At the dawn of 2008, sustainable management of the world’s tropical forests is high on the international agenda. And as ever-growing demand for timber and agricultural land contends with increasing appreciation for biodiversity and environmental services, the challenges of forest management have never been more complex.

Forests are now receiving a level of international attention not seen since the 1992 Rio Earth Summit, due almost entirely to the recent and intense focus on the links between deforestation and climate change.

As a result, CIFOR is entering one of the most demanding periods it has faced in its 15-year history. Fortunately, we are well placed to continue delivering the timely, policy-relevant research results that our stakeholders expect from us.

In December 2007, CIFOR’s Board of Trustees endorsed a new strategy that will ensure we have the necessary focus and resources to meet the challenges ahead. The strategy, which will soon be posted here on our website, reflects extensive consultation with staff, board members and our extended family of partners.

The new strategy builds on the vision that has guided CIFOR to become one of the world’s most highly regarded forest research centers. Governance, livelihoods and environmental services will remain CIFOR’s key program areas, and while the new strategy will be characterized by clear continuity with the past, 2008 will nevertheless usher in a number of changes worth noting.

In addition to linkages already in place among CIFOR’s programs, 2008 and beyond will see even greater emphasis on interdisciplinary research. To provide just one example, understanding and enhancing the role of sustainable forest management in climate protection requires research that addresses the intersection of biophysical, socioeconomic, and governance issues.

CIFOR’s research relevant to climate change goes back many years, but it’s fair to say that 2007 marked a significant step up in our commitment. 2007 saw the launch of CIFOR’s Climate Change and Forests Initiative, the release of Do Trees Grow on Money? – a major report examining the challenges in implementing schemes for reducing emissions from deforestation and degradation (REDD) - and CIFOR’s hugely successful Forest Day at the UNFCCC COP 13 conference in Bali.

While our current emphasis on research related to climate change mitigation and adaptation is understandable and appropriate, these are only two of six priority research domains outlined in CIFOR’s new strategy. So, expect to see more cutting-edge research into forest-related trade and investment, small-scale and community-based forestry, biodiversity conservation and development, and sustainable management of production forests.

Although we are excited by the opportunities that the new year presents, 2008 also begins with a tinge of sadness, as we say farewell to a number of long-serving and senior staff as well as several dedicated board members. But every ending is a new beginning, and I extend a warm welcome to all of the new additions to the CIFOR family. The bar has been set high, but the quality of CIFOR’s incoming recruits promises to maintain the Center’s consistently high level of performance and dedication.

I invite you to browse through the CIFOR website and learn more about the research and actions now underway to address the many challenges facing the world’s tropical forests and the people who depend on them. Also keep an eye out for our new strategy and for CIFOR’s 2007 Annual Report, which will provide a detailed review of last year’s many developments and achievements.

Frances Seymour
Director General