It’s probably safe to say that we know more about the physical state of the world’s forests than ever before. From satellites to drones to interactive apps, technological advancements in how we measure and monitor forests have been remarkable, and essential to reaching …
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This blog post was submitted by Carole Megevand, Sr. Natural Resources Management Specialist and Forest Lead for the World Bank GroupWhen we think about meeting the resource needs of a growing population, issues of food and water security often come to mind. But there is another type of resource that also deserves…
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When Stora Enso – a global paper, packaging and wood-products company – established a pilot eucalyptus plantation in the southern part of Lao PDR in 2014, it was required to pay concession fees to provincial and district governments. The company was not, however, required to recognize the customary rights of the people who had traditionally used those lands, even though these communities comprise some of the most vulnerable people in the country. Nevertheless, Stora Enso opted to engage with community members, eliciting their participation in…
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Contributed by Tuukka Castren, Senior Forestry Specialist at the World BankIf the recent Global…
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It’s not clear what exactly constitutes Sustainable Forest Management (SFM); in fact, there isn’t wide consensus on how to define it.[i] What is evident is that healthy forests support a wide range of services for ecosystems and livelihoods – from food and firewood, to erosion control, pollution mitigation, and carbon storage – and that good governance is essential for ensuring that these benefits persist. Forests are also a valuable…
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Worldwide, an estimated 1.3 billion people - the majority of whom subsist on less than $1.25 per day - depend directly on forests for their livelihoods.[i] Therefore, it would seem clear that programs to restore and maintain forests must also contribute to poverty alleviation. But is this true, and if so, how do we know?On one hand, there is increasing demand for better evidence on program effectiveness, including in the…
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It’s no surprise to any development professional that social, political and economic realities often get in the way of a technically impeccable project. For Senior Natural Resources Economist Nalin Kishor, this truth became starkly evident during a mission to Cambodia, where illegal logging was rampant. Despite strong support from donors and conservation groups, and a system of independent forest monitoring approved by the government of Cambodia, corruption at multiple levels was contributing to widespread deforestation and forest degradation in the country. And yet when Kishor looked for…
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It isn’t difficult to put a monetary price on gold or diamonds: there are formulas and financial institutions in place for just that reason. But what is an ounce of these minerals worth when the unit of value is not dollars and cents, but area of high-quality habitat for pygmy hippos and forest elephants? That’s the complex question that one World Bank Group team is trying to answer for Liberia, as the country emerges from a deadly epidemic of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) that caused…
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