The 2024 Forest Declaration Assessment recently showed that, despite global commitments to halt and reverse deforestation by 2030, progress remains alarmingly insufficient. Last year, deforestation and forest degradation continued at the same levels, or even worsened in some places, with primary forests facing significant destruction. Forest fires, exacerbated by human-induced climate change and land clearing, are growing in intensity and frequency, further undermining forest conservation efforts. Meanwhile, over 1 million hectares of tree cover was lost in 2023 in forested Key Biodiversity Areas, internationally recognized as critical for endangered species. Without a transformation of economic models and a global commitment to prioritize forest conservation, the world’s 2030 forest goals will remain out of reach.
Tag: finance
Audited Financial Statements 2018
Audited Financial Statements 2015
Report on the financial statementsWe have audited the accompanying financial statements of the World Agroforestry Centre(ICRAF/ the “Centre”) set out on pages 35 to 63. These financial statements comprisethe statement of financial position at 31 December 2015 and the statements of activities,changes in net assets and cash flows for the year then ended, and a summary of significantaccounting policies and other explanatory information.Management’s responsibility for the financial statementsManagement is responsible for the preparation and fair presentation of these financialstatements in accordance with the Consultative Group on International AgriculturalResearch (CGIAR) Accounting Policies and Procedures Manual – Financial Guidelines SeriesNo. 2 (Revised February 2006 and supplemented by the 2015 Advisory Note) and for suchinternal control, as management determine necessary to enable the preparation of financialstatements that are free from material misstatements, whether due to fraud or error.Auditor’s responsibilityOur responsibility is to express an independent opinion on the financial statements basedon our audit. We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards onAuditing. Those standards require that we comply with ethical requirements and plan andperform our audit to obtain reasonable assurance that the financial statements are free frommaterial misstatement.
Finance that works for biodiversity – workshop report
An agricultural transformation is needed to shift production to a model that embraces biodiversity-friendly approaches. This transformation is predicated on successful models of biodiversity inclusive financing.
Enabling small holders to improve their livelihoods and benefit from carbon finance
The report contains a validated protocol for achieving the goal as indicated in the title of the project itself. The report provides details of the project work plan which is based on the hypothesis, framework and methods used in carrying out the activities, illustrates innovations and innovation process, and showcases the achievements.
Editorial: Expanding the debate on financial services
This volume of Enterprise Development and Microfinance (EDM) addresses from different angles and in different ways the capacities and needs of financial service providers to effectively reach to the poor. Some articles explore options for increased operational efficiency of microfinance institutions (MFIs), while others focus on the capacity of service providers to expand beyond microfinance. Some take a more global view, while others focus on experiences in specific countries, namely China, India, Togo and Brazil. Taken together, the articles provide fresh fodder for debates on how financial service providers can achieve sustainability and better support the poor’s capacity to deal with risk and uncertainly. The articles also provide important insights into how government and donors can better support service providers—or at the very least reduce the barriers that limit the impact and reach of service provision. Hopefully the rich debate here and elsewhere in EDM on financial services will inspire deeper reflection on how to increase the coverage and effectiveness of non-financial services, such as rural advisory services and business development services.
Audited Financial Statements 2023: 31 December 2023
Mainstreaming Ecosystem Services from Indonesia’s Remaining Forests
With 120 million hectares of forest area, Indonesia has the third largest area of biodiversity-rich tropical forests in the world, and it is well-known as a mega-biodiversity country. However, in 2020, only 70 percent of this area remained forested. The government has consistently undertaken corrective actions to achieve Sustainable Development Goal targets, with a special focus on Goals #1 (no poverty), #2 (zero hunger), #3 (good health and well-being), #7 (affordable and clean energy), #8 (decent work and economic growth), #13 (climate action), and #15 (life on land). Good environmental governance is a core concept in Indonesia’s forest management and includes mainstreaming ecosystem services as a framework for sustainable forest management. This paper analyzes efforts to mainstream Indonesia’s remaining forest ecosystem services. We review the state of Indonesia’s forests in relation to deforestation dynamics, climate change, and ecosystem service potential and options and provide recommendations for mainstreaming strategies regarding aspects of policy, planning, and implementation, as well as the process of the articulation of ecosystem services and their alternative funding.
Towards Indonesian carbon market: Input from REDD+ projects
Key messages
- REDD+ projects in Indonesia are commercial ‘heavyweights’ in global voluntary carbon markets and among the largest suppliers of carbon offset credits in the world despite only a few of them operating in such markets.
- REDD+ projects employ diverse approaches to secure financing (ranging from direct carbon offset sales to donor aid and donations). They offer a range of activities to achieve their conservation and rural development objectives, mostly tailored to local contexts.
- Legislation to support a domestic carbon market already exists (and continues to emerge). It will be crucial to ensure the market is designed in a way that maximizes benefits for all stakeholders, and ensures REDD+ projects continue to play a key role in mitigating climate change.
Ensuring Zero Agricultural Land Expansion into High-Carbon Ecosystems
Relative to agricultural systems, high-carbon ecosystems – such as forests, peatlands, and mangroves – store large amounts of carbon in relatively small areas. Agricultural expansion often comes at the expense of high-carbon ecosystems, contributing to climate change. The food system is connected to these challenges. Ensuring no further agricultural expansion occurs in high-carbon ecosystems is a substantial climate change mitigation opportunity. The estimated costs of avoiding deforestation range from US$1.1 to US$395 billion per year, depending on growth scenarios and carbon prices; this is a bargain compared to the leverage these systems have on climate change and its social costs. Individuals, indigenous people, policies, institutions, and investments are all agents of change and will have to work together to avoid further land conversion.