News from partners
Scientific Summary No. 87, 2012
Posted: 2012-02-01 at 10:09
New assessment of biodiversity and forest management in REDD+
Posted: 2012-02-01 at 09:42
Global Forest Resources Assessment interactive database now online
An new interactive online database provides access to most of the collected information in FAO's most recent and comprehensive Global Forest Resources Assessment (FRA 2010). The main module has options to use multiple output formats and generate simple diagrams, providing easier and more flexible access to FRA data.
Posted: 2012-01-31 at 11:00
Global Forest Resources Assessment interactive database now online
A new interactive online database provides access to most of the collected information in FAO's comprehensive and most recent Global Forest Resources Assessment (FRA 2010). The main module has options to use multiple output formats and generate simple diagrams, providing easier and more flexible access to FRA data.
Posted: 2012-01-31 at 11:00
New assessment of biodiversity and forest management in REDD+
Posted: 2012-01-31 at 09:42
FAO Forestry Paper 166: Community-based fire management: A review
Globally, people cause most wildfires. Involving local communities in fire management practices like prevention, suppression and restoration is therefor a logical approach. The new FAO publication “Community-based fire management- A review” (FAO Forestry Paper series 166) , highlights the state of the art in community-based fire management, redefines the concept, reviews case studies and reflects on related policy and legal frameworks.
Posted: 2012-01-30 at 11:00
FAO Forestry Paper 166: Community-based fire management: A review
Globally, people cause most wildfires. Involving local communities in fire management practices like prevention, suppression and restoration is therefor a logical approach. The new FAO publication “Community-based fire management- A review” (FAO Forestry Paper series 166) , highlights the state of the art in community-based fire management, redefines the concept, reviews case studies and reflects on related policy and legal frameworks.
Posted: 2012-01-30 at 11:00
FAO Forestry Paper 166: Community-based fire management: A review
Globally, people cause most wildfires. Involving local communities in fire management practices like prevention, suppression and restoration is therefor a logical approach. The new FAO publication “Community-based fire management- A review” (FAO Forestry Paper series 166) , highlights the state of the art in community-based fire management, redefines the concept, reviews case studies and reflects on related policy and legal frameworks.
Posted: 2012-01-30 at 11:00
FAO forestry launches multimedia iPhone app
FAO’s Forestry Department has launched FAO’s first multimedia app, designed to bring its work on forests and forestry to a growing generation of iPhone and iPad users.
The ‘FAO Forestry’ App can be downloaded free from the Apple App store and provides users with news, videos, select publications, interactive maps showing world forest statistics, and a quiz, all navigable with a touch-screen wheel. It also includes a ‘donate’ button that takes users to the website of FAO’s TeleFood fundraising programme – which uses public contributions to finance small-scale agriculture, livestock and fisheries projects that help poor families achieve food security.
Posted: 2012-01-19 at 11:00
FAO Forestry launches multimedia app
FAO’s Forestry Department has launched FAO’s first multimedia app, designed to bring its work on forests and forestry to a growing generation of iPhone and iPad users. The ‘FAO Forestry’ App can be downloaded free from the Apple App store and provides users with news, videos, select publications, interactive maps showing world forest statistics, and a quiz, all navigable with a touch-screen wheel. It also includes a ‘donate’ button that takes users to the website of FAO’s TeleFood fundraising programme – which uses public contributions to finance small-scale agriculture, livestock and fisheries projects that help poor families achieve food security.
Posted: 2012-01-19 at 11:00
1st African IUFRO-FORNESSA Regional Congress
Posted: 2011-12-20 at 02:25
Book on Amazon plants puts science in the hands of people
Posted: 2011-12-19 at 11:00
Closing event for the International Year of Forests 2011
Rome, Italy – The FAO Forestry Department held a closing event for the International Year of Forests 2011 at FAO headquarters for Permanent Representatives, Rome-based Intergovernmental Organizations, external partners, and FAO staff. Showcased prominently at the event was the new publication, Fruit trees and useful plants in Amazonian Life, a joint production of FAO, the Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) and People and Plants International. The event also presented FAO products from the International Year of Forests, including a new global forest cover map, and discussed recent results from the Remote Sensing Survey. Products at the event were complemented by videos, such as one entitled ‘Forests for People’, the theme of the year, and a tribute film to the late Wangari Maathai.
Posted: 2011-12-19 at 11:00
Closing event for the International Year of Forests 2011
Rome, Italy – The FAO Forestry Department held a closing event for the International Year of Forests 2011 at FAO headquarters for Permanent Representatives, Rome-based Intergovernmental Organizations, external partners, and FAO staff. Showcased prominently at the event was the new publication, Fruit trees and useful plants in Amazonian Life, a joint production of FAO, the Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) and People and Plants International. The event also presented FAO products from the International Year of Forests, including a new global forest cover map, and discussed recent results from the Remote Sensing Survey. Products at the event were complemented by videos, such as one entitled ‘Forests for People’, the theme of the year, and a tribute film to the late Wangari Maathai.
