Mexico - In order to develop a stronger forest protection plan, Mexico recently received $392 million; $350 million of which are a loan from the World Bank, and $42 million are from the Forest Investment Program.

The Forest Investment Program (FIP), part of the Strategic Climate Fund, strives to combat deforestation and prevent the degradation of forests by wildfires, as well as help developing countries transition to more eco-friendly foresting practices.

The $42 million granted by the FIP are a donation from that organization, which numbers Australia, Denmark, Japan, Norway, Spain, Britain, and the US among its members.

Juan Rafael Elvira Quesadat, Mexico's Environment and Natural Resources Secretariat, reports that the funds will be channeled through the National Forestry Commission, or Conafor, to finance over the next few years a variety of forestry projects aimed at fighting global climate change.

Forest in Riviera Maya, Mexico

The program includes monies for environmental services, land-use planning, the processing and marketing of timber and non-timber assets, and the sustainable protection of the land that is so critical to the country’s environment and economy from natural disasters.

The director of Conafor, Juan Manuel Torres Rojo, said that with these funds the Woodland and Climate Change Project will generate a variety of different opportunities for individuals in more than 4000 indigenous communities, as well as the beneficial consequences for the Mexican population and environment as a whole.