Forests
Forests are home to as much as 90% of the world’s land-based animal and plant life. They directly provide food, shelter, fuel and a source of income to the 1.6 billion people whose livelihoods depend on them. And forests also benefit our environment by regulating the climate and water cycles and preventing soil erosion.
But our forests are in crisis. The world has lost half its forests, and only a tenth of what remains is protected. Each year, we lose another 130,000km2 - an area the size of England.
We’re working around the world to protect forests against the many threats they face - from illegal logging to climate change - and to secure their long-term future.
We work in a variety of ways. There’s hands-on involvement on the ground in lots of the forests we help protect (listed below), but we’re also very active behind the scenes, lobbying and negotiating with governments to improve legislation and planning, as well as persuading large and small businesses to adopt a sustainable approach to using forest resources.
Forests where we work
Amazon
The world's biggest tropical rainforest - we've been working here to limit deforestation for more than 40 years.
Borneo
Third largest island on Earth, Borneo has lost half its forests - but is still uncovering amazing new species.
New Guinea
Largest pristine rainforest in Asia-Pacific, third largest in the world - with a staggering number of unique species.
All our forest projects...
Including the Amur-Heilong forest, the Atlantic forests of Brazil and Paraguay, Colombia and the Eastern Himalayas.
Key forest issues we're working on
- Sustainable use of forests - working with forest managers and related industries across the world, and helping to change the buying habits of wood and paper users
- Forest conversion for agriculture - we're helping make sure the growing global demand for commodities like palm oil and soya doesn't ruin forests and species
- Deforestation and climate change - our aim is to help make forest conservation more economically viable, which is essential if we're to control globe-warming carbon emissions
Latest on Brazil's Forest Law...
Brazil’s Forest Code takes centre stage at World Social Forum
This week saw civil society groups from across the globe convene at the World Social Forum in Porto Alegre, Brazil. Since day one, a critical point of discussion has been the controversial changes to the host country’s long-standing Forest Code, which could see vast swathes of forest destroyed and enormous amounts of CO2 released into the atmosphere.
Brazil's destructive Forest Code vote delayed - but only till March
Thanks in part to campaigners across Brazil and the world, final voting on controversial and destructive changes to the country’s Forest Law has been postponed until March 2012. It's a great first success - but the battle’s not over, and we still need your support to spread the word, and help make sure damaging changes are stopped.
Update 25 Jan: The Brazilian Congress will be reconvening in early February and we're making sure they feel the heat as they step back into office. This week, the World Social Forum - civil society's response to the World Economic Forum - kicks off in Porto Alegre, Brazil. And WWF, together with a committee of other Brazilian organisations, will be using the opportunity to call on President Dilma Rousseff to veto the controversial changes. You can help us today by signing this email petition, already signed by more than 75,000 WWF supporters.
Brazil Forest Code: President’s veto could be last hope for Amazon
The Brazilian Senate could be about to strip the Amazon forest and other important ecosystems of hard-won protections and open up vast new areas for agriculture and cattle ranching. If the proposals are passed in parliament, the fate of Brazil’s forests will rest with President Dilma Rousseff, who could still choose to veto some or all of the proposed changes. And we might be asking for your help to try to persuade her…
Take action
Other useful links
Latest forest reports
WWF Living Forests report
Chapter 2: Forests and energy
29 September 2011
WWF Living Forests report Chapter 2: Forests and energy
2011
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Unlocking forest bonds: a workshop report
22 September 2011
A high-level workshop on innovative finance for tropical forests
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