Posted: 2011-12-19 at 11:00
Closing event for the International Year of Forests 2011
Rome, Italy – The FAO Forestry Department held a closing event for the International Year of Forests 2011 at FAO headquarters for Permanent Representatives, Rome-based Intergovernmental Organizations, external partners, and FAO staff. Showcased prominently at the event was the new publication, Fruit trees and useful plants in Amazonian Life, a joint production of FAO, the Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) and People and Plants International. The event also presented FAO products from the International Year of Forests, including a new global forest cover map, and discussed recent results from the Remote Sensing Survey. Products at the event were complemented by videos, such as one entitled ‘Forests for People’, the theme of the year, and a tribute film to the late Wangari Maathai.
Posted: 2011-12-19 at 11:00
More investment needed for mountain ecosystems
As the world celebrated UN International Mountain Day on 11 December, new information released by the Collaborative Partnership on Forests (CPF), a global mechanism of 14 international organizations, institutions and secretariats, called for greater investment in fragile mountain ecosystems and attention to adaptation issues.
Posted: 2011-12-13 at 11:00
More investment needed for mountain ecosystems
As the world celebrated UN International Mountain Day on 11 December, new information released by the Collaborative Partnership on Forests (CPF), a global mechanism of 14 international organizations, institutions and secretariats, called for greater investment in fragile mountain ecosystems and attention to adaptation issues.
Posted: 2011-12-13 at 11:00
More investment needed for mountain ecosystems
As the world celebrated UN International Mountain Day on 11 December, new information released by the Collaborative Partnership on Forests (CPF), a global mechanism of 14 international organizations, institutions and secretariats, called for greater investment in fragile mountain ecosystems and attention to adaptation issues.
Posted: 2011-12-13 at 11:00
Former IUFRO Vice-President J Cayford Passed Away
Posted: 2011-12-12 at 10:24
Mountain forests under threat
Posted: 2011-12-08 at 11:00
REDD+ and Social Safeguards
Posted: 2011-12-06 at 04:00
Experts: New wave of deforestation threatens Africa’s climate resilience
Durban—A new wave of deforestation is sweeping across Africa decimating wildlife and threatening the resilience of its ecosystems to withstand the effects of climate change—especially in the area of food security, experts said.
Posted: 2011-12-05 at 11:00
New wave of deforestation threatens Africa’s climate resilience
Durban—A new wave of deforestation is sweeping across Africa decimating wildlife and threatening the resilience of its ecosystems to withstand the effects of climate change—especially in the area of food security.
Posted: 2011-12-05 at 11:00
Climate change threatens wildlife and their habitats
FAO’s new report, Wildlife in a Changing Climate, foresees that the rate of loss of wild animal species will be accelerated by climate change unless urgent measures are taken. Particularly at risk are wildlife and ecosystems in coastal and mountain areas, while Africa, where a mean temperature rise of 3-4 °C is expected by the end of the century, is one of the world’s most vulnerable regions. Using case studies, the report puts forward a series of responsive measures to mitigate the impact of climate change.
Posted: 2011-12-04 at 11:00
Climate change threatens wildlife and their habitats
FAO’s new report, Wildlife in a Changing Climate, foresees that the rate of loss of wild animal species will be accelerated by climate change unless urgent measures are taken. Particularly at risk are wildlife and ecosystems in coastal and mountain areas, while Africa, where a mean temperature rise of 3-4 °C is expected by the end of the century, is one of the world’s most vulnerable regions. Using case studies, the report puts forward a series of responsive measures to mitigate the impact of climate change.
Posted: 2011-12-04 at 11:00
Forest Day 5 - Press Release
Posted: 2011-11-30 at 01:48
Satellite technology yields new forest loss estimates
Posted: 2011-11-29 at 11:00
Protecting Mongolia's forests: Video
Almost 12% of Mongolia is covered by forests, providing important resources for people and wildlife. Through a participatory forest management pilot project in 5 provinces, local people have received training on forest assessment, marketing of forest products, management planning, mapping and fire prevention. Funded by the Royal Government of the Netherlands and implemented by FAO through the Mongolian Ministry of Nature and Environment, this project has successfully reduced illegal logging, hunting and enabled more sustainable management of community woodland resources.
Posted: 2011-11-21 at 11:00
Protecting Mongolia's forests: Video
Almost 12% of Mongolia is covered by forests, providing important resources for people and wildlife. Through a participatory forest management pilot project in 5 provinces, local people have received training on forest assessment, marketing of forest products, management planning, mapping and fire prevention. Funded by the Royal Government of the Netherlands and implemented by FAO through the Mongolian Ministry of Nature and Environment, this project has successfully reduced illegal logging, hunting and enabled more sustainable management of community woodland resources.
Posted: 2011-11-21 at 11:00
International partnership calls for increased attention to forest ecosystem-based solutions ahead of Rio+20 Summit
In a submission to the Preparatory Process for Rio+20, the Members of the Collaborative Partnership on Forests called upon countries and major groups and stakeholders to explore the opportunities and lessons learned from forest ecosystems, their management and utilization. Furthermore, the Partnership called for actions at Rio+20 to take a holistic approach to capture the multiple benefits of forests and merge the traditional three pillars of sustainable development to better integrate forest ecosystems in a green and low carbon economy.
