AIFM, a founding member of the MBC, recognized by FAO among the World Forestry Champions

As part of its 80th anniversary, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) launched a global call for nominations to recognize World Forestry Champions — exemplary initiatives advancing sustainable forest management, food security, and the transformation of agrifood systems.

Among the laureates of this global recognition, the International Association for Mediterranean Forests (AIFM) — a founding member of the Mediterranean Biodiversity Consortium — was distinguished for its long-standing commitment to sustainable and participatory management of Mediterranean forests and the promotion of local knowledge, through two flagship projects:

  • 🌳 RESTOR’MED FORESTS Morocco and Lebanon – for the protection, restoration, and sustainable management of Mediterranean forests, with the support of Morocco’s Agence Nationale des Eaux et Forêts (ANEF) and Lebanon’s Ministry of Agriculture.
  • 🌿 RESCOM – for strengthening the resilience of Mediterranean ecosystems for the benefit of local communities, through the implementation of Nature-based Solutions, under the coordination of the Mediterranean Consortium for Biodiversity, with the support of the French Global Environment Facility (FFEM), the MAVA Foundation, and the French Development Agency (AFD).

A recognition that honors collective action

Implemented across several Mediterranean sites, RESCOM embodies the collaborative spirit of the Mediterranean Biodiversity Consortium, bringing together public entities, NGOs, conservation organizations, and research institutes. This multi-actor and multi-ecosystem cooperation—linking forests, wetlands, islands, and coastal and marine ecosystems—was a decisive factor in FAO’s global recognition of the initiative.

“This recognition by FAO underscores the strength of our collective work and the relevance of cross-ecosystem cooperation to build resilience in Mediterranean territories,” said the AIFM team, present at the FAO Global Technical Recognition Ceremony held in Rome on 15 October 2025, during the World Food Forum.

This acknowledgment highlights both AIFM’s active contribution within the Consortium and the success of a truly collaborative Mediterranean effort. It confirms the growing global visibility of RESCOM and the Consortium’s integrated, participatory, and science-based approach to ecosystem management.