Halving extreme poverty by 2015 is central to the United Nations' Millennium Development Goals. In support of this, the World Bank proposes a sustainable development strategy for forest management to make an effective contribution to poverty reduction and environmental management. There are three key aspects to this strategy: harnessing the potential of forests in reducing poverty; integrating forests in sustainable forest development; and protecting vital local and global environmental services and values. These will be achieved through partnerships with other donors, with NGO's, and with the private sector. The risks of this strategy are assessed together with the monitoring required following its implementation.