1 March 2011: The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) has signed a US$5 million loan to the Mexican National Forestry Commission for a forestry project that aims to help 18,000 poor rural families address climate change and achieve economic growth.

The Community Forestry Development Project will be implemented in the southern states of Campeche, Chiapas and Oaxaca, providing the rural poor with training and institutions for managing natural resources and building businesses. The project will also aim to reduce emissions and adapt to the effects of climate change. The US$18.5 million project will also receive grants from the Global Environment Facility (GEF), and funding from the Mexican Government and the beneficiaries themselves. [IFAD Press Release]