Operational Policies for Bank Supported Investment Projects

The Bank’s suite of safeguard operational policies ensures that Bank operations with potential impact on forests take forest outcomes into consideration. In line with the new Forests Strategy, the Operational Policy on Forests (OP 4.36) is proactive in both identifying and protecting critical forest conservation areas and in supporting improved forest management in production forests outside these areas. It applies to all Bank investment operations that potentially impact forests, whether or not they are specific forestry sector investments. It also encourages the incorporation of forest issues in Country Assistance Strategies, and addresses cross-sectoral impacts on forests. The policy provides for conservation of critical natural habitats and prohibits Bank financing of any commercial harvesting or plantation development in critical natural habitats. It also allows for proactive investment support to improve forest management outside critical forest areas, with explicit safe-guards to ensure that such Bank financed operations comply with independent certification standards acceptable to the Bank, or operations with an agreed upon, time-bound action plan to establish compliance with these standards.