Messages from the Director General and Chair of the Board
We began 2018 by looking back on 25 years of impact, and ended it by looking forward to a bold new merger with World Agroforestry."
Robert Nasi
Director General
Read more
Through its unique strategy of rigourous science, engagement and outreach, CIFOR continues to set the bar for tropical forest research worldwide."
JOSÉ JOAQUÍN CAMPOS ARCE
Chair of the Board
Read more25 years of impact
Over the past 25 years, CIFOR has built a reputation for innovative research, on-the-ground capacity building, and meaningful engagement for forests and people.
Follow key milestones and achievements in our interactive timeline.
Policy influence
Major CIFOR events
Research highlights & outcomes
Partnerships & outreach
1993
CIFOR is launched
under Indonesia Host Country Agreement
1995
300,000 ha Bulungan Research Forest in
E. Kalimantan allocated to CIFOR by Ministerial Decree
1996
CIFOR HQ inaugurated
Strategy for Collaborative Forestry Research positioned CIFOR to fill an empty niche in international research related to forests and forest-dependent people
1997
CIFOR began to actively promote the concept of strategic 'impact pathways'
1998
Global comparative research project on patterns and trends of non-timber forest product commercialization launched
2000
CIFOR recommendations on the underlying causes of deforestation for the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) adopted by all governments
2001
CIFOR contributed to the work plan of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and clarified some aspects of the Clean Development Mechanism of the Kyoto Protocol
2002
The Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) commissioned technical papers from CIFOR scientists on forest fires and non-timber forest products (NTFPs). CIFOR helped to establish the importance of NTFPs on the CBD agenda.
CIFOR’s work on Criteria and Indicators (C&I) contributed directly to various certification schemes, including Forest Stewardship Council, Indonesian Ecolabelling Institute, IBAMA (Brazil) and African Timber Organisation
2003
10-year anniversary
CIFOR scientists conducted research in partnership with 300 researchers from around 50 international, regional and national organizations in 30 tropical countries
2004
Adaptive Collaborative Management (ACM) helped communities strengthen their organizations, begin new forestry activities and improve their relationships with government agencies and private companies at 30 sites in 11 countries since 1999
2007
New strategy
Making a difference for forests and people placed a strong emphasis on impact
Inaugural Forest Day at UNFCCC Conference of the Parties in Bali
2008
CIFOR scientists helped to formulate International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO) biodiversity guidelines and contributed to Climate, Community and Biodiversity Alliance (CCBA) standards to evaluate impact of forest-based activities on climate, local communities and biodiversity
2009
Global Comparative Study on REDD+ (GCS REDD+) launched
2010
CIFOR research in Indonesia’s Papua province contributed to a reconsideration of the extent and pace of land being allocated for oil palm and timber plantations
2011
Launch of FTA, the world’s largest integrated collaborative research program on forests and trees
Landmark findings revealed that mangroves store 3-5 more carbon than tropical forests, generating worldwide interest from scientific community and the media; Sustainable Wetlands Adaptation and Mitigation Program (SWAMP) established.
2013
Five CIFOR scientists among the lead authors of Wetlands Supplement to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories
Inaugural Global Landscapes Forum, Warsaw, Poland
2014
Wild meat experts responded to the Ebola crisis, using evidence to challenge the suggestion that disease outbreaks could be avoided by halting wild meat consumption
2015
CIFOR coverage of 2015 fire and haze events helped generate global media attention to Indonesia's peatland fires
Peru’s Forest Service incorporated CIFOR research into the legal norms that govern timber extraction in Brazil nut concessions
Global Landscapes Forum, Paris, drew record crowds
2016
Strategy 2016-2025: Stepping up to the new climate and development agenda aligned CIFOR’s work to Sustainable Development Goals and Paris Agreement
World Bank’s Living Standard Measurement Study Surveys forestry module and sourcebook incorporate methodology from CIFOR’s Poverty Environment Network (PEN), which found that rural households get up to 20% of income from forests
2017
Global Landscapes Forum, Jakarta, Peatlands Matter
CIFOR analysis and engagement on the political economy of fire and haze informed Indonesia’s ‘Grand Design for Fire Prevention 2017-2019’ and the ‘Standard for Fire Prevention’
Critical role of forests in global food security and nutrition recognized by the Committee on World Food Security, based on recommendations of CIFOR-led high-level panel
Recommendations for a sustainable wild meat sector adopted by the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity
Global Landscapes Forum. German government supports 5 years extension
Global Landscapes Forum, Bonn, Germany
2018
Ethiopia’s Forest Law drew on CIFOR recommendations to recognize the rights of local communities in forest management and restoration
Transforming REDD+ book analyzed 10 years of GCS REDD+ and other research
GCS Tenure impact assessment
Green Climate Fund’s gender and social inclusion policy 2018–2020 includes key messages that align with CIFOR recommendations
Global Landscapes. Forum Washington, Nairobi, Bonn and Katowice
Close
1993
CIFOR is launched
under Indonesia Host Country Agreement
Close
1995
300,000 ha Bulungan Research Forest in
E. Kalimantan allocated to CIFOR by Ministerial Decree
Close
1996
CIFOR HQ inaugurated
Close
1996
Strategy for Collaborative Forestry Research positioned CIFOR to fill an empty niche in international research related to forests and forest-dependent people
Close
1997
CIFOR began to actively promote the concept of strategic 'impact pathways'
Close
1998
Global comparative research project on patterns and trends of non-timber forest product commercialization launched
Close
2000
CIFOR recommendations on the underlying causes of deforestation for the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) adopted by all governments
Close
2001
CIFOR contributed to the work plan of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and clarified some aspects of the Clean Development Mechanism of the Kyoto Protocol
Close
2002
The Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) commissioned technical papers from CIFOR scientists on forest fires and non-timber forest products (NTFPs). CIFOR helped to establish the importance of NTFPs on the CBD agenda.
