The Forest Action Facility (FAF) was officially launched on 11 October 2025 at the IUCN World Conservation Congress in Abu Dhabi as a platform to develop, finance, and implement Forest Landscape Restoration (FLR) initiatives across Latin America. Established in December 2024 by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and KfW Development Bank, the Facility received initial seed funding of €19 million from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). This funding will support up to 20 projects in Central America and Ecuador over a six-year period, aiming to restore degraded forest landscapes while generating socio-economic and environmental benefits.
Juan Carlos Navarro, Panama’s Minister of Environment and Pro Tempore President of the Central American Commission on Environment and Development (CCAD), emphasized that the Facility represents a significant opportunity for Latin America to restore forests, create green jobs, enhance community resilience, and recognize the leadership of Indigenous peoples and local communities. He highlighted the importance of forest restoration for safeguarding water, food security, and the natural heritage essential for human well-being, affirming the region’s commitment to leading global forest restoration and climate action efforts.
The FAF will invite civil society organizations, public institutions, and private sector actors to submit project proposals through open calls conducted in collaboration with national authorities. These projects will integrate restoration, conservation, and sustainable forest management practices to strengthen biodiversity, enhance climate resilience, and support sustainable livelihoods. The initiative underscores Latin America’s critical role as home to the world’s largest tropical forests, which are vital for climate regulation, biodiversity, and the livelihoods of millions, including Indigenous Peoples and rural communities.
Established as an independent, non-profit entity under UK law, the Facility ensures transparency and accountability through multi-level audits and uses international monitoring standards to track landscape-level impacts, including restored forest areas, trees planted, CO₂ captured, and benefits to local communities. The Facility operates as an open platform, encouraging contributions from governments, foundations, and private actors to expand the reach and effectiveness of forest landscape restoration efforts across Latin America.
For the Central America financing window, the Organization of American States (OAS) will serve as the Facility’s political partner, supporting member states in accessing funding, facilitating participation, and identifying high-priority forestry investments. Through this collaborative framework, the Forest Action Facility aims to scale up restoration initiatives, protect biodiversity, stabilize the climate, and create sustainable socio-economic opportunities across the region.