Posted: 2011-11-20 at 11:00
International partnership calls for increased attention to forest ecosystem-based solutions ahead of Rio+20 Summit
In a submission to the Preparatory Process for Rio+20, the Members of the Collaborative Partnership on Forests called upon countries and major groups and stakeholders to explore the opportunities and lessons learned from forest ecosystems, their management and utilization. Furthermore, the Partnership called for actions at Rio+20 to take a holistic approach to capture the multiple benefits of forests and merge the traditional three pillars of sustainable development to better integrate forest ecosystems in a green and low carbon economy.
Posted: 2011-11-20 at 11:00
Healthy national and international markets are essential for sustaining forests
The Collaborative Partnership on Forests (CPF), an international consortium of 14 organizations, secretariats and institutions working on international forest issues, called today for more attention to the key role that markets play in sustaining the environment, and in particular the world’s forests.
Emmanuel ZeMeka, Executive Director of the International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO, a CPF member) noted that "for many countries forests provide a major source of foreign exchange and domestic revenue for economic development" and highlighted the need to establish markets for "a wider range of the goods and services provided by forests." He made his remarks ahead of the ITTO’s Annual Market Discussions in La Antigua, Guatemala, which focus on the benefits of trade in wood products to the international community.
Posted: 2011-11-15 at 11:00
Healthy national and international markets are essential for sustaining forests
The Collaborative Partnership on Forests (CPF), an international consortium of 14 organizations, secretariats and institutions working on international forest issues, called today for more attention to the key role that markets play in sustaining the environment, and in particular the world’s forests.
Emmanuel ZeMeka, Executive Director of the International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO, a CPF member) noted that "for many countries forests provide a major source of foreign exchange and domestic revenue for economic development" and highlighted the need to establish markets for "a wider range of the goods and services provided by forests." He made his remarks ahead of the ITTO’s Annual Market Discussions in La Antigua, Guatemala, which focus on the benefits of trade in wood products to the international community.
Posted: 2011-11-15 at 11:00
FAO launches International Year of Forests photo competition
Seeing the forests through your lens. FAO launches a photo competition to celebrate the International Year of Forests and those who work, live and use forests every day. Submissions close 3 January 2012.
Posted: 2011-11-14 at 11:00
FAO launches International Year of Forests photo competition
Seeing the forests through your lens. FAO launches a photo competition to celebrate the International Year of Forests and those who work, live and use forests every day. Submissions close 3 January 2012.
Posted: 2011-11-14 at 11:00
Launch of Updated GFIS Site
Posted: 2011-11-14 at 09:52
Working to improve forest governance: FAO publishes new website
The quality of governance often determines whether forest resources are used efficiently, sustainably and equitably, and whether countries achieve forest-related development goals. Improving forest governance requires a systematic approach to identifying areas of weakness, devising and implementing suitable responses, monitoring results, continuing adaptation and learning to ensure progress. This website demonstrates how FAO and its partners are working to develop a widely accepted, comprehensive analytical framework which will facilitate efforts within and across countries to improve forest governance.
Posted: 2011-11-13 at 11:00
Working to improve forest governance: FAO publishes new website
The quality of governance often determines whether forest resources are used efficiently, sustainably and equitably, and whether countries achieve forest-related development goals. Improving forest governance requires a systematic approach to identifying areas of weakness, devising and implementing suitable responses, monitoring results, continuing adaptation and learning to ensure progress. This website demonstrates how FAO and its partners are working to develop a widely accepted, comprehensive analytical framework which will facilitate efforts within and across countries to improve forest governance.
Posted: 2011-11-13 at 11:00
Guidebook aims to stop spread of ‘alien’ forest pests
Posted: 2011-11-10 at 09:00
Climate change for forest policy makers - integrating climate change into national forest programmes
The crucial role of forests in climate change mitigation and adaptation is now widely recognized at international level. Climate change will also have major implications on the sustainable management of forests. In response, FAO has released a new publication to assist countries address emerging policy issues related to forests and climate change through integrating climate change considerations into national forest programmes.
Posted: 2011-11-09 at 11:00
Climate change for forest policy makers - integrating climate change into national forest programmes
The crucial role of forests in climate change mitigation and adaptation is now widely recognized at international level. Climate change will also have major implications on the sustainable management of forests. In response, FAO has released a new publication to assist countries address emerging policy issues related to forests and climate change through integrating climate change considerations into national forest programmes.
Posted: 2011-11-09 at 11:00
Climate change for forest policy makers - integrating climate change into national forest programmes
The crucial role of forests in climate change mitigation and adaptation is now widely recognized at international level. Climate change will also have major implications on the sustainable management of forests. In response, FAO has released a new publication to assist countries address emerging policy issues related to forests and climate change through integrating climate change considerations into national forest programmes.
