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This research paper provides an introduction to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), detailing its founding mandate, member state composition, natural resource endowments, and the current geopolitical and developmental challenges facing the region.

This report by the Climate Policy Initiative and Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro maps 30 international financial mechanisms designed to support tropical forests. It identifies a significant funding gap, noting that current mechanisms mobilize US$ 25.9 billion, which is far below the US$ 66.8 billion annually required by 2030 to unlock the full potential of tropical forests.

This executive summary by the Climate Policy Initiative (CPI/PUC-Rio) analyzes 30 international financial mechanisms designed to support tropical forests, focusing on conservation, restoration, and the reduction of deforestation. The report identifies a significant funding gap, noting that while current mechanisms mobilize US$ 25.9 billion, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) estimates a need for US$ 66.8 billion annually until 2030 to realize full forest potential.

This executive summary by the Climate Policy Initiative and Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro (CPI/PUC-RIO) argues for the central role of tropical forests in climate mitigation. It proposes a new financial architecture, specifically the Reversing Deforestation Mechanism (RDM), to incentivize large-scale forest restoration and move tropical forests from being viewed as a climate risk to a climate solution.

The report "The Forest-Climate Nexus" by Climate Policy Initiative/PUC-RIO proposes a new financial architecture to transform tropical forests from climate risks into solutions. It analyzes 91 countries, categorizing them by forest cover and deforestation rates, and introduces the Reversing Deforestation Mechanism (RDM) to incentivize large-scale forest restoration through jurisdictional, results-based payments for net carbon removals.

The report proposes the Reversing Deforestation Mechanism (RDM), a results-based payment system designed to scale up tropical forest restoration through jurisdictional agreements. Unlike existing frameworks like JREDD+ and TFFF, which focus on halting deforestation and maintaining standing forests, RDM incentivizes net carbon removal by compensating jurisdictions for carbon captured through restoration minus emissions from deforestation and degradation. The report simulates the potential of RDM to transform tropical forests into high-impact climate assets, highlighting its potential to generate significant revenues and carbon sequestration, particularly in the Brazilian Amazon.

This report examines a toolkit of regulatory and economic policy instruments used to curb deforestation and promote forest restoration in tropical regions. It analyzes the effectiveness of command-and-control measures, financial incentives, and the critical role of land tenure security, while highlighting how political cycles and electoral incentives create risks for long-term conservation success.

This report by the Climate Policy Initiative analyzes the scale and diversity of the forest-climate nexus across 91 tropical countries. It quantifies forest extent, carbon stocks, and deforestation rates to argue for differentiated, fit-for-purpose policy strategies rather than a one-size-fits-all approach. The analysis concludes that there is no inherent trade-off between forest conservation and economic development.

A solidarity letter from 154 civil society and Indigenous Peoples organizations across 28 countries in Latin America, Asia, and Africa urging New York Governor Kathy Hochul to sign the TREES Act (Bill # A.9711/S.8898) into law to protect tropical forests.

The report details the 59th meeting of the Executive Council of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI), held on May 28, 2025, in Asunción, Paraguay. The meeting focused on approving the 2025–2026 operating budget, addressing funding deficits for regional research initiatives, and proposing a shift in how member states designate national representatives to ensure institutional continuity.

This fact sheet from the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) outlines the benefits, opportunities, and specific projects available to Costa Rica as an IAI member country, focusing on scientific diplomacy, research funding, and capacity building.

The report details the 58th meeting of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) Executive Council, held via videoconference on November 6, 2024. The meeting focused on the relocation of the IAI headquarters to Panama, updates on scientific initiatives including tropical forest and ocean research, the development of a Science Diplomacy Center, and the establishment of an Indigenous Peoples’ Advisory Committee.

This research paper develops an econometric climate model to value the ecosystem service of tropical forests in maintaining rainfall patterns necessary for hydropower energy generation, specifically analyzing the impact of Amazon deforestation on the Teles Pires plant in Brazil.

This report details the activities of the Executive Directorate of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) from July 1, 2023, to April 19, 2024. It outlines progress in collaborative research, scientific diplomacy, and thematic programs focusing on climate, health, oceans, and mountain science, as well as efforts to improve equity, diversity, and open data access.

This report details the activities of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) Directorate from 1 July 2023 to April 2024. It outlines progress in implementing decisions from the 31st meeting of the Conference of the Parties, focusing on research funding, science diplomacy, and multilateral partnerships across the Americas.

This joint report from the Science Advisory Committee (SAC) and the Science-Policy Advisory Committee (SPAC) of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) details the committees' activities during the intersessional period leading up to the 32nd meeting of the Conference of the Parties (CoP) in May 2024. It outlines membership updates, the formation of ad-hoc committees on Open Science and Data and Oceans, Coasts and Islands, and various contributions to regional assessments and policy briefs on water security and tropical forests.

This joint report from the Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) and the Science-Policy Advisory Committee (SPAC) details the activities, membership status, and recommendations of the two advisory bodies of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) for the period leading up to the 32nd Conference of the Parties (CoP-32) in May 2024.

This report summarizes the activities of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) Directorate during the 2024–2025 inter-sessional period to implement its Gender, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (Gender and EDI) policy across eight specific goals.

The Stakeholder Toolkit (March 2023) is a guide providing a curated list of resources, reports, and organizations designed to support national and local governments in improving forest governance, sustainability, and the protection of tropical forests.

The 2023 Forest Declaration Assessment executive summary reports that global gross deforestation in 2022 exceeded the trajectory required to eliminate deforestation by 2030, despite progress in over 50 countries and specific reductions in Indonesia and Malaysia.