Tropical Forests and Sustainability: The Role of Multilateral Financing in Latin America

Abstract

The challenge of slowing deforestation and degradation in the tropical regions of Latin America requires financing mechanisms (public and private) that can enable actions to preserve and sustainably manage forest integrity. This paper begins by examining the strategy implemented by the World Bank to protect forest cover in tropical countries. Next, through a quantitative analysis of available World Bank data, analysis is made of the relevance, evolution, and spatial distribution of funding allocated to forest-related projects in Latin America across two decades (2002-2022). The study aids accurate assessment of the effectiveness of sustainable forest-management initiatives undertaken across an ecosystem whose preservation is vital to the entire planet, also offering insights to support the launch of new initiatives.