Protecting and restoring biodiversity

Over 10 million species of animals, plants, fungi and microorganisms inhabit Earth. Not only does this diversity help maintain ecosystem goods and services, healthy diets, clean air and water, flood control, fertile soils and pollination – it also helps build resilience to unexpected crop failings, ecosystem collapse, and climate change. Yet the world is losing its biodiversity at an alarming and accelerating rate.

CIFOR-ICRAF has worked for over seven decades in the Global South supporting transformative global, regional and national action plans on the management and conservation of biodiversity through the transformative power of forests, trees and agroforestry.

Human survival is intrinsically linked to forests, yet deforestation and forest degradation continue at alarming rates. The consequences will be tragic – especially in biodiverse tropical areas – with looming mass extinctions of plants and animals, and increased likelihood of infectious diseases.

CIFOR-ICRAF scientists are helping to combat deforestation and biodiversity loss through targeted research and engagement across all of our thematic areas, particularly through our work on tree genetic resources, restoration, sustainable forest management, and soil and land health.

OECMs: An opportunity to turn ‘coercive conservation’ upside down

Over a quarter of Congo Basin forests at risk of vanishing by 2050

When forests feed the fish that feed our families

How to preserve forest biodiversity without losing livelihoods

How women shellfishers can be empowered to conserve coastal biodiversity

Agroforestry needs visibility in national budgets to track climate progress