About

WePlan-Forests is a decision support platform for tropical and subtropical forest ecosystem restoration planning that provides quantitative, spatial, evidence-based planning support to countries in order to facilitate the realisation of forest restoration pledges and targets. The platform consists of a user-friendly web-based interface that automates the technical and computing requirements of complex spatial analyses and allows users without spatial modelling and optimisation expertise to explore a broad range of results and scenarios.

The WePlan-Forests platform uses a spatially explicit, multi-objective optimisation framework that integrates biophysical and socioeconomic data to help identify cost-effective, sustainable Forest and Landscape Restoration solutions and quantify trade-offs among impacts related to Forest and Landscape Restoration objectives (e.g., carbon sequestration, biodiversity conservation) and restoration methods (e.g., natural regeneration and active restoration). Through the evaluation of a wide range of scenarios and targets, the platform provide decision-makers with estimates of the climate mitigation and biodiversity benefits that may arise from various levels of forest restoration, and the opportunity and establishment costs associated with that restoration.

The WePlan-Forests platform was developed by the Institute for Capacity Exchange in Environmental Decisions (formerly International Institute for Sustainability Australia) and International Institute for Sustainability Rio, in partnership with the Convention on Biological Diversity Secretariat. This work was generously supported by the Korea Forest Service of the Republic of Korea as part of the Forest Ecosystem Restoration Initiative, with additional financial assistance from the European Union.

A tool, not a prescription.
Institutions
Institute for Capacity Exchange in Environmental Decisions (ICEED)
The Institute for Capacity Exchange in Environmental Decisions is a not-for-profit organisation based in Canberra, Australia. ICEED develops evidence-based approaches for systematic spatial planning to support the design and implementation of environmental policy, and to develop science and technology for environmental decision-making, with a focus on forest ecosystem restoration.
International Institute for Sustainability Rio (IIS-Rio)
The International Institute for Sustainability (Rio) is an independent think-and-do-tank focused on understanding the relationship between human society and the environment. Their work promotes sustainable land use, in particular biodiversity conservation, ecosystem service provisioning, sustainable soil management, climate change mitigation and adaptation, and the socioeconomic development of actors involved in these processes.
Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) Secretariat
The Convention on Biological Diversity is a multilateral treaty first established in 1993 with the objectives of conservation of biological diversity, sustainable use of its components and the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of the utilization of genetic resources. The convention promotes international cooperation and defines global goals for conservation to achieve its objectives. The secretariat is responsible for assisting Parties in implementing the programmes and reaching the targets.
Forest Ecosystem Restoration Initiative (FERI)
The Forest Ecosystem Restoration Initiative (FERI) supports developing countries Party to the CBD in the development and operationalization of national targets and plans for ecosystem conservation and restoration. FERI is supported by the Korea Forest Service of the Republic of Korea and implemented by the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).
Korea Forest Service of the Republic of Korea
The Korea Forest Service is an independent agency specializing in forestry that is overseen by the South Korean Ministry for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. It is responsible for maintaining forest lands in South Korea and for the establishment and implementation of forest policies and laws.