Social enterprises can be defined as non-profit making organizations that conduct business activities and are expected to generate profits that can be reinvested back into the local community to fund social and environmental causes. In Cameroon, community forests (CFs) are legal entities that are expected to generate profits which are then ploughed back to fund social development projects in their communities. Therefore, they could also be described as social enterprises. However, CFs in the country neither operate as social enterprises nor benefit the communities for several reasons. One reason could be the lack of understanding of what social enterprises really are. This document recommends that CFs be officially recognized as social enterprises in order to enjoy business support by the current infrastructure that is in place.
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Current root research issues at ICRAF
As new exotic fruits are being introduced to consumers in the North, domestication of lesser-known, indigenous fruits for tropical subsistence farmers receives an additional perspective. Domestication of indigenous fruits is part of a strategy to improve human nutrition in rural areas and to “put money into farmers’ pockets” in order to improve their living conditions. It is an integrated strategy that involves dissemination of information and germplasm following research on identification, production, management and adoption of desirable germplasm. The different strategies for two species, Uapaca kirkiana and Bactris gasipaes, are presented. U. kirkiana is a dioecious tree whose fruits are widely eaten throughout southern Africa, but are only traded locally. B. gasipaes is a palm species with considerable importance in Central and South America. Through a long history of use by indigenous people, the species now has a complex of distinct landraces. Its market is mainly regional, but two of its products, fresh and canned heart-of-palm, are being commercialized in North America and Europe. With growing markets, improved production of both species could help improve the local farmers’ conditions.
Annual Report 2021: Harnessing the power of forests, trees and agroforestry
In 2021, as the Covid-19 pandemic started to turn a corner and new hope sprang from the launch of global initiatives on restoration and land use, CIFOR-ICRAF completed a successful three-year merger process, finishing the year with a project pipeline of USD 430 million and fully harmonized management, research and regional processes.
Now, CIFOR-ICRAF is generating even more evidence of the transformative potential of forests, trees and agroforestry. This report highlights some of our solutions to five global challenges: deforestation and biodiversity loss, climate change, dysfunctional food systems, unsustainable supply and value chains, and inequality. Achievements include informing national policies in Peru and Viet Nam, applying new technologies in the Congo Basin and India, and co-creating solutions with partners and communities in Indonesia and Cameroon – all while integrating considerations of the rights of women, Indigenous Peoples and local communities.
The Global Landscapes Forum (GLF) has reached 1.5 billion people, drawing record numbers of people to the hybrid GLF Climate conference and other pivotal events. The CGIAR Research Program on Forests, Trees and Agroforestry (FTA) wrapped up 10 years of impact, with contributions resulting in millions of hectares of forests under restoration and better protection – and millions of people with improved food security and nutrition and the means to exit poverty. And Resilient Landscapes is fast becoming a nexus between science, business and finance, with projects starting in Papua New Guinea, Serbia and Brazil.
Exciting new projects launched in 2021 include Trees Outside Forests in India (TOFI) supported by USAID and the Agroforestry and Restoration Accelerator in Brazil in partnership with The Nature Conservancy and Amazon Inc.
With the momentum of a combined 70 years’ experience, CIFOR-ICRAF is forging ahead with its valued partners, finding new ways to harness the transformative power of forests, trees and agroforestry for a more resilient future.
Featuring research on sustainable use of forests and trees, agroforestry, landscape restoration, climate change, tree genetic resources, value chains, deforestation, food systems, gender, tenure and rights, [Africa, Asia, Latin America, Peru, Brazil, Burkina Faso, DRC, Ethiopia, Serbia, India, Indonesia, Viet Nam, Papua New Guinea].
