The next 10 years offers a critical opportunity to shape the kind of planet we will leave to future generations, as today’s actions will have climate impacts for thousands of years.
Through ongoing dialogue and robust scientific evidence, CIFOR-ICRAF is charting what works best, where, when and for whom to keep trees in the ground, increase tree cover, and develop effective, cost-efficient, and equitable climate policies and practices.
Trees at the forefront of global climate agenda
It was no surprise that, during the hottest year on record, the climate crisis burned up the headlines – and the world finally started to recognize the value of trees in addressing global challenges. Our thought leaders responded to trending discussions by shining a light on the risks of El Niño in Indonesia and offering guidance to countries aiming to integrate sustainable bioenergy into their national energy plans. Experts proposed a two-way approach to leveraging the new ‘megafund’ for the conservation of tropical forests to bring the Amazon and the Andes back into balance. CEO Éliane Ubalijoro outlined the potential role of AI in climate solutions and, together with COO Robert Nasi, underscored the myriad ways tree-based landscapes and healthy soils can accelerate the transition towards a bio-based economy.
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CIFOR-ICRAF statement @COP28
Catalysing peatland conservation policy in Peru
When disturbed, peatlands release massive amounts of greenhouse gas into the atmosphere. But they are often overlooked in both global and national climate change mitigation policies. Through CIFOR-ICRAF’s long-term interventions in Peru, a community of peatland expertise has begun to form, and we directly supported the Government of Peru in developing and approving a Nationally Determined Contribution to reduce emissions by avoiding deforestation in Amazonian peatlands.
Blue Carbon Deck
There is a dearth of research on mangroves compared with other forest ecosystems. To counter the rapidly escalating threats to these fragile ecosystems – and to make sure that their carbon sequestration is accurately and transparently accounted for – CIFOR-ICRAF and partners launched the Blue Carbon Deck, a Transformative Partnership Platform. And the Sustainable Wetlands Adaptation and Mitigation Program (SWAMP) programme generated more key evidence from wetlands research, including a publication on the challenges and opportunities for achieving Sustainable Development Goals through restoring Indonesia’s mangroves.
Climate, Biodiversity & Rights
During the two weeks of negotiations at the UN Climate Summit in Dubai (COP28), we ran a first-of-its-kind daily briefing called Climate, Biodiversity & Rights, which reached over 1,100 subscribers across 15 editions. We hosted official side events on agroforestry and transparency in climate reporting, and our delegates participated both online and in person in more than 50 others on themes including forests, food, carbon and climate, Indigenous Peoples, tree commodities, agriculture, sustainable value chains, and soil health.
When science meets policy
With 14 years of research on the causes of deforestation and forest degradation, the Global Comparative Study on REDD+ (GCS REDD+) capped its fourth phase with a series of science-policy dialogues to plan for reducing emissions in Brazil, Peru, Indonesia, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Several important resources in support of this planning process were developed, including an update to the International Database on REDD+ Projects and Programs (ID-RECCO), three simulators that allow users to forecast deforestation levels under different policy scenarios, a brief series on REDD+ safeguards, and a ‘deforestation diagnostics’ approach to help researchers explore which policies work best in different contexts.
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Juan Pablo Sarmiento Barletti and Anne Larson on equity, tenure and climate
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Christopher Martius on REDD+
Carbon markets: Potentials and pitfalls
As scrutiny of carbon credit schemes intensified in 2023, our experts weighed in. Backed by over a decade of expertise on REDD+ and related research, we addressed expanding concerns over exaggerated claims, the problem of additionality, the role of government regulation, the potential of ‘blue carbon credits’, and how new accounting methods could rebuild confidence in forest carbon markets.
Forest, Agriculture and Commodity Trade (FACT) Dialogue
This government-to-government dialogue furthered progress on addressing the climate and biodiversity crises through the promotion of sustainable international trade in key agricultural commodities, such as palm oil, soya, cocoa, beef and timber. CIFOR-ICRAF, in partnership with FACT member countries, launched the 2023 FACT Dialogue Progress Report at COP28, detailing progress towards a shared goal of sustainable development and trade while protecting forests and other critical ecosystems.
Putting a damper on peatland fires
In our ongoing efforts to tackle transboundary haze pollution in Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries, we held key policy dialogues brought together country representatives to develop the Second ASEAN Haze-Free Roadmap (2023–2030). We also convened a kick-off workshop to develop guidelines to map and estimate burned areas for the region and co-sponsored a session on unlocking private investment for peatland restoration at Asia Pacific Climate Week.
Through our work on community-based peatland restoration and sustainable business development, we published guidelines and a toolbox written collaboratively with local communities.
