattos de Araujo, Deputy Head of the Brazil Mission in Kenya, and Mr. Luis Fernando Ceciliano, Chargé d'Affaires a.i. of the Costa Rica Mission in Kenya, among other officials.
The ‘ABCs of Forests’
Amid growing concern over how unsustainable food systems contribute to deforestation and biodiversity loss, the culinary-themed event shared a timely and urgent message:
A – Adapt food systems to work with forests, not against them. Healthy forests support healthy food, resilient farms, and thriving communities. Forest-friendly agriculture is key to feeding people while protecting nature.
B – Balance and share benefits equitably and effectively. Forests provide essential resources, jobs, and food — yet those who protect them often face the greatest barriers. Stronger land rights, good governance, and social safeguards are crucial for equity and sustainability.
C – Change policies to place forests and people at the heart of climate action. With Brazil’s COP30 and other key global negotiations on the horizon, this year is a pivotal moment to push for inclusive policies that protect forests, empower communities, and build climate-resilient, food-secure futures.
As the dishes came together, so did an engaging dialogue on how forests contribute to nutrition, biodiversity, livelihoods, and climate resilience. The event reinforced the importance of integrating forest-based food systems into national climate and development strategies.
Martin Krause, Director of UNEP’s Climate Change Division, emphasized in his remarks that forests provide livelihoods for over 1.6 billion people worldwide. He reaffirmed UNEP’s commitment to putting forests at the center of climate solutions and sustainable development.
Speaking at the same event, Daniella Conceição Mattos de Araújo, Deputy Head of Mission at the Brazilian Embassy in Kenya, reiterated the central role of forests in global climate efforts—particularly in the lead-up to COP30. She emphasized that forests are vital carbon sinks, playing a critical role in biodiversity conservation, and are essential to achieving sustainable development.
The cooking show was live streamed to a global audience, fostering international dialogue and raising awareness of the critical role forests play — not only as ecosystems but as foundations of food security, climate resilience, and human well-being.
