Investments in Forests and Sustainable Land Use.

Descriptions

Investments in Forests and Sustainable Land Use is a new programme that will support a series of public-private partnerships that demonstrate how companies, communities, smallholders and governments can work collaboratively to reduce deforestation. The private sector plays a major role in driving deforestation and land use change, particularly the conversion of forest for production of timber, palm oil, soya and beef. Many leading firms have started to set out time-bound commitments to remove deforestation from supply chains for these commodities, offering an opportunity to transform these industries. Investments in Forests and Sustainable Land Use aims to catalyse and accelerate this process of change, working with companies, traders and farmers to develop new partnerships aimed at stopping deforestation and generating sustainable growth and jobs. The programme will support a set of ambitious public-private partnerships, as well as a range of related enabling activities. Expected results include improved livelihoods, more sustainable jobs, avoided deforestation, reforestation of degraded land and leverage of private finance. The programme will be implemented through a combination of technical assistance and grant funding. DFID has committed 56 500 000 GBP to initiate the programme, which is expected to become operational in the course of 2015. The contract will run for 5 years, with a possibility for extension thereafter.