Forests for Food

24 Mar, 2025

Reiterating the Hidden Link Between Ecosystem Services and Nutrition

By: Neha Bisht, Forestry and Biodiversity Advisor, Aashima Negi, Knowledge Management Advisor, G-VAN Project and Angela R. Schug, PhD, Advisor, One Health and Agroecology Project 

Forests sustaining nutrition and livelihoods in Bhilaru from Rhododendron blooms to bottled juice | © GIZ/ Neha Bisht and Aashima Negi (L-R)

Excited for a refreshing glass of rhododendron juice as spring approaches, or perhaps a dash of honey in your breakfast bowl? You have the forests to thank, from which these ingredients are sourced. Beyond adding flavour to our daily diet, forests play a crucial role in sustaining livelihoods and ensuring food security for many, especially women and forest-dependent rural communities.

Women, in particular, play a central role in managing forest resources. They collect fuelwood, fodder and medicinal plants, while also processing non-timber forest products such as honey, wild fruits, and vegetables that contribute to household nutrition. As custodians of traditional ecological knowledge, their contributions to the forest-derived economy extend beyond subsistence use.

They are primary collectors of forest produce and contributors to forest-based enterprises. The medicinal plants, vegetables, fruits, and wild meat found in these ecosystems make their way to the fringe communities and urban consumers alike. While these visible food sources can be directly attributed to forests, their role extends far beyond. Forests provide water, habitat for pollinators, and support soil health by maintaining fertility and reducing erosion. They also supply medicinal plants, fuelwood for cooking, wild food and meat, and fodder for livestock. These services sustain agricultural production and contribute to food and water security worldwide.

Somewhere in a not-so-remote Himalayan Forest, women and men alike can be seen carefully scanning the floor to find the hidden wild food, Morchella sp., locally known as ‘Gucchi’, a prized and sought-after wild mushroom variety. Conserving these forests, along with the vital services they provide, has been the focus of the Sustainable Management of Forest Ecosystem Services (FES) project.

Through participatory ecosystem services assessment, the project along with the forest departments and local communities have worked to manage, utilise and protect these ecosystems. The FES approach emphasises “forest management that focuses on the sustainable provision of a set of prioritised ecosystem services based on stakeholder choices”. The project team worked with the state forest departments in Himachal Pradesh (H.P.) and Uttarakhand to develop management plans, prioritising ecosystem services like water, agricultural inputs, fuelwood and fodder. In addition, the important role of forests in ensuring pollination services for the large number of farmers dependent on apple production was integrated into the Rohru Working Plan of H.P. In the states of Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, the project, along with the respective forest departments demonstrated agroforestry-based cluster development. By planting multipurpose tree species like guava, lime and mango on farmers’ fields, the initiative aimed to enable livelihood diversification and enhance climate resilience. Furthermore, through visual tools and media, the project continues to engage people, increasing awareness about the indispensable role of forests in providing essential services.

Over the past decades, the perception of forests has shifted from being seen as mere sources of timber to vital providers of food security and livelihoods, particularly for women and forest-dependent communities. However, this evolving relationship comes with challenges, as increasing reliance on forests intersects with broader environmental pressures

As forests are increasingly utilised, combined with climate change and agricultural expansion, the pressure on fragile forest ecosystems increases. This disrupts wildlife habitats, influencing the spread of vector-borne diseases, such as those transmitted by ticks and mosquitoes, and heightening the risk of zoonotic diseases — illnesses transmitted between animals and humans.

A notable example is Kyasanur Forest Disease (KFD), which is prevalent in the Western Ghats of India. Transmitted through tick bites or contact with infected animals like monkeys, KFD poses a serious threat to farmers, foragers, and tribal communities who rely on forest resources.  | © GIZ/Vimarsh Sharma

In Goa, KFD cases have been reported in new areas, raising concerns about the need for greater awareness, a better understanding of the disease and for a more coordinated response. The One Health and Agroecology Project is addressing this by encouraging cross-sector collaboration and educating local communities on protective measures to prevent the spread of KFD.

While well-managed forest areas continue to support the flow of essential services, integrating trees into other systems by promoting agroforestry in agricultural fields and practising urban forestry can further help realise the multifunctional benefits to the environment and human population. These approaches contribute significantly to enhancing nutrition and food security while also reducing the pressure on surrounding forests. Increased awareness of the food provisioning services from forests can help reestablish the lost human-nature connection.

Recognising forests and trees as solutions to the triple planetary crisis and their pivotal role in ensuring sustainable and resilient agri-food systems is vital for a healthier planet and empowered communities.

Fruits of Pyracantha crenulata, a wild shrub thriving in the Himalayas, support local biodiversity and provide food for birds and communities. | © GIZ/ Neha Bisht

Bay leaves harvested from forests for flavour to meals while supporting local livelihoods and biodiversity | © GIZ/ Aashima Negi