Partnerships: CIFOR
Sharing knowledge and lessons learnt
The Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) is an international research institution committed to conserving forests and improving the livelihoods of people in the tropics.
To reach this objective, the organization carries out research to help local communities and small farmers gain their rightful share of forest resources, while increasing the production and value of forest products.
Information exchange for improved conservation
CIFOR is a key source of scientific advice for WWF on forest issues. The two organizations collaborate on joint publications and scientific research, which provides opportunities for information exchange and dissemination.
In December 2000, CIFOR and WWF's Macroeconomics Programne Office released a landmark report which provided compelling evidence that the Indonesian pulp and paper industry is causing serious damage to Indonesian forests and is likely to be responsible for a high level of illegal logging.
Also, in May 2003, both organizations along with the IUCN-The World Conservation Union and Forest Trends jointly published the report "Fast Wood Forestry - Myths and Realities". The report is a major contribution to ongoing debate on fast growing plantations, their role in conservation and economic growth.
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Working together for forest finance
Another joint effort is the establishment of the International Working Group on Forest Finance (IWGFF) in 2002. Set up initially to work on problems caused by the indebtedness of Indonesia's forest industry, the IWGEF has broadened its remit. It now has a larger membership, with a secretariat provided by the International NGO Forum on Indonesian Development, and is tackling a range of issues related to money-laundering, forest debt and decentralisation.
CIFOR and WWF on the ground
More recently, the two organizations have joint forces with DGIS, the Dutch Government funding agency, to work on a project in Kalimantan on the Indonesian part of Borneo. The project's goal is to improve forest governance and sustainable forest management through, among others, strengthening market incentives for responsible forestry and capacity of forest managers to respond to these incentives.
A key objective is ensuring that partners and stakeholders have improved knowledge of, and access to, each other's lessons learnt, information and relevant outputs.
