Who We Are

Beginning in 1996 a small group of leaders from forest industry, donors, and environmental groups began to meet to consider the array of challenges facing forest conservation and began to identify common ground (more about Forest Trends' History ). When considering options to improve progress on forest conservation, they recognized the respective contributions and limits of their own institutions, and decided to create a new organization – Forest Trends – to expand this work of bridging traditional divides and promoting market-based approaches to forest conservation.

The mission of Forest Trends emphasizes promoting incentives and “accelerating the evolution of economic systems” that will result in the maintenance and restoration of forest ecosystems. It also identifies three goals: new commerce for ecosystem services, market recognition for sustainable management, and equitable distribution of benefits from commerce returned to local communities.

Our mission distinguishes us in two important ways: (1) it clearly states that Forest Trends is focused on incentives and markets to improve forest conservation, including the establishment of policy that enable markets to work; and (2) it clearly states that Forest Trends intends to be market promoters, one step closer to commerce than policy and advocacy oriented groups. Today, this mission remains very relevant, and our niche has become clearer including; (1) focus on global forest issues and landscapes including the area of forest outside of protected areas; (2) engaging in strategic analysis work that has not been done or across issues or sectors that have not been crossed.

This genesis of Forest Trends – a public/private, non-profit coalition – and our focus on market approaches continue to be some of Forest Trends unique strengths. In our first five years we have been able to build on these strengths. Creating unusual strategic coalitions modeled after our own formation has indeed become the signature of the organization.

The vision for Forest Trends as we look out over the next five years builds on our first five years: (1) we will strengthen our position as global leaders in transforming forest markets; (2) forest markets in critical forest areas will be more supportive of good practice and; (3) forestry will contribute more to community development where communities are major holders of forest land.