The Climate Smart Forest Economy Program (CSFEP) works to reduce global deforestation and forest degradation while also addressing the significant carbon footprint of industries such as construction through a single elegant solution: climate smart forest economies. CSFEP aims to transform forest economies by promoting forest regeneration and restoration while providing essential forest products, focusing particularly on the Global South. This approach balances the needs of forests, people, and the atmosphere, emphasizing sustainable resource use, emission reduction, and the protection of smallholder communities.

Initially, CSFEP focused on improving individual building projects by measuring and enhancing their impact across the value chain. Early CSFEP work demonstrated that most biobased construction projects can significantly improve their carbon impact while increasing positive impacts to biodiversity and local communities by collaborating with the actors in their supply chains. Building on these learnings, CSFEP is now forming coalitions to transform entire forest-to-build value chains for the benefit of communities, climate, and nature. CSFEP's current initiatives include launching a coalition in East Africa, a region facing severe deforestation, forest degradation, and biodiversity loss. The program envisions a future where East African forest economies are revitalized through sustainable forest management, the development of housing for low- and middle-income families, and the creation of local small businesses in the biobased economy. This initiative aims to reverse deforestation and forest degradation trends, provide sustainable revenue, and support communities in adapting to climate change. http://www.csfep.org

Executive Producer: Sabine Schwab

Producer/Editor: Daniel Henriquez

Crew: Iyanu Omoboye