Climate-smart agriculture and natural forests: synergistic approaches for climate change resilience and combating hunger in Ethiopia

Abstract

Climate change presents a growing threat to food security, ecosystems, and livelihoods in Ethiopia, where a predominantly agrarian economy faces recurring droughts, land degradation, and rising temperatures. This review explores the synergistic role of Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) and natural forests in promoting climate change adaptation and food security. Using a systematic literature review methodology, 112 peer-reviewed studies and reports published between 2010 and 2025 were analyzed. The review identifies CSA's core functions productivity enhancement, resilience building, and mitigation and highlights the complementary ecosystem services provided by natural forests, such as carbon sequestration, soil fertility, biodiversity conservation, and microclimate regulation. A conceptual framework is proposed to illustrate the interconnectedness of CSA practices and forest-based approaches for adaptation and hunger alleviation. The review also evaluates policy gaps, regional hunger incidences, and innovative practices, emphasizing Ethiopia's need for integrated strategies that merge agro ecological innovation with forest restoration. The findings support CSA–forest integration as a viable pathway for transforming food systems, especially in climate-vulnerable regions such as Borena, Wollo, Somali, and Afar. Strategic recommendations are provided to guide future research, policy formulation, and local implementation for sustainable climate resilience and hunger reduction.