Posted: 2011-11-09 at 11:00
IUFRO President new Dean at LIFE
Posted: 2011-11-08 at 11:21
Energy grows on trees: Global forest institutions highlight vital role of forests
Rising prices of fossil fuel as well as global efforts to mitigate climate change and reduce greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuel combustion, places an expanded use of renewable energy high on the political agenda. Wood energy, the most important source of bioenergy in the world, is seen as key to respond to growing demands for a potentially carbon neutral supply of energy. Forests can play a vital role to respond to future bioenergy demands and help to create a more stable energy future, improve environmental quality and increase economic opportunities, highlighted members of the Collaborative Partnership on Forests (CPF).
Posted: 2011-11-07 at 11:00
Energy grows on trees: Global forest institutions highlight vital role of forests
Rising prices of fossil fuel as well as global efforts to mitigate climate change and reduce greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuel combustion, places an expanded use of renewable energy high on the political agenda. Wood energy, the most important source of bioenergy in the world, is seen as key to respond to growing demands for a potentially carbon neutral supply of energy. Forests can play a vital role to respond to future bioenergy demands and help to create a more stable energy future, improve environmental quality and increase economic opportunities, highlighted members of the Collaborative Partnership on Forests (CPF).
Posted: 2011-11-07 at 11:00
Energy grows on trees: Global forest institutions highlight vital role of forests
Rising prices of fossil fuel as well as global efforts to mitigate climate change and reduce greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuel combustion, places an expanded use of renewable energy high on the political agenda. Wood energy, the most important source of bioenergy in the world, is seen as key to respond to growing demands for a potentially carbon neutral supply of energy. Forests can play a vital role to respond to future bioenergy demands and help to create a more stable energy future, improve environmental quality and increase economic opportunities, highlighted members of the Collaborative Partnership on Forests (CPF).
Posted: 2011-11-07 at 11:00
Protecting forests to preserve livelihoods
Posted: 2011-11-06 at 11:00
Protecting forests to preserve livelihoods - FAO project in Mongolia stresses community involvement
7 November 2011, Bugat, Mongolia – A UN Food and Agriculture Organization programme that helps local communities in Mongolia protect their forests is being seen as a model for regional action, as an Asia-Pacific forestry event gets underway in Beijing.
Posted: 2011-11-06 at 11:00
Protecting forests to preserve livelihoods - FAO project in Mongolia stresses community involvement
7 November 2011, Bugat, Mongolia – A UN Food and Agriculture Organization programme that helps local communities in Mongolia protect their forests is being seen as a model for regional action, as an Asia-Pacific forestry event gets underway in Beijing.
Posted: 2011-11-06 at 11:00
Forest Day 5: Moving from REDD+ policy to practice
With new research showing that forests may absorb up to a third of all fossil fuel emissions, more than 1,000 leading experts, activists, government negotiators and global leaders will gather on the sidelines of the UN climate summit in Durban next month to discuss how forests and forest resources can be better harnessed to slow the pace of global warming and help communities adapt to the changing environment. Convened by the Center for International Forestry Research on behalf of the Collaborative Partnership on Forests, Forest Day 5 will seek to inform the UNFCCC global agenda and forest stakeholders on ways to implement an international REDD+ funding mechanism that produces social and environmental benefits, above and beyond avoided emissions.
Posted: 2011-11-02 at 11:00
Forest Day 5: Moving from REDD+ policy to practice
With new research showing that forests may absorb up to a third of all fossil fuel emissions, more than 1,000 leading experts, activists, government negotiators and global leaders will gather on the sidelines of the UN climate summit in Durban next month to discuss how forests and forest resources can be better harnessed to slow the pace of global warming and help communities adapt to the changing environment. Convened by the Center for International Forestry Research on behalf of the Collaborative Partnership on Forests, Forest Day 5 will seek to inform the UNFCCC global agenda and forest stakeholders on ways to implement an international REDD+ funding mechanism that produces social and environmental benefits, above and beyond avoided emissions.
Posted: 2011-11-02 at 11:00
FAO Forestry releases new enterprise development training package
FAO’s Community-based Forest Enterprise Development programme has released its new Market Analysis and Development (MA&D) training package. MA&D aims to assist rural people in developing enterprises that generate and improve incomes, while also sustainably using and managing forest and other natural resources. Local people who are most dependent on forest resources are the decision makers throughout the MA&D process, from the planning and financing to the sustainable management and operation of their enterprises. This ownership of the process means that local people also learn how to develop their own business plans, leading in turn to better investment preparedness. This manual is the result of ten years of learning and input from partners who have implemented the approach across Africa, Asia and Latin America since the first version was released in 2000.
Posted: 2011-10-27 at 11:00
FAO Forestry releases new enterprise development training package
FAO’s Community-based Forest Enterprise Development programme has released its new Market Analysis and Development (MA&D) training package. MA&D aims to assist rural people in developing enterprises that generate and improve incomes, while also sustainably using and managing forest and other natural resources. Local people who are most dependent on forest resources are the decision makers throughout the MA&D process, from the planning and financing to the sustainable management and operation of their enterprises. This ownership of the process means that local people also learn how to develop their own business plans, leading in turn to better investment preparedness. This manual is the result of ten years of learning and input from partners who have implemented the approach across Africa, Asia and Latin America since the first version was released in 2000.