Read more: cifor-icraf.org/annualreport2021
CIFOR-ICRAF Strategy 2020–2030
CIFOR–ICRAF delivers actionable evidence and solutions to transform how land is used and how food is produced. This includes conserving and restoring ecosystems and responding to the global climate, malnutrition, biodiversity and desertification crises. Our 2020–30 strategy outlines our holistic approach to solving five global challenges:
- Deforestation and biodiversity loss
- A climate in crisis
- Transforming food systems
- Unsustainable supply and value chains
- Extreme inequality
Supported by our new institutional structure, our long-established partnerships and the diverse skills of our more than 700 staff, we address local challenges and opportunities while solving global problems through three innovations:
- Transformative partnership platforms are alliances focused on delivering transformational change on critically important issues.
- Engagement landscapes are geographic areas where we carry out concentrated, long-term transformative work with diverse partners.
Flagship products, such as the Global Landscapes Forum, aim to provide action-oriented insight into important global issues.
CIFOR-ICRAF in Kenya: An evolving collaboration
For over 45 years, ICRAF, CIFOR and CIFOR-ICRAF have supported Kenya’s efforts to increase food security, improve livelihoods, forest management and climate resilience for smallholders and communities across the country. With one of its two headquarters in Nairobi, a dedicated Kenya Country Office, and people on the ground in over 35 counties CIFOR-ICRAF has built diverse partnerships across government ministries and agencies, county governments, academia, research institutions, development partners, donors, civil society organizations and farming communities.
This brief details the results of nearly five decades of collaboration, including key contributions to policy development, strengthening training and capacity, and the establishment of research stations and programmes to address critical issues facing Kenyans, such as fodder and fuelwood shortages, low productivity, erosion, and narrow tree species diversity. It also highlights opportunities for CIFOR- ICRAF to contribute to Kenya’s development goals as it continues to generate new evidence and insights to realize the country’s potential for developing a resilient green economy.
Case Studies – PREFACE
Repeated lessons learned included “use true and personal stories” and “bite-sized information;” have a “relatable tone;” and collaborate with others and “nurture alliances”. “Keep going and do not give up” was another theme. This chapter provides inspired reading from organizations communicating the frontline – from the forests of Italy, to the urban forests of New Jersey city Newark, to Goriški Kras forest, which experienced the largest fire in Slovenia’s history.
Media Engagement in the Digital Era
Is engaging with the media a good idea for forestry organizations? Absolutely. But as with any aspect of communication, strategic assessment and planning are key. In this chapter, we provide you with foundational knowledge and guidance to help you navigate media ecosystems and decide why, when, and how to engage with journalists and editors to secure coverage that effectively communicates your desired message to your target audience via your preferred channels.
Annual Report 2020: Building forward better
In 2020 – a year like no other – CIFOR-ICRAF continued to deliver the world’s best science on forests and trees in agricultural landscapes, shifting the conversation online as the Covid-19 pandemic evolved.
This annual report features stories about expertise, dedication and perseverance. When people responded to the pandemic with calls to ban wild meat, CIFOR-ICRAF experts stepped forward with recent, highly relevant evidence in hand, highlighting the needs of communities who rely on wild game for nutrition. Other scientists forged ahead to deliver compelling research findings on improved tree seed and restoration work in Ethiopia, agroforestry in Southeast Asia, and a new model for sustainable use of woodfuel in refugee camps – among many other topics.
CIFOR-ICRAF continued to chart its path as one organization, with a new 10-year strategy that outlines game-changing solutions to five global challenges: deforestation and biodiversity loss, the climate crisis, unsustainable supply and value chains, the need to transform food systems, and extreme inequality for women, Indigenous Peoples and vulnerable rural communities.
Three new holistic approaches will deliver actionable solutions to these challenges: Transformative Partnership Platforms, Engagement Landscapes and Flagship Products. And the newly launched Resilient Landscapes aims to leverage the power of the private sector to spur greater investment in nature-based solutions.
The Global Landscapes Forum (GLF) held its first fully virtual conference in June and didn’t stop there, seeing unprecedented digital growth during the year. And the CGIAR Research Program on Forests, Trees and Agroforestry (FTA) marked its 10th science conference – also virtual – while continuing to demonstrate the power of partnership.
View the full online report at: https://www.cifor-icraf.org/annualreport2020/