Robert Nasi: The forest beneath our feet, the rain above our heads and why COP30 must connect the dots

Standing at the mouth of the Amazon in Belém, where the river meets the sea, this powerful speech reframes how we see forests – not just as carbon vaults, but as the beating heart of Earth’s water system. Robert Nasi, CIFOR’s Director General and CIFOR-ICRAF’s Director of Science, reveals how trees create rain, regulate climate, and sustain billions of lives through a vast “biotic pump” connecting continents. With new science and undeniable urgency, Dr Nasi calls for COP30 to recognize forests as essential water infrastructure – valuing their hydrological services, empowering Indigenous stewards, and integrating the forest-water-climate nexus into all climate action. The message is clear: protecting forests is not only about carbon; it’s about preserving the sky’s ability to weep – and humanity’s ability to thrive.