The world is off track to protect and restore forests by 2030. Fortunately, there’s still time to get back on course and meet global goals. WWF’s Forest Pathways report shows how the scale of failed action on the world’s forests is leading to an alarming increase in deforestation. It also shows it’s possible to halt deforestation, sustainably manage forests, and restore them in ways that benefit humanity and nature.

The study, the first of its kind, conducted by CIFOR and jointly funded by WWF and CIFOR, utilizes a robust methodology to compare nine FSC certified and nine noncertified forest management units across Gabon, Cameroon and Republic of Congo, to assess whether certification yields social benefits above and beyond noncertified FMUs. Overall, the study firmly and consistently confirms that FSC certification has indeed yielded additional social benefit in the Congo Basin.

In response to the granting of oil concessions in Virunga National Park, WWF has launched a campaign to raise awareness of Virunga’s economic value and the implications of oil development for local communities and the environment. As part of the campaign, WWF commissioned Dalberg Global Development Advisors to study
Virunga’s current and potential social and economic value and toindicate the implications of oil exploration and exploitation.