Promote responsible forest management practices in the tropical world

• Alliance for Responsible Forest Management (ARFM) and CATIE signed a cooperation agreement for this purpose..

October 26, 2023. As part of the Latin American and Caribbean Climate Week, CATIE (Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Center) and the Alliance for Responsible Forest Management Foundation signed an agreement on October 24 to promote responsible forest management and reduce greenhouse gas emissions in tropical regions.

The agreement was signed in Panama by Michael Galante, secretary general of ARFM, and Muhammad Ibrahim, director general of CATIE.

Both organizations agreed to enter into this technical agreement with respect to the implementation of the Alliance for Responsible Forest Management (ARFM), which aims to create a coordinated global support network to promote awareness, training and the implementation of best practices in responsible forest management in the tropical world and contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions from the forestry sector that reach the atmosphere.

This agreement will seek to support ARFM to become a strategic partner and further develop in the three identified tropical regions of Africa, Asia-Pacific and Latin America. In this regard, CATIE will support the creation of training centers and centers of excellence and will partner with ARFM in fundraising to identify and promote best environmental, social and economic practices.

In addition, the Alliance for Responsible Forest Management Foundation will invite CATIE to the Executive Board and Technical Training Council to support ARFM and ensure that operations are conducted with maximum transparency and ethical behavior, as well as best practices.

Also, CATIE will support the identification of training centers and forest concessions to support face-to-face and on-site training. The sites will host individuals, public, private, civil and community sector groups, as well as international forestry research teams.

ARFM is an international, non-profit, non-governmental organization whose purpose is to accelerate the implementation of responsible forest management throughout the tropical world by applying more than 30 years of peer-reviewed research and applied knowledge to create an effective knowledge management system, integrating regionally appropriate best practice materials, classroom training (virtual and/or face-to-face) and on-site practical training at regional training centers in Africa, Asia-Pacific and Latin America.

CATIE is internationally recognized as a leading institution for its contribution to the scientific knowledge of tropical forests, their biodiversity and the ecosystem services they provide, in a context of landscapes and societies resilient to climate change and natural disasters. The Center's contributions to the region can be summarized as follows:

• Medium- and long-term research on the effects of human activity on tropical forests.
• Promotion of sustainable forest management and forest and landscape restoration in Latin America and the Caribbean.
• Capacity building through postgraduate education at the masters and doctoral levels, and participation in a wide range of training and outreach activities.

The agreement of understanding between CATIE and ARFM became effective upon signature and will remain in force until terminated by either party.