About us

Tropenbos International (TBI) is a non -governmental non-profit organization. It was created in 1986 as a Dutch response to increasing concerns about the disappearance and degradation of tropical rain forests worldwide. Now, 25 years later, TBI is thriving.

Over the years, TBI has established itself as an important platform for the forest and development agenda, both in developing countries and internationally. It has built a reputation for improving knowledge and personal and institutional capacity in order to support better management and governance of tropical forest resources in a range of programme countries. With the support of the Government of the Netherlands, TBI has achieved a respected position on tropical forest issues. As a knowledge broker and a platform for discussion, TBI supports forest dialogue and development in the common interest of developing countries and the Netherlands.

In TBI’s vision, tropical forests have critical contributions to make in providing the range of goods and services required by local communities and the people of the world. Well-managed forests — as components of productive landscapes — can simultaneously contribute to the objectives of alleviating poverty, providing ecosystem services and fostering sustainable economic development.

Any real long-term improvement in the use and conservation of forests requires knowledge and skills. Public, corporate and civil society decision makers — with access to credible knowledge and independent information — are more likely to make decisions that are fair and sustainable. Informed decision making also requires strong individual, organizational and institutional governance and management capacities across the forest sector and beyond, as well as effective multi-actor networks and platforms for sharing knowledge.

TBI’s mission is to improve tropical forest governance and management in order to support conservation and sustainable development.

TBI’s goal is to achieve the sustainable management of tropical forest lands for the benefit of people, conservation and sustainable development.

TBI’s objective is to ensure that knowledge is used effectively in the formulation of appropriate policies and in the management of forests for conservation and sustainable development.

TBI’s Functions
For partners and stakeholders in partner countries, the Netherlands, the European Union and internationally, TBI fulfils a variety of functions:

• intermediary and knowledge broker
• needs-oriented developer of knowledge and capacity
• platform for and facilitator of evidence-based multi-stakeholder dialogue
• agenda setting and advice
• fostering critical and reflective thinking
• advancing the international forest dialogue
• network and linkage for forest actors

TBI’s Value

• Respected, well-connected staff in established offices
• Extensive local and international networks and partnerships
• Integration of knowledge across disciplines and sectors
• Practical expertise in forest management and policy
• Ownership and participation by stakeholders
• Interaction between international and national forest agendas
• Orientation on stakeholders’ needs

Annual Report 2011

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