Today’s blog post comes from Laura Snook, Programme Leader, Forest Genetic Resources Conservation and Use. 

People depend on more than 10,000 tree species for different things such as food, timber or fuel, yet the growing demands of an increasing population and unsustainable harvesting is placing many tree species at risk. Forests and trees are also an important source of food and livelihood for many of the 240 million or more people who live in poverty in forested areas, many of whom are smallholder farmers.

In this short video, Laura Snook talks about the need to harness the huge genetic diversity of different tree species if we are to face challenges such as climate change and find sustainable ways to use and conserve it for our future. Watch it here.

Read more about Bioversity International’s work on forests and trees.