Forests
Human society and the global economy are inextricably linked to forests. More than 1 billion people depend on forests for their livelihoods. And forest ecosystems play a critical role in stabilizing the climate; providing food, water, wood products, and vital medicines; and supporting much of the world’s biodiversity.
Despite decreased deforestation rates in some regions, forest ecosystems are still under great threat. According to WRI research, 30 percent of global forest cover has been cleared, while another 20 percent has been degraded. Most of the rest has been fragmented, leaving only about 15 percent intact.
WRI works with governments, businesses, and civil society to sustain forests for future generations. We aim to curb deforestation worldwide and help to restore and reforest already-cleared land.
WRI’s Global Forest Watch initiative uses the most advanced satellite data and crowd-sourced information to track deforestation throughout the world in near-real-time. Our Global Restoration Initiative identifies ways to restore trees and productivity to deforested and degraded lands. Our Forest Legality Initiative works to reduce illegal logging by supporting the supply and procurement of legal and sustainable forest products. And we develop policy recommendations to ensure effective and inclusive governance of the world’s forest resources.
Top Forests Outcomes
What's a top outcome?
Top outcomes are WRI's biggest success stories. They occur when our analysis, solutions, or partnerships result in significant change in the world.
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2016
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2016
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2016
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2015
Featured Expert
Rachael Petersen
Global Forest Watch
New in Forests
All
Forests Projects
All Forests Projects
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African Forest Landscape Restoration Initiative (AFR100)
Africa restoring 100 million hectares of deforested and degraded land by 2030
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Initiative 20x20
Bringing 20 million hectares of degraded land in Latin America and the Caribbean into restoration by 2020.
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Re-Greening
Supporting low-cost innovations in tree, land and water management for improved food security, poverty reduction and climate resilience.
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Natural Infrastructure for Water
We empower governments, businesses, utilities, and communities to enhance water security by investing in “natural infrastructure,” like forests and wetlands, as part of a portfolio of smart solutions to growing water challenges.
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Congo Basin Forest Atlases
The Forest Atlas is a dynamic tool that helps decision-makers in the region achieve sustainable management of forest resources through strengthened land use planning and monitoring.
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Forest Legality Initiative
Reducing illegal logging by supporting the supply and procurement of legal and sustainable forest products
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Global Forest Watch
A dynamic online forest monitoring and alert system that empowers people everywhere to better manage forests.
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Global Restoration Initiative
Inspiring, enabling and mobilizing action to restore vitality to degraded landscapes and forests around the globe.
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Forests and Landscapes in Indonesia
Data-driven analysis to support government and civil society actions for effective and equitable land-use in Indonesia.
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The Governance of Forests Initiative
Strengthening land use laws and practices that impact forests to reduce deforestation and forest degradation and increase communities’ rights to natural resources.
Forest Legality
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Forest Legality Initiative
Reducing illegal logging by supporting the supply and procurement of legal and sustainable forest products
Restoration
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African Forest Landscape Restoration Initiative (AFR100)
Africa restoring 100 million hectares of deforested and degraded land by 2030
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Initiative 20x20
Bringing 20 million hectares of degraded land in Latin America and the Caribbean into restoration by 2020.
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Re-Greening
Supporting low-cost innovations in tree, land and water management for improved food security, poverty reduction and climate resilience.
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Global Restoration Initiative
Inspiring, enabling and mobilizing action to restore vitality to degraded landscapes and forests around the globe.
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Forests and Landscapes in Indonesia
Data-driven analysis to support government and civil society actions for effective and equitable land-use in Indonesia.
Global Forest Watch
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Forests and Landscapes in Indonesia
Data-driven analysis to support government and civil society actions for effective and equitable land-use in Indonesia.
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Congo Basin Forest Atlases
The Forest Atlas is a dynamic tool that helps decision-makers in the region achieve sustainable management of forest resources through strengthened land use planning and monitoring.
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Global Forest Watch
A dynamic online forest monitoring and alert system that empowers people everywhere to better manage forests.
Signature Initiatives
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Global Forest Watch
A dynamic online forest monitoring and alert system that empowers people everywhere to better manage forests.
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Global Restoration Initiative
Inspiring, enabling and mobilizing action to restore vitality to degraded landscapes and forests around the globe.
