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PROFOR Closing Report: Knowledge for Sustainable Forest Management

PROFOR remained relevant, technically strong and innovative over its 18 years at the World Bank. From 2002 to 2020, it received $52 million from its donors and implemented over 270 activities across its four themes of livelihoods, governance, finance and cross-sectoral collaboration. These activities in turn leveraged approximately $1.6 billion of World Bank lending, a significant achievement in influence for a knowledge program.

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Special Issue: John Spears: a life in forestry

This article introduces the Special Issue of the International Forestry Review published to honour the legacy, impact and career of the late John Spears, who was for many years the Senior Forestry Adviser at the World Bank. It outlines the long arc of his career and draws on some of the key themes which motivated John, and to which he returned throughout his life.

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Can money save forests?

This blog by Amanda Robbinse and Mily Kallaur was originally published on Governance for Development A recent World Bank discussion paper, Mobilizing and Managing Public Forestry Revenue, considers the role that improving revenue administration could play in strengthening domestic resource mobilization while supporting sustainable forest management. Globally, estimates of the market value of illegal logging activity range from $30 billion to $157 billion, with foregone tax revenue in the neighborhood of $6 billion to $9 billion. Revenue leakage from otherwise legal forest activity is also significant. These are vital resources and revenues that are being lost, predominantly from developing countries that need them the most.

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How governments can take action to limit extreme wildfires

This blog by Karin Erika Kemper was originally published on Development and a Changing Climate Across the globe, wildfire seasons are becoming longer and harsher, and the frequency, intensity and magnitude of extreme wildfires is increasing . The 2020 wildfire season is now on the horizon, and, given the driest summer in Latin America in 14 years, promises to be devastating. In addition, wildfires will be another burden for countries to contend with as they respond to the COVID-19 crisis.

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Managing Wildfires in a Changing Climate

In recent years, wildfire seasons have become longer and harsher, causing significant ecological, economic and social damage. For the most part, such extreme wildfires are the result of policy, planning and governance decisions related to land use, coupled with increasingly adverse weather conditions due to climate change. This paper takes stock of factors that contribute to extreme wildfires and recommends policy actions that can be taken to improve wildfire prevention and management depending on national circumstances.

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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

Climate Change

Not only are forests and trees essential for capturing the carbon emissions that contribute to climate change, but they can also build peoples’ resilience to climate variability. Forests can be… Read more

Cross-Sectoral

Sustainable forest management requires cooperation across many sectors so that good forest practices are not undermined by shifts in macroeconomic policy or other areas. PROFOR’s forest-smart and… 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 app… 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

Poverty

An estimated 1.3 billion people—nearly 20 percent of humanity—rely 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

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PROFOR IS A MULTI-DONOR PARTNERSHIP SUPPORTED BY