Occupying less than a third of the world’s land mass, forests provide $250 billion in income, are essential to the livelihoods of 1 out of every 4 people on the planet, contain 80% of Earth’s terrestrial biodiversity, and absorb up to a third of all carbon emissions.
Since 1990, more than 300 million hectares of forests have been destroyed. Deforestation contributes 10–15% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions, reduces agricultural productivity, and undermines food security globally. Forest loss endangers both biodiversity and the livelihoods of a quarter of the world’s population.
The Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) is dedicated to advancing human wellbeing, environmental conservation and equity by conducting research that helps governments, businesses, nongovernment organisations and communities in less-developed countries make informed decisions about how they use and manage their forests.
Spanning governance, poverty and environmental issues across Asia, Latin America and Africa, CIFOR’s multidisciplinary research includes the following topics:
- How do we manage forests in ways that enable us to mitigate and adapt to climate change?
- How can the people who depend on smallholder and community forestry improve their livelihoods?
- How do we manage the trade-offs between conservation and development?
- How do we manage the impacts of globalised trade and investment?
- How can tropical production forests be managed sustainably?
CIFOR’s vision is of a world in which forests remain high on the world’s political agenda; where decisions that affect forests are based on solid science, good governance, and the needs and perspectives of forest-dependent people; and in which people recognise the real value of forests for maintaining livelihoods and ecosystems services.
CIFOR leads the CGIAR Research Program on Forests, Trees and Agroforestry in partnership with Bioversity International, the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) and the World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF).
