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Over the past three decades, the Global Environment Facility has invested nearly $6 billion in projects and programs to conserve and protect forests globally. Preserving forests – especially tropical primary forests – and restoring degraded forests are the most efficient ways to store and sequester carbon, protect biodiversity, and secure the livelihoods of Indigenous Peoples and forest-dependent communities at the same time.

The Amazon covers about 40 percent of Colombia and holds over 60 percent of its natural forests. As one of the world’s major biodiversity reservoirs, the Colombian Amazon plays critical roles in regulating the hydrological cycle, capturing carbon, maintaining regional ecological connectivity, and supporting more than 300 Indigenous and rural communities. Yet, the region is experiencing rapid deforestation, with 113,000 hectares lost in 2021 alone.

Good news for the planet and its primary forests: the Global Environment Facility has engaged world-class scientists and experts on mobilizing cutting-edge tools and practices to protect tropical primary forests. The initiative was introduced during a workshop on “Advancing the Integrated Approach for Transformative Change in Tropical Forest Biomes,” held in Panama’s Gamboa Rainforest Reserve from October 7 to 10.

In the battle against climate change, forests stand as stalwart allies. These green giants play a pivotal role in sequestering carbon dioxide, regulating the climate, enhancing biodiversity, and supporting livelihoods. However, the fate of forests worldwide hangs in a precarious balance due to deforestation, degradation, and unsustainable land management practices. To harness the full potential of forests in combating climate change, we must prioritize forest data transparency. Here are six ways in which transparency in forest data can amplify climate action and ambition:

Governments are confronted with a range of economic, ecological, and political choices in achieving sustainable forest management (SFM). Countries with forest resources face three major challenges: how to avoid further deforestation; how to improve management of forest resources and avoid practices that continue to degrade forests; and how to restore forest landscapes that have been degraded. Only by addressing these challenges simultaneously can the sustainable flow of forest goods and ecosystem services be achieved.

In 2014 the Global Environment Facility launched an ambitious effort to influence a shift in supply chains for beef, soy, and palm oil towards reduced-deforestation production, while delivering continued social and economic development to farmers and their communities.

Since its inception in 1991, the Global Environment Facility has steadfastly supported African countries as they seek effective and innovative approaches to a nature-positive economy. The GEF has helped implement more than 1,800 projects in Africa, with a total investment of $6.2 billion. These investments have leveraged over $40 billion from other stakeholders, including governments, bilateral and multilateral partners, the private sector, and civil society organizations.