Mission

CIFOR`s mission is to contribute to the sustained well-being of people in developing countries, particularly in the tropics. It achieves this through collaborative, strategic and applied research and by promoting the transfer and adoption of appropriate new technologies and social systems for national development.

Objectives

* To improve the scientific basis that underpins balanced management of forests and forest lands

* To develop policies and technologies for sustainable use and management of forest goods and services

* To assist partner governments improve their capacity to research and support the optimal use of forests and forestlands

Impact

Through collaborative research with its partners in over 40 countries, CIFOR has contributed significantly in:

* Shaping the global forest agenda · Influencing international policy dialogues, institutions and processes

* Informing the broader international forestry community

* Collaborating in research with governments, NGOs and universities

* Building research capacity in developing countries

* Encouraging forest policy reform

* Protecting existing forests and improving poor peoples` livelihoods

* Developing criteria and indicators for sustainable management of forests

Priority eco-regions

* Tropical moist forests in Southeast Asia such as those in Borneo

* Tropical moist forests in central-west Africa and the Congo Basin

* Tropical moist forests of the western Amazon

* Drier forests such as the Miombo woodlands of eastern-southern Africa

* Rainforest-dry forest continuum in southern India such as the Western Ghats

* Uplands of mainland Southeast Asia

* Mixed forest systems of Central America

CIFOR scientists conduct most of their work through a series of highly decentralized partnerships with key institutions and individuals in developing and industrialized nations. CIFOR is committed to building the capacities of developing country organizations and scientists by encouraging them to produce their own solutions to forest problems.