About the TFA
Background - Why tropical forests matter
Tropical forests encompass a range of different ecosystems: mangroves inhabiting the intertidal areas of tropical coasts, montane forests, dry tropical forests, peat forests, seasonally flooded forests, upland evergreen rainforests and many more. There is not one tropical forest but many.
Besides the diversity on the ecosystem level (different forest types and related ecosystems), tropical forests are home to a vast number of different species: plants, animals, fungi, microbes, etc. Both dry and moist tropical and subtropical forests are hotspots of biodiversity, including high numbers of threatened species.
Apart from the intrinsic value which can be ascribed to the forests and their diversity, tropical forests are important for us humans in many regards and on various scales.
Globally, tropical forests play a role for climate mitigation and the global carbon cycle due to their ability to take up carbon from the atmosphere and to release oxygen back to it, having provided them with the title as the green lungs of the Earth. On the other hand, deforestation and degradation of tropical forests are a major cause of greenhouse gas emissions. Tropical forests further play a role for atmospheric circulation and precipitation patterns as well as water cycling.
Photo: Credit: L. C. Huber Regionally, tropical forests prevent soil erosion, regulate water flows, prevent flooding (e.g. coastal mangroves) and constitute an important source of water supply to people living around them, e.g. the remaining montane forests in East Africa.
Locally, many peoples' livelihoods are closely linked to tropical forests, which provide various timber and non-timber forest products, such as firewood, food, or medicinal plants. Beyond provisioning and regulating ecosystem services, tropical forests play a relational and non-material role, for spirituality, reflection, cognitive development, or recreation.
In tropical rainforests alone, there are about 1 000 indigenous communities (50 million people) with unique cultures. The number of people relying on tropical forests for their livelihoods is even higher.
The world’s tropical forests are under severe threats and rapidly disappearing because of human activity. When tropical forests are destroyed, cultural and biological diversity as well as one of our most effective tools to limit climate change are lost. With this manifold importance of tropical forests on various scales on the one side, and a complexity of direct and indirect drivers behind their loss on the other side, a lot can be gained by combining different perspectives, skills, and expertise in order to jointly work towards the conservation of tropical forests.
Objectives of the Tropical Forest Arena
- Provide an arena for open exchange of information, expertise, and experiences as well as for debates on key challenges related to tropical forests.
- Mobilise Norwegian actors (potentially) working on tropical forests (research, NGOs, private and public sector).
- Present, discuss, and promote initiatives related to tropical forest protection and restoration, through collaboration among TFA actors.
- Stimulate research among TFA actors, e.g., through joint applications for research funding.
Organisation
Secretariat/administration at NMBU
Steering Committee, comprising the founding representatives from research, private, and NGO sector, i.e., NMBU, Equinor and Rainforest Foundation.
The wider Arena, including people from a variety of organisations from different sectors (research, private, public, NGO). There is the option to come together for quarterly seminars.
Everyone participating in the wider Arena is invited to use the TFA as a platform for discussions, outreach, to connect with other actors and to initiate collaborations.
Seminars
Upcoming seminars
The Tropical Forest Arena holds approximately four seminars each year (every three months). Each seminar has an overarching topic with selected speakers from different sectors. In addition to presentations this is a space for exchange and critical discussion. The purpose of the seminars is to lead to fruitful discussions and actions to save tropical forests!
- 6th of December, Litteraturhuset in Oclo, at 09.00 - 12.00
The crucial role of Indigenous and Local Communities in tropical forest conservation
Please register by the 29th of November here
These topics will be covered by the following experts and engaging speakers:
- Gerard Imani, Professor, University of Bukavu, and consultant, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
How can the perspectives of local communities around protected areas be considered to enhance conservation efforts? The case of Kahuzi-Biega National Park.
- Joao Campos, Co-founder of Instituto Juruá, Brazil.
The Role of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities in a Thriving Future for Amazonia.
- Leif John Fosse, Senior Adviser, Norway's International Climate and Forest Initiative (NICFI)
Funding for Forest Guardians. Reflections on USD 1.7 billion Glasgow Forest Tenure Pledge.
- Christina Voigt, Professor of Law, UiO; Chair IUCN World Commission on Environmental Law; Co-Chair of the Paris Agreement Implementation and Compliance Committee
The role of law in protecting rights of indigenous communities.
- Aina Grøndahl, Senior Adviser, Programa Indonesia y PNG. Rainforest Foundation Norway (RFN).
The World's Third Largest Rainforest Under Threat: Policy and Financial Solutions to Support its Guardians
- Representative of the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD)
If you have any feedback from previous seminars, ideas for topics or speakers, or would like to be added to our invite list please send an email to info@tropicalforestarena.org
Keep an eye on our website for more information on the upcoming seminars.- 6th of December, Litteraturhuset in Oclo, at 09.00 - 12.00
Past seminars
- 17th of September, Litteraturhuset in Oslo, at 09.00 - 12.15
Realizing the value of nature; Corporate requirements and opportunities in tropical forests
More information and registration here. - 23rd April 2024: Vitenparken, NMBU, Ås
Understanding tropical forests and exploring solutions for their future
- 16th of January 2024: Litteraturhuset, Oslo
Deforestation-free supply chains – empty pledges or real impact? - 16th of October 2023: Klimahuset, Oslo
Norway’s contributions to stopping tropical deforestation: results, lessons learned and way forward - 06th of June 2023: Vitenparken, NMBU, Ås
Inauguration seminar
Find out more about speakers and presentation topics at the previous seminars here.
- 17th of September, Litteraturhuset in Oslo, at 09.00 - 12.15
News
Explore our website or LinkedIn page for news related to tropical forests - newly published papers, conferences, main political decisions etc.
The TFA also aims to provide an outreach space for people working on tropical forests. If you would like to publish a blog article (recent research, opinion piece, ongoing project etc.), send us an email: info@tropicalforestarena.org
Contact
Email: info@tropicalforestarena.org
People
Core Team at NMBU