Forests
Forests matter. They are the Earth’s lungs, inhaling and storing carbon, exhaling oxygen. They provide fuel and livelihoods, sustain a great diversity of species, and yield countless critical environmental services, such as protecting watersheds and preventing soil erosion. Without forests, life as we know it would be fundamentally threatened.
Deforestation
Each year over 13 million hectares of forests are lost. Deforestation in tropical countries is now a major contributor to climate change, representing about 18 percent of global emissions. This number rises to more than 30 percent when the impacts of agriculture and land use changes are added. Within developing countries, these factors account for the lion’s share – over 70 percent – of carbon emissions.
Impact on Poverty
The loss of forests and changing land use are both a driver and a result of poverty in developing countries. The Clinton Climate Initiative (CCI) forestry team aims to find sustainable solutions that break this cycle. Improving land use practices is one of the most effective ways to reduce poverty and build resilience in poor, rural communities – and is one of the fastest and cheapest ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Our goal therefore is twofold: to protect and manage forests to mitigate climate change, and to make this be viable economically for national governments and local communities.
CCI Projects
We currently work in Guyana, Cambodia, Tanzania, and Kenya. Each of these partner countries is small enough to be nimble, yet big enough to be meaningful in the global effort on this issue. We also are developing a portfolio of projects in Indonesia, one of the world’s largest emitters of greenhouse gases associated with land use changes and deforestation. Working principally with national governments, but also with NGOs and local communities, we have forged good relationships and high-level commitment in each country, allowing us to move swiftly and effectively to achieve mutual goals.
