FAO Launches Regional Project to Green Agroforestry Economies through Non-Wood Forest Products

Hammamet, Tunisia 29 January 2026, FAO officially launched the two-year regional project Greening Agroforestry Economies Strengthening Non-Wood Forest Product Chains and Smallholder Cooperatives on 29 January 2026 in Hammamet, Tunisia. The launch took place in the context of a regional gathering bringing together country focal points and partners from across the Near East and North Africa region.

The project focuses on non-wood forest products, with particular emphasis on carob, as high potential resources that can transform forest and landscape restoration into sustainable economic opportunities. By strengthening cooperatives, improving value chains, and promoting green jobs, the initiative supports rural livelihoods while enhancing ecosystem resilience.

A regional platform for collaboration

Country focal points from Algeria, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco and Tunisia met in Hammamet to exchange experiences, align national priorities, and shape a coordinated regional approach to developing sustainable non-wood forest product value chains. Discussions focused on cooperative strengthening, policy frameworks, market access, and innovation to support restoration-based economies.

Turning restoration into opportunity

Across the NENA region, non-wood forest products play a critical role in rural livelihoods, particularly for women and youth. However, the sector continues to face challenges related to weak institutional capacity, fragmented value chains, limited access to finance, and insufficient policy support. The project addresses these challenges through numerous interventions: Strengthening smallholder cooperatives and producer organizations; Supporting climate-resilient and evidence-based non wood forest product value chains; Improving policy and regulatory frameworks to enable sustainable investment; and Promoting innovation, regional knowledge exchange, and cooperation.

Through these actions, the initiative aims to position non-wood forest products as drivers of bioeconomy development, climate adaptation, and low emission rural growth.

Strengthening forest-based economies

By combining scientific and traditional knowledge, reinforcing cooperative governance, and enhancing market integration, the project seeks to increase the contribution of forest-based sectors to national economies while restoring degraded landscapes.

The launch of Greening Agroforestry Economies underscores FAO’s commitment to advancing inclusive, climate resilient, and sustainable agrifood systems in the Near East and North Africa region.