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Nigel Sizer, outgoing director of the World Resources Institute's (WRI) Forests program, reflects on the development of monitoring and restoration initiatives and the increasing role of the private sector in forest conservation prior to his transition to president of the Rainforest Alliance.

This report assesses the drivers and ecological impacts of human migration within the Misotshi–Kabogo ecosystem in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. It highlights the tension between increasing population pressures—driven by conflict and economic opportunity—and the need to protect a highly biodiverse, currently unprotected region. The authors recommend the formal establishment of Ngamikka National Park with a zoned resource-use system to balance conservation with local livelihood needs.

This fact sheet by the Climate Policy Initiative and PUC-Rio examines the impact of property rights uncertainty in rural Brazil, highlighting how legal instability contributes to deforestation, violence, and economic inefficiency.

This fact sheet by Friends of the Earth International advocates for a binding UN treaty to hold transnational corporations (TNCs) legally accountable for human rights and environmental abuses, citing specific disasters in Asia and Palestine where voluntary commitments failed.

This executive summary assesses progress toward Goal 2 of the New York Declaration on Forests (NYDF), which aims to eliminate deforestation from agricultural commodity supply chains by 2020. The report finds that while corporate commitments are increasing—particularly for palm oil and wood products—implementation remains inconsistent, with significant gaps in time-bound actionable plans, traceability to the production level, and compliance reporting. The report highlights that the majority of tropical deforestation is concentrated in Indonesia, Brazil, Malaysia, and Paraguay, making targeted action in these countries critical.

This policy brief by the Stockholm Environment Institute examines the public health, economic, and environmental impacts of traditional biomass cooking in Kenya and sub-Saharan Africa. It advocates for a transition to clean cookstoves through private-sector support, regulatory reform of the charcoal sector, and the removal of market barriers such as high import duties.

A statement by Thomas C. Heller, Executive Director of Climate Policy Initiative, arguing that the Paris Agreement's success is underpinned by a global shift in perception where climate action and economic growth are seen as mutually reinforcing rather than contradictory.

This policy brief by the Climate Policy Initiative describes the 2012 Brazilian Forest Code, detailing its mechanisms for protecting native vegetation on private lands, the creation of the Rural Environmental Registry (CAR), and the special legal regime for regularizing properties with environmental liabilities prior to July 22, 2008.

This policy brief provides an overview of Brazil's 2012 Forest Code, detailing its mechanisms for protecting private lands, the introduction of a national environmental registry, and the special regimes created for landowners who deforested prior to July 2008.

This technical annex assesses progress toward Goal 2 of the New York Declaration on Forests, which aims to eliminate deforestation from the production of agricultural commodities—specifically palm oil, soy, paper, and beef—by 2020. The report uses market share of certified commodities and the number of corporate and governmental commitments as proxy indicators for progress, noting significant data gaps and varying levels of ambition across different sectors.

This technical annex focuses on Goal 4 of the New York Declaration on Forests, which aims to support alternatives to deforestation driven by basic needs, such as subsistence farming and woodfuel reliance. The report identifies a lack of global datasets to monitor progress, relying instead on proxy indicators like clean cookstove distribution and financial flows. It highlights the complex, non-linear relationship between poverty and forest loss and provides case studies from the Democratic Republic of Congo and Peru to illustrate localized interventions.

This technical annex assesses the progress of Goal 6 of the New York Declaration on Forests, which sought the inclusion of ambitious, quantitative 2030 forest conservation and restoration targets within the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The report evaluates the SDGs adopted in September 2015, specifically Target 15.2, finding that while the goal to halt deforestation is highly ambitious and quantifiable, the targets for forest restoration and reforestation lack quantitative metrics.

This technical annex assesses progress toward Goal 7 of the New York Declaration on Forests, which aims to include forest-related mitigation measures in a post-2020 global climate agreement. As of November 2015, the report finds that while the REDD+ methodological framework is largely complete, the final text of the Paris Agreement remains under negotiation, and the extent to which land-use sectors are integrated into national commitments (INDCs) varies significantly across countries.

This technical annex assesses progress on Goal 9 of the New York Declaration on Forests, which focuses on rewarding countries and jurisdictions for reducing forest emissions through public and private payments for verified emission reductions (VERs). The report tracks two indicators: international public payments through multilateral and bilateral funds, and the value of forest VER purchases in voluntary and compliance carbon markets.

This report, published in November 2015 by Climate Focus and partners, establishes an assessment framework and provides an initial progress report on the ten goals of the New York Declaration on Forests (NYDF). It evaluates the status of global efforts to halt natural forest loss, restore degraded lands, and improve forest governance one year after the NYDF's September 2014 signing.

This executive summary describes the initial assessment of the New York Declaration on Forests (NYDF), a coalition of governments, companies, and civil society established in September 2014. The NYDF aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 4.5 to 8.8 billion tons by 2030 through ten specific goals, including halting natural forest loss and restoring degraded lands. The document proposes a monitoring framework to track progress, noting that while some initiatives and commitments have increased in the first year, overall progress remains slow and data gaps persist.

The November 2015 executive summary assesses the first year of the New York Declaration on Forests (NYDF). While noting some achievements—such as the inclusion of deforestation targets in the Sustainable Development Goals and increased clean cookstove investment—it concludes that overall global progress is slow. Key findings highlight significant gaps in sustainable agricultural certification (especially for soy and beef) and a lag between committed and disbursed REDD+ funding, despite an increase in bilateral aid for developing countries.

This executive summary evaluates the initial progress made one year after the September 2014 signing of the New York Declaration on Forests (NYDF). It introduces a monitoring framework to track ten specific objectives aimed at halting natural forest destruction by 2030 and restoring degraded lands. While the report notes new initiatives and commitments, it concludes that overall progress remains slow and requires further intervention.

This executive summary, published in November 2015 by Climate Focus and partners, establishes a monitoring framework and provides an initial assessment of the New York Declaration on Forests (NYDF). Signed in September 2014, the NYDF consists of ten goals aimed at reducing annual greenhouse gas emissions by 4.5-8.8 billion tonnes by 2030. The document reports that while new initiatives and commitments have emerged in the year following the declaration, overall progress remains slow.

This special edition of the Climate and Development Outlook by CDKN outlines Indonesia's climate change mitigation efforts, including its emissions targets, the establishment of the Indonesia Climate Change Trust Fund, and CDKN's support for climate-compatible development in the energy sector and forest conservation.