- Bringing logging companies in line with FSC certification standards in the Congo Basin
- Building knowledge about climate change adaptation in Congo Basin
- New 10-year research initiative to protect forests and reduce risks for forest communities
- Bioenergy, sustainability and trade-offs
- Landmark findings show mangroves key to fighting climate change
- Rural poor rely on forests for nearly a quarter of household income
- Integrating the management of timber and non-timber forest products in the Amazon
- Reviving frankincense and myrrh for livelihoods and conservation in Ethiopia
- Urgent call for action at Forest Day 5
- Shining a spotlight on Indonesia’s forests
- Pathways to impact
Message from Chair of the Board
From strength to strength
It is fitting that the CGIAR Research Programme Forests, Trees and Agroforestry kicked off in 2011, the International Year of Forests. The ground-breaking initiative is set to contribute to the sustainable management of tropical forests while improving the livelihoods of forest-dependent communities all over the world. The CGIAR Fund Council gave the new programme its unconditional endorsement. As lead centre, CIFOR spent much of the year overseeing an intense process of operational planning with CGIAR partners Bioversity International, International Center for Tropical Agriculture and World Agroforestry Centre.
"The CGIAR Research Programme Forests, Trees and Agroforestry kicked off in 2011, the International Year of Forests. It contributes to the sustainable management of tropical forests while improving the livelihoods of forest-dependent communities all over the world."
CIFOR is well positioned to lead the CGIAR’s effort to address the challenges facing the world’s forests. The Center’s strategy and structure are completely in line with the aims of the CGIAR programme. The depth and range of CIFOR’s partnerships have been greatly enriched in recent years, largely owing to worldwide research initiatives such as the Poverty and Environment Network and the Global Comparative Study on REDD+. Our understanding of the key issues around forestry has progressed significantly as a result of dedicated policy research. The staff have grown from strength to strength as CIFOR has attracted extraordinary new recruits, from post-docs to senior scientists. Donor confidence in CIFOR is self-evident: the Center’s budget has nearly doubled in the past 5 years.
The big news towards the end of 2011 was that Director General Frances Seymour would leave CIFOR in mid-2012. She has been instrumental in dramatically raising the standard and visibility of the work of the organisation and its impact on forest-related policy worldwide. From this position of strength, I am sure that CIFOR will attract some of the world’s top talent to compete for the chance to lead the organisation to the next level of performance and achievement.
Prof. M. Hosny El Lakany
Chair, Board of Trustees