Vision & Mission

Sustainably used tropical forests, like natural forests, make an indispensable contribution to preserving biodiversity, maintaining the Earth’s water cycle and storing CO2. Sustainable forest management in the tropics thus contributes to the climate stability of our planet. As an alternative to the widespread slash-and-burn for the subsistence farming of indigenous peoples, it also provides a livelihood for the growing local population.

Our Vision…

… is to preserve tropical forests and their vital functions in the long term by enhancing the value of their ecosystem services and through innovative and sustainable forest management.

Our Mission

The Precious Forests Foundation (PFF) is committed to promoting sustainable land use practices in tropical forests. As an independent dialogue platform for collaboration and innovation, PFF brings together industry, academia, NGOs, and other stakeholders to jointly address the challenges of sustainable forest management (SFM). Through targeted issue management, strategic dialogues, and effective knowledge transfer, PFF develops and initiates practical solutions that increase the value of tropical forests, improve the livelihoods of local communities, and promote the responsible use of forest resources.

History of the foundation

The Precious Forests Foundation is a non-profit, denominationally and politically neutral Swiss foundation with headquarters in Zurich. Precious Forests Foundation was established by Precious Woods Holding (www.preciouswoods.com) and Hoja Verde in May 2018.

Foundation Board

As the supreme body of the Precious Forests Foundation, the Foundation Board bears overall responsibility. It is responsible for the strategic direction and the appointment of the management, approves the annual financial statements and decides on project and support contributions. The Foundation Board performs its work free of charge and consists of 3-7 independent members.

 

Board members

Expert Council

The Expert Council of the Precious Forests Foundation consists of international experts from science and practice, who contribute with their entrepreneurial experience and expertise to the Foundation’s various areas. The Expert Council is mainly active as a network and consists of approximately 12 members.

 

Members of the expert council

  • Zuzana Burivalova, University of Wisconsin-Madison (UW)
  • Chris Buss, FFORA
  • Kristy Deiner, ETH Zurich
  • Jaboury Ghazoul, ETH Zurich
  • Robert Nasi, CIFOR-ICRAF
  • Benno Pokorny, Chair of Silviculture, Uni. of Freiburg
  • Cesar Sabogal, international consultant (among other for CIFOR, FAO, GIZ)
  • Jeff Sayer, University of British Columbia
  • Joeri Zwerts, Utrecht University

Partner

We maintain a close partnership with the following companies and institutions