Governors' Climate & Forests Task Force
The Governors' Climate and Forests Task Force is a non-profit network of 54 subnational governments across 11 countries that coordinates political engagement, jurisdictional strategies, and partnerships to protect tropical forests, reduce emissions, and build a New Forest Economy.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2009
- HeadquartersLos Angeles, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Governors' Climate & Forests Task Force does
The Governors' Climate and Forests Task Force (GCF Task Force) is a non-profit subnational governmental network founded in 2008/2009 and headquartered in Los Angeles, California, with its secretariat housed at UCLA's Institute of the Environment and Sustainability. The organization convenes 54 states and provinces across 11 countries in the Americas, Africa, Asia, and Europe — collectively responsible for more than one-third of the world's tropical forests — to coordinate political engagement on forest protection, emissions reduction, and sustainable livelihoods. Its core programmatic pillars include Jurisdictional Strategies and Investment Plans (REDD+ and low-emissions development), the New Forest Economy Initiative (launched with a Blueprint in 2024), the Climate Pathways Project, Inclusive Forest Governance programs for Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities and Women for Forests and Climate, and an Innovation Funding track. The organization facilitates 20+ meetings since 2009, including annual gatherings and high-level forums at UNFCCC COP and Climate Week NYC.
GCF Task Force is not a technology product company; its underlying "platform" is a coordination and convening architecture linking governors, civil servants, Indigenous leaders, civil society, and the private sector across jurisdictional boundaries. Technical work is conducted through partnerships rather than proprietary technology: remote sensing and carbon data via CTrees, research collaboration with CIFOR-ICRAF and the Science Panel for the Amazon, disclosure alignment with CDP, and academic engagement through Alianza MX, UNAMAZ, UCLA, and University of Colorado Boulder. Outputs include jurisdictional strategies, investment pitch books, the San Martin ArcGIS Storymap, a Tracking Impact knowledge database, and a resource library of declarations.
The business model is grant-funded and partnership-based rather than revenue-generating. The Government of Norway through NORAD is the principal sponsor, with documented commitments of approximately $25M (2015), ~$24M via UNDP (2017), and NOK 49.7M (2018) plus additional NOK 49.7M subcontracted through The Climate Group. Membership is free for qualifying subnational governments. Additional funding flows through Green Climate Fund projects (e.g., $109.6M West Kalimantan project, of which $65M is from GCF), UNDP partnerships, EU programs (Amazonia+), and foundation support. The organization operates with approximately 10 employees globally plus Country Directors in Indonesia, Brazil, Peru, and Mexico.
Governors' Climate & Forests Task Force firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Governors' Climate & Forests Task Force
- Legal name
- Governors' Climate and Forests Task Force
- Website
- https://gcftf.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2009
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- The Governors' Climate and Forests Task Force is a non-profit network of 54 subnational governments across 11 countries that coordinates political engagement, jurisdictional strategies, and partnerships to protect tropical forests, reduce emissions, and build a New Forest Economy.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Governors' Climate & Forests Task Force industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Environmental Governance Network Services
- NAICS
- Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Business Associations (813910)
- SIC
- Services-Membership Organizations (8600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Climate Policy, Governance & NDC Support (BPADALAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Technical Committees, Working Groups & Expert Panels (BPADANAB), Environmental & Climate Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAM)
Keywords
Where Governors' Climate & Forests Task Force is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Los Angeles
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices4 records
Markets served
Governors' Climate & Forests Task Force business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Grant Funding and Donor Support: The GCF Task Force operates as a non-profit network supported by grants and donor funding. The primary sponsor has been the Government of Norway through NORAD. They also receive support from various foundations and government agencies. Funding supports operational costs, member activities, and program implementation across member states and provinces.
- Partnership-based Funding: Strategic partnerships with organizations like CIFOR-ICRAF, CTrees, CDP, Tropical Forest Alliance, and others contribute to the network's capacity to deliver programs. Funding flows through various mechanisms including UNDP partnerships and Green Climate Fund projects.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Governors' Climate & Forests Task Force product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The GCF Task Force is a non-profit subnational network of 54 states and provinces across 11 countries that facilitates political engagement, jurisdictional REDD+ strategies, peer-to-peer learning, capacity building, and climate finance mobilization to protect tropical forests, reduce emissions, and enhance livelihoods. It convenes governors and high-level staff in national, regional, and international processes, develops jurisdictional strategies and investment plans, and coordinates knowledge exchange across member jurisdictions.
