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The history of urban food forests (UFFs) dates back to ancient times, when civilizations incorporated edible species into wild forests to create an ecosystem as natural as and self-sufficient as possible. Since the second half of the 20th century, the practices of integrating edible plants into ornamental landscapes have spread throughout the world. Currently, UFFs must face a number of challenges similar to those encountered by urban forests: land tenure, governance, technical capacities, and pollution and global change issues, and must be addressed in order to identify the most suitable combination of productive, environmental, and socio-economic functions of UFF. The events on a global scale that occurred in the first decades of the 21st century are forcing those who live and work in urban environments to react quickly to address the upcoming challenges.

"Although cities occupy only 2 percent of the planet's surface, their inhabitants use 75 percent of its natural resources; by 2050, 70 percent of the global population will live in cities and towns. Sustainable urban development is crucial, therefore, for ensuring the quality of life of the world's people. Forests and trees in cities, if properly managed, can make important contributions to the planning, design and management of sustainable, resilient urban landscapes. They can help make cities more pleasant, attractive and healthy places in which to live, as well as safer, wealthier and more diverse. A few years ago, FAO initiated a collaborative process to develop voluntary guidelines aimed at optimizing the contributions of forests and trees to sustainable urban development. Scientists, practitioners and public administrators from cities worldwide were brought together to discuss the elements and key challenges of urban forestry, and a smaller team of experts was assembled to distil this vast knowledge. This document is the ultimate result of that process. Intended for a global audience comprising urban decision-makers, civil servants, policy advisors and other stakeholders, it will assist in the development of urban and peri-urban forests that help meet the present and future needs of cities for forest products and ecosystem services. These guidelines will also help increase community awareness of the contributions that forests and trees can make to improving quality of life, and of their essential role in global sustainability."--Publisher's description