The World Forestry Congress took place from the 18^th until the 23^rd of October in Buenos Aires, Argentina with as main theme: “Forest in development: A vital Balance”. The aim of the Congress was the exchange of the last developments, innovations, insights and knowledge on forestry, policy, research and performance. In this, the 13^th edition over more than 7000 forest experts where present from more than 160 countries.

Beside climate change and energy, the theme of forest financing was of great interest. During different sessions and side events, various country representatives, NGO’s, companies and financial agencies presented their findings and experiences on how they value and establish  financial bases to strengthen forest management. The Netherlands through the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and  Food Quality (LNV) and Tropenbos International in collaboration with FAO, the National Forest Programme Facility and different regional organisations, organised different sessions on forest financing.

During the sessions the results and lessons learned from different recently developed Latin America studies, which look at the possibilities for a better financing of sustainable forest management,  were presented. It also integrated the support given to the development of financing strategies for forests in different countries, in which beside investments in sustainable timber and carbon markets, payments for ecosystem services are included as well as  the search – appeal for new investments.

The Congress aimed not only at an exchange of knowledge but also at the development of   future steps and the influence on the political agenda. In the final statement different actions where formulated, among others, that the forest sector should have a prominent place in the societal and political discussions; that the multifunctional role of the forests should be recognized and in this way create new financing mechanisms for forest management; more attention should be given for the rehabilitation of degraded forest lands, management of secondary forests and fragile ecosystems and there should be an enabling environment (political and institutional) for good forest management.

More information on the WFC 2009…..
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