Product overview
GCF Task Force is a non-profit subnational governmental network organization (not a commercial software product company) that offers a portfolio of programs, initiatives, tools, and resources focused on protecting tropical forests, reducing emissions, and enhancing livelihoods. Its core offerings include the New Forest Economy Initiative (a comprehensive approach to forest conservation and sustainable economic development), the Impact Investing to Reduce Deforestation project with the San Martin region, the Investment Strategy Pitch Book Toolkit, the San Martin ArcGIS Storymap, annual meeting convenings, jurisdictional strategy development support, trainings and knowledge exchanges, Climate Pathways Project, Jurisdictional REDD+ Program, Women for Forests and Climate Initiative, Indigenous Peoples & Local Communities Program, Resource Library, and Tracking Impact knowledge database.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- New Forest Economy Initiative
- Annual Meetings
- Jurisdictional REDD+ Program
- Climate Pathways Project
- Women for Forests and Climate Initiative
- Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities Program
- Trainings and Knowledge Exchanges
- Jurisdictional Strategies and Investment Plans
- Tracking Impact Knowledge Database
Companies that use Governors' Climate & Forests Task Force
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Governors' Climate & Forests Task Force technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Governors' Climate & Forests Task Force partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- CIFOR-ICRAF (Center for International Forestry Research and World Agroforestry)coreGCF Task Force and CIFOR-ICRAF entered into a Memorandum of Understanding in June 2024 (updating an earlier MOU) to work together to increase knowledge about subnational jurisdictional climate change and land-use governance platforms. The partnership aims to promote effective climate change policies and programs and build sustainable economic systems in forest landscapes, support monitoring of commitments on gender and Indigenous Peoples, and provide knowledge, data, research and technical support for REDD+ implementation.
- CTreescoreCTrees is a nonprofit that delivers science-driven data on emissions and removals of forest carbon. GCF Task Force and CTrees signed an MOU to work together to promote increased transparency and accuracy of data on tropical deforestation and degradation, providing remote sensing and data tools to assist member governments in environmental management and governance decisions.
- Alianza MX (University of California Mexico Initiative)coreAlianza MX is a systemwide initiative of the University of California supporting research partnerships between US and Mexico. GCF Task Force and Alianza MX partnership advances partnerships between subnational governments and academic institutions, particularly through research universities in California and Mexico. Priority areas include developing knowledge exchanges, constructing metrics, and applied research agendas.
- Tropical Forest Alliance (TFA)coreTFA is a multi-stakeholder partnership platform hosted at the World Economic Forum supporting private sector commitments to remove deforestation from supply chains. The partnership leverages both networks to support jurisdictional efforts to tackle commodity-driven deforestation by enhancing dialogue between governments and private sector, increasing finance flows, and securing jurisdictional sourcing agreements.
- CDPcoreCDP is an international non-profit providing a global disclosure system for cities, states and regions to manage environmental impacts. The partnership allows collaboration on opportunities to enhance reporting, disclosure, and assessment of state and regional action on climate and forest, and exploring opportunities for mobilizing investments towards zero deforestation commodity production.
- Rainforest XPRIZEminorRainforest XPRIZE is a 5-year competition working to enhance understanding of rainforest ecosystems, with USD 10 million in prizes. GCF Task Force partnership with XPRIZE Foundation leverages relationships with governments, civil society, Indigenous Peoples and local communities to strengthen the competition, increase visibility, and promote indigenous community involvement.
- Masters of the Environment (MENV) at University of Colorado BoulderminorMENV is an interdisciplinary graduate program at University of Colorado Boulder. In 2020, MENV graduate students produced an investment strategy report and toolkit for creating a corporate pitch book in San Martín, Peru. The project and resources are available on the GCF Task Force website.
- UNAMAZ (Pan-Amazonian University Network)coreUNAMAZ is a Pan-Amazonian network establishing ongoing dialogue between universities and institutes of higher education in science, technology, education, innovation, and research. The partnership supports academic collaboration and knowledge exchange in the Amazon region.
- Science Panel for the Amazon (SPA)coreThe Science Panel for the Amazon collaborates with GCF Task Force on building a New Forest Economy. SPA participates in GCF Task Force Annual Meetings and engages in bioeconomy working groups. Joint efforts focus on public incentives and blended finance for sustainable value chains, cross-border collaboration, and coordinated value chains for high-value forest products.
- UNDP (United Nations Development Programme)coreUNDP was selected as the implementing partner for Norway's NOK 200M pledge to GCF Task Force. UNDP's REDD+ Team in Geneva supports subnational leaders working to reduce deforestation and promote low emissions development.
- University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)coreThe GCF Task Force Secretariat is housed at UCLA's Institute of the Environment and Sustainability. UCLA provides institutional support and hosting for the global secretariat.
- University of Colorado BouldercoreThe Masters of the Environment program at University of Colorado Boulder collaborated on investment strategy development for San Martin, Peru. Additional collaboration through Environmental Studies Program and Institute of Behavioral Science.
