Non-Governmental Organizations

L' Association Technique International des Bois Tropicaux (ATIBT) is an NGO which brings together tropical wood producers and countries, related institutions and research institutes. Atibt aims to promote sustainable management of tropical forests, to increase knowledge about tropical timber material and to promote its use and consumption. The website gives an introduction to the Organizations work and offers access to a number of publications.

The Biodiversity Support Program (BSP) is a consortium of World Wildlife Fund (WWF), The Nature Conservancy (TNC), and World Resources Institute (WRI). Its mission is to promote conservation of the world's biological diversity by supporting projects that combine conservation with social and economic development, research and analysis of conservation approaches, and information exchange and outreach. The website provides information about BSP's Analysis and Adaptive Management Program (AAM), a geographically and thematically searchable database with the program's projects, and an extensive electronic library.

Fern advocates change in EU activities with the goal of achieving sustainable management of forests, respecting the rights of indigenous people and increasing transparency in EU aid to tropical forestry countries. The website gives an insight Ferns main campaign areas including climate change, forest certification, rights of indigenous people and trade and human rights.

The Forests, Trees and People Programme Network is designed to share information about improving community forestry activities and about initiatives of interest to its members. The website offers access to a number of publications on Community Forestry, the programme's quarterly newsletter and contact information for the network's members, focal points and regional centers.

Forestpolicy.org is an initiative founded by a group of NGOs and Indigenous Peoples Organizations (IPO) from eight major geographic regions. The Organization analyzed the implementation of the IPFs Proposals for action in selected countries within a three year Period. The Report was published in 2000 and can be found on the website of the Organization.

Forests Monitor is working to improve taransparency and accountability in the forest by collecting and disseminating information on companies operating in the forest sector throughout the world.

Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is the most widely recognized accreditation agency for forest certification to support sustainable management of forests. It is an association of groups and individuals involved in forestry or forest products such as conservation groups, timber industry, indigenous peoples organizations and community forest groups. FSC offers a credible worldwide timber certification scheme for all forest types and plantations that meet FSC principles and criteria. The website maintains a regularly updated list of certified forests around the world.

Forest PACT, based in Gland, Switzerland, is an innovative action-oriented partnership that builds on existing initiatives and creates a "culture of success" by reaching for the highest level commitment and performance and by rewarding leadership. Forest PACT?s website offers information on its challenge, response, objectives, pledges for action, supporters and new issues, as well as a brochure in PDF format, summary reports of important meetings, and links to relevant organizations.

Global Forest Watch (GFW), based in Washington DC, USA, is an international data and mapping network that combines on-the-ground knowledge with digital technology to provide accurate information about the world's forests. GFW's website features summaries on key forest countries, interactive maps, publications and data listings, press releases, FAQs, links, images and a newsletter.

Global Witness, based in London, UK, runs a forest campaign that aims to eliminate the trade in conflict timber, to combat illegal logging and to prevent unsustainable forest practices.Global Witness is active in Cambodia, Cameroon, Liberia and Zimbabwe.

The International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) is an independent, non-profit organization promoting sustainable patterns of world development through collaborative research, policy studies, and networking/knowledge dissemination. IIED's work focuses on sustainable livelihoods, democracy, environmental security and responsible businesses. IIED operates a programme on forestry and landuse that aims to improve people's livelihoods. The website is packed with information and documents on the organizations work.

The Keurhout Foundation was established by companies and trade unions in the timber trade and timber processing industry with the support of the Dutch Government. The Foundation has developed a voluntary hallmark system monitoring timber coming from and to The Netherlands. The framework differentiates between sustainably (i.e. coming from certified forests) and non-sustainably produced timber monitored either from the point of entry to the country or placement on consumer markets. The website provides information on the organization itself, the monitoring process, participants and data on the worlds certified forests.

The Overseas Development Institute (ODI) is an independent think-tank on international development and humanitarian issues, working with partners in public and private sectors both in developing and developed countries. ODI offers applied research, practical policy advice, policy focused debate . Part of the ODI is the Forest Policy and Environment Group (FPEG) which offers links to forest related sites, access to online publications and access to the searchable internet-based resource TROPICS which brings together information about tropical forestry projects undertaken by the European Commission.

Resource Unit for Participatory Forestry (RUPFOR), housed in Winrock International India, New Delhi and supported by the Ford foundation, serves as a neutral forum for participatory forestry and provides a stakeholder forum of the Joint Forest Management cell of the Ministry of Environment and Forests. Since its inception in 2001, RUPFOR has been instrumental in bringing the policy makers and field level practitioners on one platform to discuss emerging issues in participatory forestry. RUPFOR publish a free quarterly newsletter on participatory forestry called INFORM.

Rainforest Alliance is an international non-profit organization dedicated to the conservation of tropical forests. Rainforest Alliance aims to develop and promote sustainable forest management through education, research, and establishment of cooperative partnerships with businesses, governments, and local people. One program of the RA is SmartWood, a forest management certification program accredited by FSC.

The Sustainable Development Communications Network (SDCN) is a knowledge network of a group of NGO's from around the world working together to find ways of using the Internet to meet the goals of sustainable development. SDCN is committed to delivering sustainable development information and integrating the Internet with traditional communications media. The website offers coverage over 50 topics relating to SD, including links to participating and related organizations and to more than 1,200 documents.

World Rainforest Movement is an international network to defend the world?s rainforest. World Rainforest Movement works to secure the lands and livelihoods of forest peoples and supports their efforts to defend forests against exploitation through commercial logging, dam building, mining, plantations and shrimp farms.

The World Resources Institute (WRI) is a center for research that aims at providing expert level objective information and practical proposals to foster environmentally sound and sustainable development. WRI's website on Forest and Forest Resources offers a vast amount of information on forest related issues including news, facts & figures, latest research activities, publications and more.

The World Wildlife Fund (WWF), the worlds largest privately supported conservation organization, is dedicated to protecting endangered spaces, saving endangered species and to addressing global threats. WWF has a Global Forest Program which cooperates with government, nongovernmental organizations and local communities to halt deforestation worldwide. The programme aims at achieving a minimum of 10% effectively, sustainably managed and protected forests per country and forest as well as establishing sustainable timber trade.