Forestry by the Numbers

Emissions from Deforestation

17%Deforestation and forest degradation account for nearly 17% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

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Potential areas for forest protection

39% 39 percent of all forest land in Latin American and the Caribbean has low economic return from agriculture. These lands are not under extreme pressure from competing alternative uses so landowners are likely to respond positively to incentives for forest conservation and adoption of low-impact activities.

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Climate change mitigation costs

40% The inclusion of afforestation, reforestation, avoided deforestation and forest degradation could reduce the overall cost of climate change mitigation by 40%. (Source: Guillison, R.E., Frumahoff, P.C., Canadell, J.C., Field, C. B., Nepstad, D.C., Hayhoe, K. et al (2007). Tropical forests and climate policy. Science 316:985-986.)

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Livestock in Latin America and the Caribbean
2030 By 2030, livestock will become the major source of greenhouse emissions in Latin America and the Caribbean.

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Livestock and Emissions

4-5 million 4 to 5 million hectares of forest are cleared every year in Latin America and the Caribbean, resulting in 0.4 billion tons of carbon emissions, or as much as 47% of global carbon emissions from deforestation.

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Rate of Deforestation in Latin America and the Caribbean
1/3Latin American forests represent a third of the world's forests.

• Natural Partners

  How People in Latin America Are Forging a New Relationship with Their Natural Environment
  Hamilton, Roger E.;
  Date : Oct, 2007 | ISBN: 9781597820486
  The stories included in this volume were published originally in IDBAmérica and tell of new approaches the people of Latin America and the Caribbean are taking to protect the rainforest, reduce erosion, conserve marine life, create protected areas, and ensure a better future for themselves and their families. These people are learning to sit down with former adversaries and work toward common goals, often finding that opening up their own minds to change is the toughest part.

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• What Went Wrong with New Orleans? Megapolitan Planning for Disaster

  Lang, Robert E.
  Date : Apr, 2007
  This document was commissioned by the Natural Disasters Network of the Regional Policy Dialogue for the VII Hemispheric Meeting celebrated on April 23rd and 24th, 2007.

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• Forest Vocation Lands and Forest Policy: When Simpler is Better.

  Rente Nascimento, Jose;
  Date : Dec, 2006
  This paper addresses forest policies concerned with the adequate provision of forest related externalities. Despite the use of the forest vocation land (FVL) concept in the legislation of many Latin American countries, the discussion in the scientific literature about forest policies based on it is modest This paper seeks to contribute to this debate. For this, the paper presents facts, defines concepts, examines analytical frameworks, and investigates policy alternatives related to these externalities in private lands. The paper concludes that FVL is a useful model for the design of forest policies that seek to assure the provision of forest related externalities. Such policies are especially adequate for developing counties because they are relatively easy to understand; are less intrusive in the forest business decision making processes and, thereby, allow for greater freedom of action; are less costly to monitor, enforce, and comply with; reduce corruptive activities and illegality associated with forests; and do not require adjustments as technologies and market conditions change.

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• Sustainable Forestry Business Initiatives at IDB.

  Presented at the Stora Enso Visit to IDB: Potential Latin American Pulp Mill Projects. 14th September 2006, Washington, D.C., USA
  Rente Nascimento, Jose;
  Date : Sep, 2006
  This presentation discusses some of IDB's initiatives and instruments available to support the development of sustainable forest businesses in LAC.

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• Forest Business Environment Attractiveness comparison of Key Latin American Countries

  Presented at the AEL FinPRO Seminar "The Opportunities for the Forest Industry in Latin America - Should the smaller players follow the larger ones?" June 8th, 2006; Helsinki, Finland
  Rente Nascimento, Jose;
  Date : Jun, 2006
  Presentation given to private sector investor from Finland about the investment climate for sustainable forest businesses in selected Latin American countries. The Forest Investment Attractiveness Index (IAIF) and the Process to Improve the Business Climate for Forest Investment (PROMECIF) were also discussed as tools to measure and help to improve the climate.