- Action for ForestsminorAction for Forests collaborated with GCF Task Force on the Summit of Governors of the Amazon in Colombia, supporting technical cooperation around integrated fire management.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Governors' Climate & Forests Task Force competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Tropical Forest Alliance: Multi-stakeholder partnership platform hosted at the World Economic Forum focused on removing deforestation from commodity supply chains. Directly comparable: GCF Task Force is a listed core partner of TFA, and both work with subnational governments and private sector on deforestation-free jurisdictional sourcing.
- Coalition for Rainforest Nations: Intergovernmental coalition of rainforest countries advocating for REDD+ and tropical forest conservation. Comparable mission (REDD+ policy leadership, convening tropical forest governments) and member base (sovereign nations rather than subnational jurisdictions).
- CDP (Carbon Disclosure Project): International non-profit providing global environmental disclosure for cities, states, and regions. Listed as a core partner of GCF Task Force; shares the climate and forest disclosure/assessment mission for subnational governments.
- CIFOR-ICRAF: Center for International Forestry Research and World Agroforestry. Listed as a core MOU partner of GCF Task Force; shares the subnational land-use governance and forestry research mission and supplies technical knowledge to member jurisdictions.
Emerging players
- Earth Innovation Institute: NGO focused on jurisdictional approaches to sustainable development and forest protection in tropical regions. Close strategic alignment with GCF Task Force's jurisdictional strategies and partnerships with subnational governments in Brazil, Indonesia, and Peru.
- Forest Stewardship Council (FSC): International non-profit promoting responsible forest management through certification. Adjacent in scope (deforestation-free supply chains, jurisdictional forestry) but focused on standards/certification rather than convening subnational governments.
- Climate Action Tracker: Independent scientific assessment of government climate commitments. Compares as a related climate-policy research and accountability platform, though scoped to national-level commitments rather than jurisdictional forest work.
Broad incumbents
- The Nature Conservancy – Forests: Global conservation organization with major forest programs in tropical regions. Overlaps in jurisdictional approach to forest protection and climate finance with state/provincial governments, but operates as a much larger NGO with significant donor diversification.
- UN-REDD Programme: United Nations collaborative initiative on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation. Similar focus on REDD+ capacity building and policy support, but operates at national-government level with significantly larger institutional backing (UNDP, UNEP, FAO).
- World Resources Institute (WRI) – Global Forest Watch: WRI's Global Forest Watch is a leading open-source forest monitoring platform. Comparable in jurisdictional forest data and MRV focus, but operates as a much larger global data and research institution rather than a subnational government network.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Governors' Climate & Forests Task Force social profiles
Digital presenceGovernors' Climate & Forests Task Force financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Governors' Climate & Forests Task Force leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
Governors' Climate & Forests Task Force funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Governors' Climate & Forests Task Force M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Governors' Climate & Forests Task Force
What does Governors' Climate & Forests Task Force do?
The GCF Task Force is a non-profit subnational network of 54 states and provinces across 11 countries that facilitates political engagement, jurisdictional REDD+ strategies, peer-to-peer learning, capacity building, and climate finance mobilization to protect tropical forests, reduce emissions, and enhance livelihoods. It convenes governors and high-level staff in national, regional, and international processes, develops jurisdictional strategies and investment plans, and coordinates knowledge exchange across member jurisdictions.
Is Governors' Climate & Forests Task Force a public or private company?
Governors' Climate & Forests Task Force is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Governors' Climate & Forests Task Force founded?
Governors' Climate & Forests Task Force was founded in 2009. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Governors' Climate & Forests Task Force based?
Governors' Climate & Forests Task Force is headquartered in Los Angeles, United States, in the North America region.
How does Governors' Climate & Forests Task Force make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Grant Funding and Donor Support is the primary driver. The others are partnership-based Funding.
Who are Governors' Climate & Forests Task Force's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Tropical Forest Alliance, Coalition for Rainforest Nations, CDP (Carbon Disclosure Project) and CIFOR-ICRAF. Emerging players are Earth Innovation Institute, Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and Climate Action Tracker. Broad incumbents are The Nature Conservancy – Forests, UN-REDD Programme and World Resources Institute (WRI) – Global Forest Watch.
Does Governors' Climate & Forests Task Force have an API?
No public API is recorded for Governors' Climate & Forests Task Force.
What industry is Governors' Climate & Forests Task Force in?
Governors' Climate & Forests Task Force's product category is Environmental Governance Network Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPADALAA, Climate Policy, Governance & NDC Support, with a secondary code of BPADANAB, Technical Committees, Working Groups & Expert Panels. Its NAICS code is 8133 and its SIC code is 8600.