This collaborative initiative supports the development and establishment of a Regional Network of Model Forests in Latin America and the Caribbean. Model Forests are about translating higher-level policy goals into achievable and locally relevant models of sustainable use and best practices for the conservation of all forest resources. They use locally-based partnership to find working solutions to forest resource management issues through capacity building, improved decision-making and governance systems, economic diversification, integrated resource management, and poverty alleviation.

The Regional Centre:
- provides technical support to promote and strengthen model forest development in the region;
- documents and demonstrates best practices for sustainable forest management and sustainable economic development opportunities for local communities;
- substantially strengthens the transfer of technology from Canada to the region and among countries and projects in the region;
- secures new country and institutional partners and donors.

Governments:
Government of Argentina
Government of Canada - CIDA
Government of Chile
Government of Costa Rica - Ministerio de Agricultura y Ganadería and Ministerio de Ambiente y Energía
Government of Dominican Republic - Secretaria de Estado de Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales

Major Groups:
International Model Forest Network Secretariat (Canada)

UN System:
UNDP/GEF (United States of America)

Other:
Canadian University Services Overseas (CUSO) (Canada)