Please join us for the virtual launch of a major new research report, Better Forests, Better Cities, hosted by World Resources Institute (WRI) and the Pilot Projects Design Collective. This event will be available in English, Spanish, French, and Portuguese.
Cities and forests may appear unrelated at first glance, but the latest science reveals that they deeply impact each other. Efforts to conserve, restore, and manage forests can benefit cities through improved air quality, decreased flood risk, improved health outcomes, and more. With the right support, cities can take immediate action to help forests thrive and harness the benefits they provide.
This first-of-its-kind report evaluates the benefits to human health and well-being, water, climate mitigation, and biodiversity that forests and other nature-based solutions at all scales provide to cities and their residents. . The report is informed by lessons from the Cities4Forests alliance of more than 80 cities acting to conserve, restore, and sustainably manage nature — especially the world’s forests — for human well-being.
At the event, report authors will present the latest research and immediate policy recommendations for cities that wish to better incorporate nature-based solutions into their plans, programs, and investments. High-profile city leaders from around the world will share success stories and challenges in harnessing the benefits of nature and seeking to secure a more sustainable future for forests.
Speakers:
- Craig Hanson, Managing Director and Executive Vice President for Programs, WRI (Moderator)
- Frances Seymour, Distinguished Senior Fellow, Forests Program, WRI
- Dr. Sarah Jane Wilson, Research Lead and Forest Geographer, Pilot Projects Design Collective
- John-Rob Pool, Manager, Knowledge and Partnerships, UrbanShift (Emcee)
- Carolina Urrutia Vásquez, Secretary of Environment, Bogotá, Colombia
- Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr, Mayor of Freetown, Sierra Leone
- Arnaud Ngatcha, Deputy Mayor, City of Paris, France
- Supriya Sahu, Additional Chief Secretary; Environment, Climate Change & Forests; Government of Tamil Nadu, India
- Additional speakers to be announced