The overall objective of the RE-IMPACT project is to help meet the economic, social and environmental demands placed on forests at local, national and global levels.

More specific objectives of the RE-IMPACT project are to provide, test and implement planning and impact assessment methodologies which help address the economic, social and environmental demands placed on forests at local, national and global levels. The improved impact assessment methodologies will address the above issues in a scientifically-rigorous yet practical and cost efficient way (Figure 1). In conjunction with the “improved methodology” component of the project, the project will develop in country capacity for applying and testing these methodologies in the case study countries: China, India, South Africa, and Uganda. The project will also aim to ensure that in-country policies relating to bioenergy projects and the environment are consistent with other sectoral policies (climate, development, forestry and water) and are based on the best scientific understanding of bioenergy plantation impacts.