Experts
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Craig Hanson
Global Director, Food, Forests, and Water Programs -
Rod Taylor
Global Director, Forests Program -
Tjokorda Nirarta "Koni" Samadhi
Country Director, Indonesia -
Charles Victor Barber
Director, Forest Legality Initiative -
Sean DeWitt
Director, Global Restoration Initiative -
Crystal Davis
Director, Global Forest Watch -
Roger Mambeta
Forest Atlas Coordinator, Democratic Republic of Congo -
Julius Lawalata
Field Officer, Indonesia -
Ryan Sarsfield
Latin America Commodities Manager II, Global Forest Watch -
Katie Reytar
Research Associate -
Karla Renschler
Product Marketing Specialist, Global Forest Watch -
Dennis Garrity
Senior Fellow, Restoration -
Katherine Shea
Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist, Global Forest Watch -
Jane Lloyd
Finance Sector Engagement Manager, Global Forests Watch Commodities -
Juan Abeso Ondo Eyang
Assistant Coordinator, Equatorial Guinea -
Nancy Harris
Research Manager, Global Forest Watch -
Octavia Payne
Communications Manager, Global Forest Watch -
Meaghan Parker-Forney
Science Officer, Forest Legality Initiative -
Sarah Sargent
GIS Research Analyst II, Global Forest Watch -
Fernando Evuna Mboro Eyang
Principal Advisor, Equatorial Guinea -
Ornanong Maneerattana
Monitoring and Evaluation Manager -
Jonathan Mason
Research Analyst, Forest Legality Initiative -
James Anderson
Communications Manager, Forests Program -
Duclaire Mbouna
Principal Advisor, Cameroon -
Thomas Maschler
GIS Remote Sensing Associate -
Rohini Chaturvedi
Strategy Head, Forest and Landscape Restoration -
Mikaela Weisse
Research Analyst -
Lauren Williams
Chief of Party, SCAEMPS -
David Wheeler
Senior Fellow -
Kathleen Buckingham
Research Associate -
Tina Schneider
Manager, Forest Legality Initiative -
Luciana Gallardo Lomeli
Research Analyst, Initiative 20x20 -
Niranjali Manel Amerasinghe
Climate Finance Associate -
Fred Stolle
Senior Associate -
Clorinda Kurnia Wibowo
Energy Specialist, WRI Indonesia -
Eric Dinerstein
Senior Fellow -
Elizabeth Dow Goldman
GIS Research Associate -
Susan Minnemeyer
Mapping and Data Manager -
Anne Rosenbarger
Southeast Asia Commodities Manager, Global Forest Watch -
Chris Reij
Senior Fellow -
Lisa Johnston
Research Analyst -
Walter Vergara
Senior Fellow -
Asa Strong
GIS Software Engineer, Global Forest Watch -
Helen Ding
Environmental Economist -
Norbert Henninger
Senior Associate -
Carolyn Ciciarelli
Grants and Finance Associate -
Joel Gamys
National Coordinator, Liberia -
Maria Franco Chuaire
Associate II, Initiative 20x20 -
Laura Vary
Africa Forest Associate, Global Forest Watch -
Robert Winterbottom
Senior Fellow -
Taryn Staples
Grants and Finance Associate -
Christopher Delgado
Senior Fellow -
David Olson
Senior Fellow -
Kendie Kenmoe
National Technical Assistance, Central Africa Forests Initiative -
Peter Veit
Director, Land and Resource Rights Initiative -
Alyssa Barrett
Global Forest Watch Platform Manager -
Jared Messinger
Manager, Global Restoration Initiative -
Serge Nkongolo
Grants and Finance Coordinator, Central Africa Forests -
Florence Landsberg
Research Associate -
Todd Gartner
Senior Associate; Manager, Natural Infrastructure for Water -
Aaron Minnick
Associate, Global Restoration Initiative -
Hidayah Hamzah
Research Analyst -
Régis Is-mael Yembe-Yembe
Program Officer, Republic of Congo -
René Zamora Cristales
Associate, Initiative 20x20 -
Novita Liangga Kumala
Governance Specialist, WRI Indonesia -
Matthew Steil
Manager, Central Africa Forests -
