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New tool to deliver swifter, better data on forests-poverty linkages
The Forest SWIFT survey tool aims to efficiently and affordably collect data on poverty and communities' dependence on forests.
Resolving forest tenure is key to promoting sustainable development and human rights
Worldwide, secure land and forest tenure is gaining recognition as a key component of many sustainable development efforts, from promoting economic growth, to conserving biodiversity and reducing carbon emissions, to protecting human rights. However, many indigenous peoples are part of tenure systems that lack sufficient legal standing, and individuals may face severe challenges in exercising political power. A new study examines community rights under 10 tenure systems in six Latin American countries. Â
Cutting Deforestation Out of the Cocoa Supply Chain
In West Africa, cocoa has been identified as a major driver of deforestation which has led to serious soil degradation, water insecurity and crop failures in the region. To address these issues, governments and the private sector are becoming increasingly active on sustainability in the cocoa industry. A new report describes overarching principles and key strategies that these stakeholders can implement to lay the groundwork for deforestation-free production in the cocoa sector.
When thinking of forests, donât forget the value of trees
Restoring forest landscapes could bring renewed economic opportunity, improved water supply, and climate resilience. But if the ambitious scale for the global and national forest restoration targets is to be achieved, the economic arguments should be back at the center, along with the conservation ones. It is not just forests that matter. In most cases it will help to approach the challenges by looking at tree-based systems.
How Productive Forests can Help Foster Green Growth and Mitigate Climate Change
While itâs well known that trees and forests provide an important carbon sink, the carbon stored in forest products is often overlooked. Forest products and materials such as those used for construction and furniture store carbon for decades and even centuries.
A new report, Harnessing the Potential of Private Sector Engagement in Productive Forests for Green Growth, shows how sustainably harvesting wood products can help meet growing demand while providing jobs, mitigating climate change and conserving primary forests.
Think Big: Landscapes rich with trees deliver multiple benefits
A PROFOR-supported research team looking at the practice of growing trees on cropland adopted a novel approach:Â Instead of asking the question âwhat works and how do we scale it up?â they asked, âwhatâs happening at scale and why?â
In Mozambique, Government, Conservationists and Private Sector Come Together to Protect Biodiversity
When it comes to protecting our planetâs biodiversity, we canât afford to not have a plan â especially where environmental impacts are inevitable. With support from PROFOR, a World Bank team is supporting the Government of Mozambique in thinking through what a âlast resortâ program would look given the countryâs complex conservation challenges.
The Program on Forests (PROFOR) multi-donor partnership provides knowledge, tools and in-depth analysis to facilitate forests contribution to poverty reduction, sustainable economic development and the protection of global and local environmental services.
Thematic Areas
Cross-Sectoral
Sustainable forest management requires cooperation across many sectors so that sound policies are not undermined by shifts in macroeconomic policy or other areas. PROFORâs analysis identifies trade-...Read more
Poverty
An estimated 1.3 billion peopleânearly 20 percent of humanityârely on forests and forest products for their livelihoods, with the majority living on less than $1.25 a day. In some areas, forest...Read more
Finance
Sustainable forest management seeks to balance increasing demand for forest products and benefits, and preserving forest health and diversity. Financing this equilibrium requires new approaches, both...Read more
Governance
Strong forest governance is essential for many reasons. Clear regulations can encourage legitimate enterprises to make socially and environmentally sustainable investments in the forestry sector....Read more
Climate Change
Not only are forests and trees essential for capturing the carbon emissions that contribute to climate change, but they can also build peoplesâ resilience to climate variability. Forests can be...Read more
