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A 10(+) step platform for forest-positive action

Building on the recommendations presented in Better Forests, Better Cities, here are Cities4Forests’ detailed recommendations on what city governments can do to support tropical forests. With all actions and policies, it is important to encourage competition from small and mid-sized enterprises (SME) and consult them in the development of new policies. To ensure effectiveness, all policies should have a theory of change. Policies should build on existing metrics and frameworks, for instance using the SDGs as metrics for action and success. In addition, cities should encourage inter-departmental learning opportunities on best practises in forest-positive procurement.

Click on the actions below for a full description and examples.

Measure Impacts

Measure Impacts

Inventory your city’s impact on tropical deforestation by conducting a Forest Footprint and incorporate it into the city's climate and sustainability goals.

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Introduce Regulations

Introduce Regulations

Regulate forest-risk products using tax incentives and bans.

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Support Upper-Level Governments

Support Upper-Level Governments

Apply pressure to upper level governments to legislate on deforestation risk commodities.

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Communicate Transparency

Communicate Transparency

Communicate the impacts of consuming forest-risk commodities to city residents.

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Promote Alternatives

Promote Alternatives

Increase accessibility of locally-sourced or alternatives to forest-risk commodities.

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Far Forest Offsets

Far Forest Offsets

Incorporate tropical forest conservation as offsets in climate change mitigation strategies.

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Monitor Procurement

Monitor Procurement

Upgrade municipal procurement policies to reduce deforestation.

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Partner Forest Program

Partner Forest Program

Create a Partner Forest program to support tropical forest conservation by community-led enterprises.

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Leverage Local Investments

Leverage Local Investments

Leverage co-investments from city residents and local businesses

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Incentivize Innovation

Incentivize Innovation

Support forest-positive innovation for local businesses and entrepreneurs.

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Reduce Waste

Reduce Waste

Reduce waste to reduce gross consumption of forest-risk commodities.

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Use External Funding

Use External Funding

Use external funding sources to finance city far forest initiatives

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