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The document examines how collusive corruption—agreements between public officials and private individuals to defraud resources—undermines community-based natural resource management (CBNRM). Using a hypothetical scenario based on timber auction fraud in Nepal, it illustrates how contractors, sawmill owners, local politicians, and forest agents coordinate to bypass regulations. To counter this, the guide proposes behavioral science interventions: addressing 'present bias' by monetizing future losses, increasing the prominence of illegal logging's negative impacts, challenging the perception of informal payments as 'reciprocity', and rewarding integrity among youth and officials. It advocates for a holistic approach that combines individual and institutional prevention and persuasion strategies to foster collective ownership of sustainable forest practices.

The report finds that while China has significant potential for land-based climate mitigation, efforts have historically focused on energy and industry, with forestry being the only land sector with comprehensive targets. Agriculture, grasslands, and wetlands remain underexploited, hampered by a lack of standardized methodologies and a prioritization of food security over carbon sequestration. The relaunch of the China Certified Emission Reduction (CCER) scheme in 2023 offers a potential funding mechanism, though it is currently limited to forestry.

The 2023 wildfire season in Canada, which burned 19 million hectares, highlighted the vulnerability of the forestry industry, which represents 1.7% of Canada's GDP. Climate change is expected to increase the frequency and intensity of fires, potentially leading to a loss of 4 billion dollars in export revenues and 32,000 jobs by the end of the century if no action is taken. The document recommends a coordinated approach involving government and industry to enhance resilience through diversified reforestation, active forest management—including Indigenous-led controlled burning—and the expansion of bioenergy to reduce forest fuel loads.

The fact sheet defines nature-based solutions (NbS) for climate adaptation as actions to protect, conserve, restore, sustainably use, and manage the natural environment. It emphasizes that because climate change impacts people differently based on identity—such as gender, age, and disability—NbS must be designed through inclusive local engagement. The document provides practical examples for inclusivity, such as ensuring mangrove restoration training considers women's childcare duties and that forest management meetings are held in local languages and accessible locations for Indigenous Peoples. It outlines a framework for inclusive engagement that involves listening to unique relationships with nature, consulting those most at risk, and involving community members in the design, monitoring, and evaluation of adaptation activities.

The fact sheet defines nature-based adaptation solutions (SafN) as actions to protect and manage ecosystems to improve community and nature resilience. It argues that for these solutions to be effective, they must be inclusive, accounting for how culture, customs, and social roles influence a person's ability to participate and benefit. The document provides a set of practical recommendations for inclusive planning, such as consulting high-risk groups, ensuring accessible meeting times and locations, and collaborating with local specialists to remove barriers to equitable benefit distribution. It highlights how climate impacts vary by identity, noting that women fishers, small-scale farmers, people with disabilities, and men in storm response face distinct risks based on their societal roles and resource access.

The document outlines the environmental and social safeguards for Biological Corridor 4 (BC 4) in Bhutan, focusing on two primary activities planned for 2024-2025: the enhancement of lowland grassland at Pirchen and the construction of a Range Office at Shingkhar. It establishes a framework for managing occupational health and safety, waste, and community grievances, ensuring compliance with both Royal Government of Bhutan (RGoB) laws and WWF's Social Safeguards Integrated Policies and Procedures (SIPP).

The CJEU ruled on March 2, 2023, that Polish law violated EU biodiversity conservation laws and the Aarhus Convention by preventing the public from challenging forest management plans in court. The Court determined that such plans, when they significantly affect Natura 2000 sites, constitute 'decisions' under the Aarhus Convention, granting environmental NGOs access to judicial review. While the ruling specifically addresses plans impacting protected sites, the author notes that other plans may still be challengeable under Article 9(3) of the Aarhus Convention if they contravene national environmental law.

The National Trust for Nature Conservation (NTNC) is seeking USD 199,966.00 from the Green Climate Fund (GCF) over 12 months to align its monitoring, evaluation, and reporting systems with the GCF's Integrated Results Management Framework (IRMF). The project aims to bridge gaps in NTNC's ability to transform project ideas into bankable proposals and to effectively measure results across its pipeline of climate resilience projects in Nepal. Key activities include capacity needs assessments, the development of training curricula, and residential training for 20 officers on Theory of Change, logical frameworks, and paradigm shift evaluations. This support is intended to facilitate the implementation of existing projects, such as FP 131 in the Gandaki River Basin, and the development of new initiatives in regions like Karnali Province, Madhesh Province, and the Kathmandu Valley.

The Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) outlines a values-based approach to scientist-community partnerships, emphasizing mutual respect, transparency, and the integration of community and Indigenous knowledge. The guide provides a step-by-step process for initiating collaborations, overcoming professional and social barriers, and ensuring equitable outcomes through tools like Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) and restorative justice practices.

