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Who We Are
The Alliance for Responsible Forest Management (ARFM) is an international not-for-profit non-governmental organisation with the goal to accelerate the implementation of responsible forest management across the tropical world.
The aim is to accelerate the implementation of responsible forest management across the tropical world by applying over 30 years of peer-reviewed research and applied knowledge to create an effective knowledge management system, integrating regionally-appropriate best practice material, classroom-based (virtual and/or in-person), and on-site practical training in regional training centres in Africa, Asia-Pacific and Latin America.
As an independent organisation and not a standard setting body, the ARFM will support practitioners, Certification Bodies, auditors, government agencies and private sector forest organisations on best management practices in responsible forestry and contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions from entering the atmosphere from the forest sector. All efforts will be undertaken to develop the necessary capacity to remove the current barriers to practicing responsible forest management.
Mission
To accelerate responsible forest management across the tropical world and contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions from entering the atmosphere and the conservation of biological diversity in the forest sector.
Vision
To create a coordinated global support network promoting awareness, training, and implementation of best management practices for responsible forest management in the tropics.
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Rationale
Global forests are critical to the Earth’s environmental health
The Earth’s forests host a large portion of natural ecosystems, containing a vast diversity of habitats with unique compositions of increasingly threatened flora and fauna. In addition, their carbon absorption and storage functions contribute to global climate stabilisation.
Deforestation will continue if action is not taken
Despite efforts in forest conservation, global losses in forest cover have occurred at the rate of about 5.2 million hectares (ha) per annum over the 2000-2010 period. Since 1990, the rate of forest loss over the last three decades has accumulated to an incredible 178 million ha or 5.9 million ha per annum.
The number of countries in support of forestry protection is growing
International Conventions, agreements and resulting national forest policies of most nations recognise and support the need for forest conservation and responsible management for environmental conservation, community livelihood and sustainability.
Certification organisations can ensure forests are protected without eliminating the demand for timber products
Since the establishment of Forest Stewardship Council (1994) and the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) (1999), 533 million ha has been certified, representing 13% of the estimated 4 billion ha of the world’s forests. With approximately 200 million ha tropical forests globally designated for commercial production, only 30 million are certified, indicating 170 million ha, or 85% of commercial tropical forests are without employing responsible forest management standards, and at harvesting rates frequently beyond sustainable levels.
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Our Logo
The logo of the Alliance for Responsible Forest Management signifies our aim to create a coordinated global support network to promote awareness, training and implementation of best management practices in tropical forests.
The top row of the emblem applies the symbol of literature, to represent continuous scholarly understanding of knowledge and best practice in the implementation of responsible forest management.
The middle row of the emblem applies three symbols to represent three geographic tropical regions where the ARFM is active. On the left, the Lion, representing Africa, in the middle, the Eagle, representing Latin America, on the right, the Tiger, representing Asia-Pacific.
The bottom row of the emblem applies the symbol of the World, with hands on either side representing the careful balanced approach to implementing responsible forest management.
The text on the bottom of the emblem, ‘Silva Pro Omnibus’, is written in Latin, the universal language used in forest dendrology for the nomenclature of tree species. The text translates as ‘Forests for All’.
The wreath surrounding the emblem, signifies the olive branch, used to represent a universal and peaceful approach to fostering responsible forest management in tropical forests.