Forests for People

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Global demands, local needs:

a big picture approach to forests

Rachel Kyte, Vice President for Sustainable Development, World Bank

orests are central to the World Bank’s mission of poverty

eradication and sustainable development. For people strug-

gling to avert famine in times of economic or agricultural

stress, forests are a crucial safety net: trees provide fruits, leaves,

nuts, gum, fuelwood, timber – tangible goods that people can eat,

feed their animals or trade for food when regular crops fail.

But even in good times, forests and trees on farms play a vital

part in meeting the needs of millions of people around the world

– from indigenous peoples, who are key custodi-

ans of the last intact natural forests, to farmers and

city dwellers. Over the years, the world has come

to understand the full range of valuable ecosystem

services forests perform. Forests regulate watersheds,

house pollinating bats and bees, host 80 per cent of

the world’s terrestrial biodiversity, absorb carbon

dioxide through photosynthesis, maintain soil fertil-

ity and control erosion.

Forests are a crucial safety net for people in times of need

Image: Kyle O’Donoghue/World Bank