New Forest Economy

The Governors’ Climate and Forests Task Force (GCFTF) network is working hard to create partnerships and co-design innovative funding mechanisms for a long-term economic transformation in tropical jurisdictions. Building a New Forest Economy is one of the most important challenges of our time. This is critical for the climate. It is critical for biodiversity. And it is critical for the livelihoods and economic security of billions of people all over the world. Without a New Forest Economy—one that protects intact forests, restores degraded lands, and creates jobs and economic opportunities for the millions of people who live in these forests—the world’s tropical forests will not survive and entire regions will face ecological collapse.

Blueprint for a New Forest Economy

During our Annual Meeting in Ucayali, Peru in October 2024, we will release a Blueprint for a New Forest Economy, which proposes innovative financing mechanisms to galvanize this transformation.

Blueprint/Perspectiva

Technical Exchange in Santa Cruz, Bolivia

In April 2024, one of our newest members, Santa Cruz, Bolivia, hosted a technical exchange of GCFTF member jurisdictions, Indigenous leaders, donors, and other partners, to begin the process of co-designing a set of regional funding mechanisms to support New Forest Economy efforts in our jurisdictions. Out of this exchange, we identified a clear set of design principles and key activities for these regional funding mechanisms that informed the creation of the Blueprint.

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Call-to-Action – COP28

In 2023, we followed up the MAP with a Call-to-Action to finance our efforts to build a New Forest Economy launched during the 28th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. This Call-to-Action seeks to co-create flexible, substantial funding mechanisms – leveraging existing mechanisms and commitments as much as possible – to direct $1 billion of investments into implementing our jurisdictional low-emission development and forest governance strategies.
This was paired with a Building the New Forest Economy: Advancing Climate Action through the GCF Task Force | GCF Task Force (gcftf.org) on shovel-ready investment opportunities across our network.

    Report on Investment Opportunities

    Manaus Action Plan

    In 2022, we launched the Manaus Action Plan for a New Forest Economy (MAP), committing our governments to substantial reductions in deforestation and calling on partners to support our efforts to build comprehensive, jurisdiction-wide approaches to a New Forest Economy. The MAP centered on four key pillars: our efforts must work first and foremost for the people and communities in our territories; this work must be based on mobilizing science and technology, along with traditional knowledge and wisdom; recognition and support for our on-the[1]ground efforts will require substantial, flexible financial support from all sources; and we will ensure this work lasts through good governance and durable public policies.

    As the MAP emphasizes, we know our realities best, and with support, we are best situated to implement solutions.

    MAP