Posted: 2011-10-27 at 11:00
FAO Forestry releases new enterprise development training package
FAO’s Community-based Forest Enterprise Development programme has released its new Market Analysis and Development (MA&D) training package. MA&D aims to assist rural people in developing enterprises that generate and improve incomes, while also sustainably using and managing forest and other natural resources. Local people who are most dependent on forest resources are the decision makers throughout the MA&D process, from the planning and financing to the sustainable management and operation of their enterprises. This ownership of the process means that local people also learn how to develop their own business plans, leading in turn to better investment preparedness. This manual is the result of ten years of learning and input from partners who have implemented the approach across Africa, Asia and Latin America since the first version was released in 2000.
Posted: 2011-10-27 at 11:00
Successful UNCCD COP10 in Korea
Posted: 2011-10-27 at 01:28
Forests, potential solution in the fight against hunger
Posted: 2011-10-25 at 11:00
Forests, potential solution in the fight against hunger
Posted: 2011-10-25 at 11:00
Scientific Summary No. 85, 2011
Posted: 2011-10-25 at 01:28
National Inquirer: The World's Forests second edition
The Natural Inquirer is an integrated science education journal for students aged 11-14. The second edition of the World’s Forests has just been published. Produced in collaboration with the US Forest Service and based on FRA 2010 findings, this issue has new comprehensive content, graphs and pictures as well as lesson plans for educators and student exercises. The Natural Inquirer is currently only available in English. If you are interested in developing a new version of the Natural Inquirer in your own language please contact fra@fao.org.
Posted: 2011-10-03 at 11:00
National Inquirer: The World's Forests second edition
The Natural Inquirer is an integrated science education journal for students aged 11-14. This edition of the Natural Inquirer presents the results of a worldwide effort to understand the world’s forests. Produced in collaboration with the US Forest Service and based on FAO's Global Forest Resources Assessment 2010 findings, this issue has new comprehensive content, graphs and pictures as well as lesson plans for educators and student exercises. It contains information from 233 countries and territories around the world. The Natural Inquirer is currently only available in English. If you are interested in developing a new version of the Natural Inquirer in your own language please contact fra@fao.org.
Posted: 2011-10-03 at 11:00
Natural Inquirer: The World's Forests second edition
The Natural Inquirer is an integrated science education journal for students aged 11-14. This edition of the Natural Inquirer presents the results of a worldwide effort to understand the world’s forests. Produced in collaboration with the US Forest Service and based on FAO's Global Forest Resources Assessment 2010 findings, this issue has new comprehensive content, graphs and pictures as well as lesson plans for educators and student exercises. It contains information from 233 countries and territories around the world. The Natural Inquirer is currently only available in English. If you are interested in developing a new version of the Natural Inquirer in your own language please contact fra@fao.org.
Posted: 2011-10-03 at 11:00
As world goes urban, new focus on role of trees in cities
Posted: 2011-10-02 at 11:00
As world goes urban, new focus on role of trees in cities
Posted: 2011-10-02 at 11:00
Forestry job opportunities at FAO
Two positions are currently available in the Forestry Department. We are looking for a forestry officer to coordinate FAO’s support activities to the Collaborative Partnership on Forests (CPF), and act as a departmental focal point for forestry education and research. A second position will support a range of communication activities including the development of departmental web sites and the preparation and dissemination of technical publications.
Posted: 2011-09-29 at 11:00
Forestry job opportunities at FAO
Two positions are currently available in the Forestry Department. We are looking for a forestry officer to coordinate FAO’s support activities to the Collaborative Partnership on Forests (CPF), and act as a departmental focal point for forestry education and research. A second position will support a range of communication activities including the development of departmental web sites and the preparation and dissemination of technical publications.
Posted: 2011-09-29 at 11:00
Forestry job opportunities at FAO
Two positions are currently available in the Forestry Department. We are looking for a forestry officer to coordinate FAO’s support activities to the Collaborative Partnership on Forests (CPF), and act as a departmental focal point for forestry education and research. A second position will support a range of communication activities including the development of departmental web sites and the preparation and dissemination of technical publications.
Posted: 2011-09-29 at 11:00
China forestry delegation
Eduardo Rojas-Briales, the Assistant Director-General for Forestry received a high-level delegation from the State Forestry Administration of the People's Republic of China, led by Deputy Administrator Zhang Jianlong.
The meeting provided an excellent opportunity to review the experiences of the cooperation started in the early 1970s and identify priorities for the future. The priorities identified for particular attention and possible collaboration were: forest tenure reform; community forestry; forest management challenges in the light of increasing forest cover; afforestation and plantations; forest inventory and monitoring; South-South and triangular cooperation; and green growth and sustainability.
The relevance of the Beijing Statement on Forests and Forestry of the recent APEC Ministerial Meeting was well recognized. ADG Rojas commended China’s commitment to hosting the next session of the Asia-Pacific Forestry Commission and the 2nd Asia Pacific Forestry Week as well as the progress in the preparations.
