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This research paper discusses the rapid growth of the biofuels industry and the resulting debate over whether these fuels drive tropical deforestation, particularly as the aviation and maritime sectors seek to meet carbon reduction targets.

This research paper from the World Resources Institute proposes a framework to limit new cropland expansion to lands with "low environmental opportunity costs" to avoid the conversion of natural ecosystems. It defines specific biophysical and non-biophysical criteria for identifying such lands and suggests a three-part policy approach to direct expansion away from high-impact areas.

This case study by the World Resources Institute examines how Chile can integrate the non-carbon biophysical effects of forests into its national climate policies. It argues that while carbon sequestration is the primary focus of climate strategies, biophysical processes—such as albedo, evapotranspiration, surface roughness, and aerosols—significantly influence local and global temperatures and precipitation. The document analyzes Chile's forest loss, the resulting local temperature increases, and provides specific recommendations for enhancing the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), the Long-Term Climate Strategy, and REDD+ frameworks to account for these effects.

This report by the World Resources Institute (WRI) examines how Chile can integrate the non-carbon biophysical effects of forests into its national climate policies. It argues that forests influence climate stability through processes like albedo, evapotranspiration, surface roughness, and aerosols, which can significantly impact local and regional temperatures and rainfall beyond the global carbon cycle. Using Chile as a case study, the document identifies opportunities to enhance the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), long-term climate strategies, REDD+ frameworks, and subnational development plans to better account for these biophysical cooling effects and mitigate the warming caused by deforestation.

This report by the World Resources Institute argues that current carbon markets systematically undervalue tropical forests by focusing exclusively on greenhouse gas emissions and ignoring critical non-carbon biophysical effects that contribute to global, regional, and local climate stabilization.

This research paper by Nancy Peluso explores the complex relationship between the decentralization of resource management and violence in Indonesia. Using the forest and land sectors as primary examples, Peluso argues that decentralization often shifts the locus of power to local elites who may use violence to secure resource control, while the legacy of the repressive Suharto regime has normalized violent conflict and weakened the state's capacity to enforce law and order.

This report by the World Resources Institute argues that current carbon credit markets systematically undervalue tropical forests by focusing exclusively on carbon sequestration and ignoring critical non-carbon biophysical effects that contribute to global, regional, and local climate cooling.

This report by the World Resources Institute argues that current carbon credit systems systematically undervalue tropical forests by focusing exclusively on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and ignoring non-carbon biophysical effects that contribute to global cooling and climate stability.

This briefing by the World Resources Institute (WRI) explains how forests influence climate stability through non-carbon biophysical processes and argues that the UNFCCC should integrate these effects into its policies. The document details four primary biophysical processes—albedo, evapotranspiration, surface roughness, and aerosols—and proposes six specific pathways for UNFCCC parties to account for these effects in national reports, NDCs, REDD+ financing, adaptation planning, the Global Stocktake, and IPCC assessment reports.

This executive summary, authored by Alice Gerow and Frances Seymour for the World Resources Institute, outlines the material risks that non-carbon biophysical effects of tropical deforestation pose to the private sector. It argues that while many companies focus on carbon emissions and reputational risks, the loss of forests directly threatens agricultural productivity and worker health through changes in local temperature and regional precipitation, thereby destabilizing global supply chains.

This document consists of the General Conditions and Procurement Provisions for grants issued by the Norwegian Ministry of Climate and Environment (KLD) and the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (Norad) to NGOs. It outlines strict requirements for financial management, reporting, auditing, and procurement, alongside a specific project framework for the World Resources Institute's (WRI) Global Forest Watch (GFW) platform aimed at reducing global forest loss by 2030.

A World Resources Institute fact sheet identifying over two billion hectares of global potential for forest and landscape restoration, primarily in tropical and temperate regions. It distinguishes between wide-scale, mosaic, and remote restoration opportunities and emphasizes a holistic approach that integrates local stakeholders and diverse land uses to improve biodiversity, food security, and climate mitigation.

The WRI Europe Strategy 2023-27 outlines the World Resources Institute's approach to supporting the energy and climate transition in Europe and leveraging the region's influence globally. The strategy positions the Europe office as an 'enabler' that connects global programs to European funding, regulation, and research, while simultaneously working to reduce Europe's own ecological footprint through targeted interventions in food, land, water, energy, and urban systems.

This executive summary outlines WRI Indonesia's country transition strategy for 2025-2032, focusing on systemic changes across energy, urban environments, and food, land, and water systems to achieve a low-carbon, inclusive economy.

This case study by the World Resources Institute examines the restoration of forests in the southern United States from 1920 to the mid-1960s, detailing the drivers, enabling conditions, and eventual decline of net forest gain.

This case study examines the response of the state of Acre, Brazil, to severe droughts and wildfires in 2005 and 2010. It details the implementation of a centralized 'situation room' to coordinate fire-fighting efforts using satellite data and technical expertise, while analyzing the environmental impacts, policy interventions, and systemic barriers to fire control in the western Amazon.