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• Forest Investment Attractiveness Index. RUR2006-07

  Presented at the International Tropical Forest Investment Forum: Issues and Opportunities for Investment in natural tropical Forests, 26-27 April 2006, Cancun, Mexico
  Rente Nascimento, Jose;
  Date : Apr, 2006
  This presentation presents the Forest Investment Attractiveness Index (IAIF) and the Process to Improve the Business Climate for Forest Investment (PROMECIF). It discusses IAIF's and PROMECIF's usefulness for investors, governments, NGO's and academics. It presents the Index's model and the results of calculation for the year 2004.

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• Forest Financing in Latin America: The Role of the Inter-American Development Bank

  Esa Puustajärvi, Jyrki Salmi, Markku Simula
  Date : Apr, 2002
  The study is related to several strategies developed by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), including those on rural poverty reduction, rural finance, agriculture, water resources, coastal resources and energy. The study benefited from the analyses

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• Forest Clusters: A Competitive Model for Latin America

  Harri Ahveninen, Manuel Bonita, Fernando Correa, Pertti Veijalainen
  Date : Mar, 2002
  Studies from different parts of the world indicate the key factors that contribute to success in the forest business. These include sound macroeconomic and long-term forest policies, secure land tenure, support from related education and technology progra

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• Facing the Challenge of Natural Disasters in Latin America and the Caribbean: An IDB Action Plan

  IADB
  Date : Jan, 2000
  The region's social and economic development will be unnecessarily hampered if preventive measures to mitigate the impact of natural disasters do not become a way of life. The time has come for development assistance to take a proactive role in assisting countries to strengthen their capacity to withstand natural disasters.

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• Latin American Forest Policy Roundtable

  Inter-American Development Bank
  Date : Oct, 1999
  The IDB and its contribution to sustainable forestry in Latin America and the Caribbean. 
  
  

• Rethinking Forest Resource Use Contracts in Latin America

  Hardner,Jared J.;Rice, Richard
  Date : Jun, 1999
  Forestry as an important activity in rural development.

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• Deforestation and Property Rights in Latin America

  Jaramillo, Carlos F.; Kelly, Thomas
  Date : May, 1999
  xcessive deforestation has been taking place in tropical areas of Latin America for the past several decades.

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• Rights of Indigenous Groups over Natural Resources in Tropical Forests

  Julio C. Tresierra
  Date : May, 1999
  The following paper is part of an IDB book recently published titled Forest Resource Policy in Latin America. For additional information on the book contact the IDB bookstore. This study analyzes present-day and historical demographic, socioeconomic, and

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• Trade and Environmental Issues in Forest Production

  Simula, Markku
  Date : Apr, 1999
  Environmental policies have an impact on trade and environment.

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• The Future of the Latin American Natural Forests

  Marc Dourojeanni
  Date : Apr, 1999
  The following paper is part of an IDB book recently published titled Forest Resource Policy in Latin America. For additional information on the book contact the IDB bookstore. Deforestation and forest degradation trends of previous decades in Latin Americ

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• Sustainable Forest Management in Latin America: Relevant Actors and Policies

  Ronnie de Camino V.
  Date : Apr, 1999
  This working paper is being published with the sole objective of contributing to the debate on a topic of importance to the region, and to elicit comments and suggestions from interested parties. This paper has not gone through the Department's peer revie

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• Forest Resource Policy in Latin America

  Kari Keipi
  Date : Mar, 1999
  About a quarter of the world's forests and over half of its tropical forests are located in Latin America. Forests cover half of the region's land and the per capita forested area is the highest in the world. In addition, Latin America boasts many forest

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• Alternatives for Habitat Protection and Rural Income Generation

  Southgate, Douglas
  Date : Mar, 1997
  A viable economic alternative in Latin American Environmentally fragile hinter lands,

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• Policy Instruments and Financing Mechanisms for the Sustainable Use of Forests in Latin America

  Ramón López
  Date : Dec, 1996
  The Environment Division, in collaboration with several technical units of the Bank and other international organizations, is preparing a guideline document on forest development in Latin America and the Caribbean in the context of sustainable management

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• Government Policies Affecting Forests in Latin America: An Agenda for Discussion

  Laarman, Jan G.
  Date : Jan, 1995
  Strategies to more effectively apply land-use zoning, tenure reform, forest concession contracts, forest management plans, pricing policies, and taxes and subsidies.