Posted: 2011-09-28 at 11:00
China forestry delegation
Eduardo Rojas-Briales, the Assistant Director-General for Forestry received a high-level delegation from the State Forestry Administration of the People's Republic of China, led by Deputy Administrator Zhang Jianlong. The meeting provided an excellent opportunity to review the experiences of the cooperation started in the early 1970s and identify priorities for the future. The priorities identified for particular attention and possible collaboration were: forest tenure reform; community forestry; forest management challenges in the light of increasing forest cover; afforestation and plantations; forest inventory and monitoring; South-South and triangular cooperation; and green growth and sustainability.
The relevance of the Beijing Statement on Forests and Forestry (http://www.fao.org/forestry/33028/en/) of the recent APEC Ministerial Meeting was well recognized. ADG Rojas commended China’s commitment to hosting the next session of the Asia-Pacific Forestry Commission and the 2nd Asia Pacific Forestry Week.
Posted: 2011-09-28 at 11:00
China forestry delegation
Eduardo Rojas-Briales, the Assistant Director-General for Forestry received a high-level delegation from the State Forestry Administration of the People's Republic of China, led by Deputy Administrator Zhang Jianlong. The meeting provided an excellent opportunity to review the experiences of the cooperation started in the early 1970s and identify priorities for the future. The priorities identified for particular attention and possible collaboration were: forest tenure reform; community forestry; forest management challenges in the light of increasing forest cover; afforestation and plantations; forest inventory and monitoring; South-South and triangular cooperation; and green growth and sustainability.
The relevance of the Beijing Statement on Forests and Forestry (http://www.fao.org/forestry/33028/en/) of the recent APEC Ministerial Meeting was well recognized. ADG Rojas commended China’s commitment to hosting the next session of the Asia-Pacific Forestry Commission and the 2nd Asia Pacific Forestry Week.
Posted: 2011-09-28 at 11:00
Scientific Summary No. 84, 2011
Posted: 2011-09-28 at 02:12
Scientific Summary No. 83, 2011
Posted: 2011-09-28 at 02:07
Asia-Pacific Forestry Week: finding opportunities amidst the challenges
Asia and the Pacific is the world’s fastest growing region with a dynamic and complex forestry landscape. FAO’s forthcoming Asia-Pacific Forestry Week from 7-11 November, to be held in Beijing, is dedicated to helping meet emerging challenges and identifying new opportunities. "We want to build on the success of the first Asia-Pacific Forestry Week held in Hanoi in 2008,” commented Patrick Durst, FAO senior forestry officer. “It’s an opportunity for the entire forestry community in the region to come together to discuss critical issues, share experiences and find solutions,” added Durst. “It’s going to be the most significant forestry event in the region in 2011.” FAO Goodwill Ambassador Anggun will participate in the week, comprising of more than 40 diverse partner events on a range of topics including the 24th session of the Asia-Pacific Forestry Commission.
Posted: 2011-09-26 at 11:00
Vale Wangari Maathai
Statement by the FAO Director-General Jacques Diouf: It is with profound sadness that I learned of the passing away of Nobel Laureate Wangari Maathai. I would like to convey my deepest sympathies to her family in their hour of grief. Wangari Maathai dedicated her life to saving the planet from environmental degradation and improving the well being of people, not only in Kenya, but around the world. We are indebted to the contributions she made to the work of FAO in recent years.
Posted: 2011-09-26 at 11:00
Vale Wangari Maathai
Statement by the FAO Director-General Jacques Diouf: It is with profound sadness that I learned of the passing away of Nobel Laureate Wangari Maathai. I would like to convey my deepest sympathies to her family in their hour of grief. Wangari Maathai dedicated her life to saving the planet from environmental degradation and improving the well being of people, not only in Kenya, but around the world. We are indebted to the contributions she made to the work of FAO in recent years.
Posted: 2011-09-26 at 11:00
Ecotourism can play vital role in maintaining healthy forests
Posted: 2011-09-26 at 11:00
Ecotourism can play vital role in maintaining healthy forests
Posted: 2011-09-26 at 11:00
Asia-Pacific Forestry Week: finding opportunities amidst the challenges
Asia and the Pacific is the world’s fastest growing region with a dynamic and complex forestry landscape. FAO’s forthcoming Asia-Pacific Forestry Week from 7-11 November, to be held in Beijing, is dedicated to helping meet emerging challenges and identifying new opportunities. "We want to build on the success of the first Asia-Pacific Forestry Week held in Hanoi in 2008,” commented Patrick Durst, FAO senior forestry officer. “It’s an opportunity for the entire forestry community in the region to come together to discuss critical issues, share experiences and find solutions,” added Durst. “It’s going to be the most significant forestry event in the region in 2011.” FAO Goodwill Ambassador Anggun will participate in the week, comprising of more than 40 diverse partner events on a range of topics including the 24th session of the Asia-Pacific Forestry Commission.
Posted: 2011-09-25 at 11:00
Vale Wangari Maathai
Statement by the FAO Director-General Jacques Diouf: It is with profound sadness that I learned of the passing away of Nobel Laureate Wangari Maathai. I would like to convey my deepest sympathies to her family in their hour of grief. Wangari Maathai dedicated her life to saving the planet from environmental degradation and improving the well being of people, not only in Kenya, but around the world. We are indebted to the contributions she made to the work of FAO in recent years.