Mass timber, including cross-laminated timber, offers a lower-carbon alternative to steel and concrete, potentially reducing building material emissions by 13% to 26.5%. In the U.S., the number of projects grew to 1,860 by June 2023, supported by USDA Wood Innovations Grants and the 2018 Farm Bill. While it provides carbon storage and supports forest health by utilizing small-diameter trees, challenges include moisture-related risks like fungi and mold, which require specific mitigation techniques.

The authors provide a classification of land-based mitigation technologies and practices (LMTs), identifying afforestation, reforestation, and forest management as having high potential worldwide. While bioenergy with carbon capture and storage and biochar are more viable in higher-income countries due to funding and technology, the broader deployment of LMTs is hindered by insufficient financing and limited implementation knowledge. The text emphasizes that large-scale deployment must account for gender and the rights of Indigenous Peoples and marginalised groups to avoid increasing inequalities.

The research identifies 'understanding', 'awareness', and 'economic/finance' as the primary capacity gaps for land-based mitigation technologies and practices (LMTs) across five global regions. The authors suggest that addressing knowledge and understanding gaps is a critical first step to increase stakeholder attraction to LMTs. To support scaling, the paper recommends that policymakers develop dedicated support policies and regulatory frameworks, build markets, utilize carbon markets, and collaborate with local and Indigenous Peoples using bottom-up implementation plans and traditional knowledge.

The document defines mass timber as a class of engineered wood materials, such as cross-laminated timber, capable of supporting large structures. It highlights benefits including carbon storage, a potential 13% to 26.5% reduction in building material emissions, and wildfire risk mitigation through the removal of small-diameter trees. The text also details U.S. federal support via the USDA Wood Innovations Program and the 2018 Farm Bill, while addressing concerns regarding fire safety and moisture management.

WRI researchers argue that global wood harvests significantly increase atmospheric carbon, with annual emissions estimated between 3.5 and 4.2 billion tons of CO2e. The document critiques 'netting' approaches that incorrectly label harvests as carbon neutral by offsetting them against unrelated forest growth. It projects a 54% increase in global wood consumption by 2050 and suggests that reducing fuelwood use and increasing plantation growth rates could mitigate these emissions.

The document analyzes the Mijares river basin, noting that decreased summer rainfall is linked to land-use changes and is driving aridification. Through 'uncertainty dialogues' with stakeholders, the authors identify three critical barriers to sustainability: the unpredictability of rural abandonment, a lack of technical knowledge for profitable and sustainable forest management to prevent fires, and conflicting perspectives on water allocation between the upper and lower basin. The brief argues that addressing these uncertainties through coordinated dialogue is essential for implementing robust sustainability projects.

The policy brief examines how voluntary sustainability standards (VSS) can bridge data gaps and provide evidence for governments reporting on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs). Through an analysis of 13 VSS, the authors demonstrate high alignment with SDGs 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) and 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), and provide guidelines for governments to integrate VSS data and case studies into their national reporting processes.

The report examines the intersection of voluntary sustainability standards (VSSs) and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically focusing on how VSS data can alleviate government reporting burdens in Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs). Through benchmarking 13 VSSs against five SDGs (2, 6, 8, 12, and 15) and providing practical reporting examples for Uganda, India, and Tanzania, the document demonstrates that VSSs can provide granular, on-the-ground data and 'best practice' case studies that complement state-centric reporting. It concludes with generic guidelines for governments to improve coordination with VSS bodies to advance the 2030 Agenda.

The policy brief examines how voluntary sustainability standards (VSS) align with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and can be leveraged by governments to enhance their Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs). Through a mapping of 13 international and regional standards, the research demonstrates high coverage of goals related to decent work (SDG 8) and clean water (SDG 6). The document provides guidelines for governments to integrate VSS data and case studies from countries like Uganda, India, and Tanzania to address data gaps and promote policy coherence in their national reporting.

The document examines how voluntary sustainability standards (VSS) align with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and can be leveraged by governments to overcome data gaps in their Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs). Through an analysis of 13 international and regional standards, the authors demonstrate high coverage of goals related to decent work (SDG 8) and clean water (SDG 6). The brief provides practical guidelines for governments to integrate VSS data and case studies from countries like Uganda, India, and Tanzania into their national reporting to improve policy coherence and multi-stakeholder collaboration.

The Union of Concerned Scientists finds that 37% of the cumulative burned forest area in western North America since 1986 is attributable to emissions from 88 of the world's largest carbon producers. The report links these emissions to a rise in vapor pressure deficit (VPD), which increases atmospheric 'thirst' and dries out vegetation, thereby amplifying wildfire risk. It argues that these corporations should be held legally and financially accountable for climate damages, including the costs of wildfire suppression and recovery.