DGIS projects on Forests and Biological diversity
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The Directorate General for International Cooperation (DGIS) of the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs uses this website to inform the general public on its worldwide support in the areas of forest conservation, forest management and biodiversity.
There have been significant shifts in DGIS’ policy over the years. In the 1970s and 1980s, support mainly went towards firewood and energy projects in Sub-Saharan Africa. In the 1990s more emphasis was put on institutional aspects. Since then, international policy developments have made DGIS decide to focus on tropical rainforests and biodiversity. As of the late nineties, the contribution of forests and biodiversity to poverty alleviation has received increasing attention. For more information see the broad overview of the DGIS policy on forests and biodiversity.
As its spending record shows, DGIS’ support for forest-related projects has grown steadily in the 1990s. In 1991, the Government pledged significant support under its Tropical Rainforest Policy Paper. DGIS’ spending target as per policy for assistance to forest related activities is currently 70 million Euro per annum. In 1997, 44 million Euro was spent but from 1999 onwards the expenditure on forests and biodiversity through international assistance passed the 70 million Euros target. In 2004 for example the spending was 74 million Euro on Forest and Biodiversity activities with 37 million of that amount specifically targeted to Tropical Rainforests.
More details on DGIS expenditure on international forest-related projects over the years as well as over continents can be found here.