Posted: 2011-09-25 at 11:00
Asia-Pacific Forestry Week: finding opportunities amidst the challenges
Asia and the Pacific is the world’s fastest growing region with a dynamic and complex forestry landscape. FAO’s forthcoming Asia-Pacific Forestry Week from 7-11 November, to be held in Beijing, is dedicated to helping meet emerging challenges and identifying new opportunities. "We want to build on the success of the first Asia-Pacific Forestry Week held in Hanoi in 2008,” commented Patrick Durst, FAO senior forestry officer. “It’s an opportunity for the entire forestry community in the region to come together to discuss critical issues, share experiences and find solutions,” added Durst. “It’s going to be the most significant forestry event in the region in 2011.” FAO Goodwill Ambassador Anggun will participate in the week, comprising of more than 40 diverse partner events on a range of topics including the 24th session of the Asia-Pacific Forestry Commission.
Posted: 2011-09-25 at 11:00
Global science community to gather in Rome
Posted: 2011-09-22 at 09:59
FAO-supported forest policy in Gambia wins award
Posted: 2011-09-21 at 04:00
FAO-supported forest policy in Gambia wins award
Posted: 2011-09-21 at 04:00
News - Building capacity to increase climate change financing in Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia is rich in natural and energy resources. Moreover, land-based investments are on the rise due to increasing consumer demand and rising raw material prices. Yet notwithstanding its huge potential, the Southeast Asian sub-region currently captures only a small share of the financial resources that are needed to address a scenario of rising temperatures, erratic rainfall, flooding, extended dry seasons, and tropical cyclones.
This is the predicament that motivated the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the Global Mechanism (GM) of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) to organize a sub-regional workshop on climate change financing mechanisms for sustainable land management (SLM) in Vientiane, Lao PDR, from 29 August to 1 September.
The workshop targeted participants from four Southeast Asian countries: Cambodia, Lao PDR, Thailand, and Vietnam, providing them with the opportunity to share knowledge and build their capacity in resource mobilization. With a focus on climate change financing mechanisms and instruments that have the potential to be viable channels to increase finance for SLM, the workshop capacitated participants with the necessary skills to design project proposals that will draw on climate change financing for SLM and UNCCD implementation.
Particular emphasis was placed on preparing the participants for the post-2012 international climate change regime - to be negotiated at the 17th Conference of Parties (COP) of the UNFCCC in Durban in December 2011- and participants were pleased to receive information on financing opportunities related both to reducing emissions from deforestation and degradation (REDD) and the agriculture, forestry and other land uses sector (AFOLU).
All three of the organizing institutions will continue work closely with the four countries that attended the workshop to monitor their progress in developing viable project proposals.
For more information:
Ms Camilla Nordheim-Larsen, Programme Coordinator, Asia and Pacific (OiC)
Tel. +39 06 5459 2061
c.nordheim-larsen (at) global-mechanism.org
Posted: 2011-09-13 at 10:26
News - Ecuador's Microfinance Strategy for SLM and climate change adaptation launched
The Strategy, developed by the Government, with GM technical support, offers a comprehensive and sustainable approach to mobilizing fresh financial resources for SLM and climate change adaptation activities through Ecuador’s microfinance system.
While traditionally, microfinance has focused on microenterprise development and credit for consumption, Ecuador is a striking example of how microfinance can be integrated into broader development processes, directly linked to national priorities.
The Strategy illustrates how microfinance schemes potentially constitute a powerful tool for poverty reduction, by supporting improved land management practices such as sustainable agriculture and pastoralism, restoration of degraded lands, diversification of agroforestry management, reforestation, and other activities benefiting the livelihoods of rural populations and ecosystems.
The Strategy also aims to build long-term capacities and national expertise on microfinance opportunities and procedures, which the GM is supporting through the organization of national-level workshops and multi-stakeholder platforms for key players from local government, research and extension institutions, civil society organizations and international cooperation partners.
The Ecuadorian microfinance model holds the potential to be replicated in other countries across the globe – fuelling expectations that microfinance will become a key to the emergence of a new generation of smallholder producers who will be a significant force in enhancing environmental resilience, while at the same time contributing to broader development goals such as national food sovereignty and economic growth.
For more information:
Ms Soledad Bastidas
Regional Advisor for Ecuador & the Andean Region
s.bastidas@global-mechanism.org
Posted: 2011-09-13 at 10:13
Better landscape management needed to prevent forest fires
Countries need to pay more attention to fire management on lands bordering forests in order to prevent the 95 percent of wildfires that originate from human activities in forests and adjacent areas, an international partnership for forests warned today.The Collaborative Partnership on Forests (CPF), which consists of 14 international organizations and secretariats, issued its warning as many countries are experiencing an increasing incidence in the frequency and size of wildfires due to lack of fire management policies and impacts of climate change.
Posted: 2011-09-08 at 11:00
Integrated landscape management approach needed to prevent forest fires
Countries need to pay more attention to fire management on lands bordering forests in order to prevent the 95 percent of wildfires that originate from human activities in forests and adjacent areas, an international partnership for forests warned today.The Collaborative Partnership on Forests (CPF), which consists of 14 international organizations and secretariats, issued its warning as many countries are experiencing an increasing incidence in the frequency and size of wildfires due to lack of fire management policies and impacts of climate change.
