22 April 2019, UNITAR New York Office, USA – The United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) New York Office hosted a workshop with the Maryland-based organization Trees for the Future on the topic of diversifying nutrition and income sources. This was the final workshop of the three-part series on Using Agroforestry to Meet Sustainable Development Goals sponsored by the Permanent Mission of Sweden’s programme “Leveling the Playing Field”.

Mr. Pelayo Alvarez delivered the welcoming remarks and opened the International Mother Earth Day Special Workshop on behalf of UNITAR. This workshop covered how Trees for the Future’s agroforestry method (The Forest Garden Approach, FGA) is meeting 9 Sustainable Development Goals (specifically Goals 1, 2, 3, 8, 10, 12, 13, 15 and 17). Executive Director John Leary and Training Program Coordinator Olivier Allongue led the diverse group of attendees through a series of presentations and practical trainings. Attendees were introduced to the concept of a value chain and participated in a human value chain activity to better understand how value chains affect

farmers and their crops. Building on the previous workshops, attendees discussed optimizing farms by optimizing space, time, sun exposure, and water usage.  In the spirit of International Mother Earth Day, soil and water conservation techniques, as well as different types of chemical and natural integrated pest management techniques, were demonstrated by the Trees team. Most importantly, the Trees team emphasized the necessity of being an excellent facilitator when training Forest Garden Trainers on the field.

This final session marked the completion of the recommended training required for attendees to obtain the key agroforestry techniques and training facilitation skills required to pass the Forest Garden Certification Exam. Director John Leary Newly assured participants that materials to prepare for the certificate would also be available online. Newly certified Forest Garden Trainers will be announced on June 5th 2019, World Environment Day!