Tesfay Woldemariam
GIS and Remote Sensing Research Analyst -
Matt Hansen
Senior Fellow, Global Forest Watch -
Brook Guzder-Williams
Chief Data Scientist -
Caroline Winchester
Research Analyst -
Jessica Webb
Civil Society Engagement Manager, Global Forest Watch -
Joelle Nkosi Boeli
Natural Resource Governance Assistant -
Kevin Ntani
GIS Intern, Africa -
Felix Credo Lilakako Malikuya
Natural Resource Governance Advisor -
Surahman Putra
GIS Analyst/GIS Programmer -
Pacifique Muhumbo
Administrative and Finance Officer, Central Africa Forest Initiative -
Nessya Puteri
Lead Project Coordinator -
Armand Mangoffo Bouka
Finance and Administrative Assistant, Republic of the Congo -
Bukti Bagja
Land Use Accountability Manager, WRI Indonesia -
Bob Hermann Dombolo
National Policy Assistant, Republic of Congo -
Catherine Nakashidze
National GFW Coordinator in Georgia -
Joseph Mangouende
National Technical Assistant, Republic of Congo -
Sabin Ray
Research Analyst -
Bo Li
Research Analyst -
Arief Wijaya
Climate & Forests Senior Manager -
Jun Geng
Grants and Finance Coordinator II -
Anna Bammerlin
Grants and Finance Coordinator, Indonesia Forests -
Satrio Wicaksono
Forest and Landscape Restoration Manager, Indonesia -
Claudio Pontes
Forest Restoration Specialist, WRI Brasil -
Alan Batista
Investment Analyst, WRI Brasil -
Ruth Nogueron
Associate -
Elizabeth Cole
Program Coordinator II -
Andrew Wu
Research Analyst -
Gabrielle Nussbaum
Project Coordinator II, Global Forest Watch -
Kevin Faragher
Grants and Finance Coordinator -
Charlie Hofmann
Software Engineer II, Global Forest Watch -
Sofia Faruqi
Manager, New Restoration Economy -
Asti Asokawati
GIS Analyst -
Luiz Amaral
Global Manager, Global Forest Watch Commodities -
Guy Shemisi
Accounting Assistant, Central Africa Forest Initiative -
Emily Averna
Associate -
Salima Mahamoudou
Research Assistant -
Courtney Romolt
Intern, Initiative 20x20 -
Alain Engunda Ikala
Training and Outreach Coordinator, Global Forest Watch -
Liza Logounova
Consultant, Global Forest Watch -
Brandon Nye
Intern, New Restoration Economy -
Angel Cibemba
Communications Coordinator -
Andrew Maddocks
Program Management, Global Forest Watch -
John-Rob Pool
Program Coordinator, Global Restoration Initiative -
Emily van Bronkhorst
Project Coordinator II -
Djoan Bonfils
Regional Technical Assistant -
Ruchika Singh
Associate Director – Landscape Restoration, WRI India -
Frances Seymour
Distinguished Senior Fellow -
Théo Way
Community Forestry Coordinator -
Rizky Firmansyah
GIS Analyst, WRI Indonesia -
Paige Langer
Program Coordinator II -
Aurélio Padovezi
Forests Manager, WRI Brasil -
Katie Fletcher
Communications Assistant, Global Forest Watch -
Nadia Doman
Legal Assistant -
Marcelo Matsumoto
GIS Research Associate, WRI Brasil -
Steven Brumby
Senior Fellow, Global Forest Watch -
Andres Anchondo
Intern, Global Restoration Initiative -
Ifeoma Collins
GIS Research Analyst II -
Marie Vallee
Manager, Forest Transparency Initiative -
Miguel Calmon
Forests Director, WRI Brasil -
Dhanapal Govindarajulu
Fellow -
Suzanna Lund
Project Manager, WRI Brasil -
Natasha Ferrari
Communications Officer, Global Restoration Initiative -
Rafael Feltran-Barbieri
Research Analyst, WRI Brasil -
Claire Halleux
Technical Advisor -
Theodore Trefon
Senior Strategy and Policy Lead, Central Africa Forests -
Natacha Tshishimbi
Logistics Officer -
Jean Maurice Muneza
Regional Coordinator for Land Use Planning -
Sophie Labaste
Research Assistant, Forest Transparency Initiative -
Molly Bergen
Central Africa Communications Officer