Can Forests Help Feed the World

Level 1 Level 2
İngilizce Öğren LingoVivo News

Projections indicate a global population of nine billion by 2050, raising concerns about the imminent twofold increase in food demand. This is particularly troubling given the current plight of over 800 million people facing food shortages.

A potential solution to this challenge lies in the effective management of forests, as highlighted in a recent report by the International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO), presented at the United Nations. Forests, when properly maintained, play a pivotal role in providing 50% of the world's fresh fruit, as well as cultivating valuable crops such as coffee, avocados, cashews, and nutrient-rich seeds and nuts.

Bhaskar Vira, the director of the University of Cambridge Conservation Research Institute and an expert with IUFRO, contends that the conventional practice of clearing trees for agriculture can be rethought. He argues that with proper management, agricultural fields and healthy forests can coexist, offering a potential solution to the growing global food demand without compromising environmental sustainability.

Questions

1- What is the primary concern raised by the doubling demand for food by 2050?

2- Who is Bhaskar Vira, and what role does he play in the context of the passage?

3- What crucial role do forests play, according to the passage, in addition to providing fresh fruit?

Congratulations!

You have completed the comprehension questions. 

Parts of this lesson are based on: An article Voice of America.