Close
2002
CIFOR’s work on Criteria and Indicators (C&I) contributed directly to various certification schemes, including Forest Stewardship Council, Indonesian Ecolabelling Institute, IBAMA (Brazil) and African Timber Organisation
Close
2003
10-year anniversary
CIFOR scientists conducted research in partnership with 300 researchers from around 50 international, regional and national organizations in 30 tropical countries
Close
2004
Adaptive Collaborative Management (ACM) helped communities strengthen their organizations, begin new forestry activities and improve their relationships with government agencies and private companies at 30 sites in 11 countries since 1999
Close
2007
New strategy
Making a difference for forests and people placed a strong emphasis on impact
Close
2007
Inaugural Forest Day at UNFCCC Conference of the Parties in Bali
Close
2008
CIFOR scientists helped to formulate International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO) biodiversity guidelines and contributed to Climate, Community and Biodiversity Alliance (CCBA) standards to evaluate impact of forest-based activities on climate, local communities and biodiversity
Close
2009
Global Comparative Study on REDD+ (GCS REDD+) launched
Close
2010
CIFOR research in Indonesia’s Papua province contributed to a reconsideration of the extent and pace of land being allocated for oil palm and timber plantations
Close
2011
Launch of FTA, the world’s largest integrated collaborative research program on forests and trees
Close
2011
Landmark findings revealed that mangroves store 3-5 more carbon than tropical forests, generating worldwide interest from scientific community and the media; Sustainable Wetlands Adaptation and Mitigation Program (SWAMP) established.
Close
2013
Five CIFOR scientists among the lead authors of Wetlands Supplement to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories
Close
2013
Inaugural Global Landscapes Forum, Warsaw, Poland
Close
2014
Wild meat experts responded to the Ebola crisis, using evidence to challenge the suggestion that disease outbreaks could be avoided by halting wild meat consumption
Close
2015
CIFOR coverage of 2015 fire and haze events helped generate global media attention to Indonesia's peatland fires
Close
2015
Peru’s Forest Service incorporated CIFOR research into the legal norms that govern timber extraction in Brazil nut concessions
Close
2015
Global Landscapes Forum, Paris, drew record crowds
Close
2016
Strategy 2016-2025: Stepping up to the new climate and development agenda aligned CIFOR’s work to Sustainable Development Goals and Paris Agreement
Close
2016
World Bank’s Living Standard Measurement Study Surveys forestry module and sourcebook incorporate methodology from CIFOR’s Poverty Environment Network (PEN), which found that rural households get up to 20% of income from forests
Close
2017
Global Landscapes Forum, Jakarta, Peatlands Matter
Close
2017
CIFOR analysis and engagement on the political economy of fire and haze informed Indonesia’s ‘Grand Design for Fire Prevention 2017-2019’ and the ‘Standard for Fire Prevention’
Critical role of forests in global food security and nutrition recognized by the Committee on World Food Security, based on recommendations of CIFOR-led high-level panel
Recommendations for a sustainable wild meat sector adopted by the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity
Close
2017
Global Landscapes Forum. German government supports 5 years extension
Close
2017
Global Landscapes Forum, Bonn, Germany
Close
2018
Ethiopia’s Forest Law drew on CIFOR recommendations to recognize the rights of local communities in forest management and restoration
Close
2018
Transforming REDD+ book analyzed 10 years of GCS REDD+ and other research
GCS Tenure impact assessment
Green Climate Fund’s gender and social inclusion policy 2018–2020 includes key messages that align with CIFOR recommendations
Close
2018
Global Landscapes. Forum Washington, Nairobi, Bonn and Katowice
Keeping trees in the ground
CIFOR and similar institutions are key for promoting informed and critical debate and understanding about the sustainability of forest resources and equitable access to their benefits."
DAVID KAIMOWITZ
Former CIFOR Director General
Wetlands for the future
If we act seriously on mangroves and seagrass, we can meet the Paris objectives relatively easily."
Daniel Murdiyarso
CIFOR Principal Scientist
Getting ahead of climate change
After 10 years, REDD+ has made good progress … but not as much as we hoped. The next step is to address underlying drivers and economic incentives."
Arild Angelson
CIFOR Senior Associate
Rights and resources for all
There has been a sea change in attitudes about gender in forestry, and CIFOR played a small part in bringing this about."
Carol Colfer
CIFOR Senior Associate
Livelihoods from forests and trees
CIFOR's research on forests and food security has become a recognized research agenda in the development and donor communities."
Terry Sunderland
CIFOR Senior Associate
CIFOR in 2018
CIFOR envisions a more equitable world where forestry and landscapes enhance the environment and well-being for all.
CIFOR by the numbers
This year, CIFOR built on its strong foundations and partnerships to further study the ways that forests can help reduce poverty, enhance food and nutrition security, and improve ecosystem health. We also continued to measure our progress toward outreach, gender and operational benchmarks.
CIFOR and its partners contribute to the following global processes, frameworks, panels and conventions:
Where we work
CIFOR and CGIAR
CIFOR is one of 15 CGIAR Research Centers and leads the CGIAR Research Program on Forests, Trees and Agroforestry (FTA). We work closely with the CGIAR Research Programs on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS) and on Policies, Institutions and Markets (PIM), and in 2018 undertook research with the CGIAR Research Program on Wheat (WHEAT).
Partners, Board of Trustees and Finances
Thanks to the financial support of our funding partners, CIFOR works closely with diverse local and international organizations to deliver results for forests and people.
Partners
Board of Trustees
Finance