Posted: 2011-09-08 at 11:00
Better landscape management needed to prevent forest fires
Posted: 2011-09-08 at 11:00
Better landscape management needed to prevent forest fires
Posted: 2011-09-08 at 11:00
Better landscape management needed to prevent forest fires - Fire management will require increased investment
9 September 2011, Rome - Countries need to pay more attention to fire management on lands bordering forests in order to prevent the 95 percent of wildfires that originate from human activities in forests and adjacent areas, an international partnership for forests warned today.
Posted: 2011-09-08 at 11:00
Better landscape management needed to prevent forest fires - Fire management will require increased investment
9 September 2011, Rome - Countries need to pay more attention to fire management on lands bordering forests in order to prevent the 95 percent of wildfires that originate from human activities in forests and adjacent areas, an international partnership for forests warned today.
Posted: 2011-09-08 at 11:00
New project set to strengthen Brazil’s forest policies
A new project executed by FAO and the Brazilian Forest Service will help Brazil improve its forest policies and decision making by a range of stakeholders. The project, entitled “Strengthening National Policy and Knowledge Framework in Support of Sustainable Management of Brazil’s Forest Resources”, will be funded by GEF for a 5-year period and aims to provide improved analyses and information on forest resources and land use.
Posted: 2011-08-29 at 11:00
New project set to strengthen Brazil’s forest policies
A new project executed by FAO and the Brazilian Forest Service will help Brazil improve its forest policies and decision making by a range of stakeholders. The project, entitled “Strengthening National Policy and Knowledge Framework in Support of Sustainable Management of Brazil’s Forest Resources”, will be funded by GEF for a 5-year period and aims to provide improved analyses and information on forest resources and land use.
Posted: 2011-08-29 at 11:00
New project set to strengthen Brazil’s forest policies
A new project executed by FAO and the Brazilian Forest Service will help Brazil improve its forest policies and decision making by a range of stakeholders. The project, entitled “Strengthening National Policy and Knowledge Framework in Support of Sustainable Management of Brazil’s Forest Resources”, will be funded by GEF for a 5-year period and aims to provide improved analyses and information on forest resources and land use.
Posted: 2011-08-29 at 11:00
News - Partnership agreement with EECAS signed
ECCAS is mandated to promote the regional cooperation and integration with a view to improving the livelihoods of its populations, thereby contributing sustainable development in Central Africa. Through its activities, it plays an important role combating land degradation in Central Africa and in the implementation of the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP). Together with COMIFAC- the Central African Forestry Commission – ECCAS is responsible for implementing the UNCCD at sub-regional level.
Through this agreement, the Parties undertake to support the implementation of the ECCAS member states’ National Action Programmes (NAPs) and the Sub-regional Action Programme (SRAP) to combat land degradation and desertification. The specific focus will be on supporting the implementation of the road map of the UNCCD working group in Central Africa, including NAP alignment and preparing the sub-region for the 10th Session of the Convergence of the Parties to the UNCCD, to be held in South Korea in October.
Through capacity building and the integration of the NAPs into national development processes and investment frameworks, the agreement aims to support the mobilization of additional national, external and innovative resources for UNCCD implementation.
For more information:
Mr Sven Walter, Programme Officer, West and Central Africa
Tel. +39 06 5459 2150
s.walter (at) global-mechanism.org
Remy Mukongo Shabantu
Expert en charge de l'Economie Forestière et la Gestion Durable des Forêts
ECCAS
remymukongo@rocketmail.com
Posted: 2011-08-18 at 02:59
Including indigenous peoples and traditional knowledge in forest management key to REDD+ success
The full and effective engagement of indigenous peoples and the incorporation of traditional forest knowledge in forest management strategies are crucial for REDD+ success in curbing climate change, say experts, following the International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples.
Posted: 2011-08-11 at 11:00
Increased forest threat from extreme weather
An international partnership for forest conservation and improvement warned today that extreme weather events and natural disasters will pose an increasing threat to the world’s forests in coming years, requiring heightened cooperation between regions and countries.
The warning was issued by the Collaborative Partnership on Forests (CPF), a mechanism comprising 14 international organizations and secretariats, in line with FAO’s forthcoming launch of a new publication, Abiotic disturbances and their influence on forest health.
Almost 4000 extreme events, so-called ‘abiotic disturbances’ such as cyclones, floods, landslides, tornadoes, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and mega-fires occurred between 2000 and 2009 worldwide.
Posted: 2011-08-08 at 11:00
Increased forest threat from extreme weather
An international partnership for forest conservation and improvement warned today that extreme weather events and natural disasters will pose an increasing threat to the world’s forests in coming years, requiring heightened cooperation between regions and countries.
The warning was issued by the Collaborative Partnership on Forests (CPF), a mechanism comprising 14 international organizations and secretariats, in line with FAO’s forthcoming launch of a new publication, Abiotic disturbances and their influence on forest health.
Almost 4000 extreme events, so-called ‘abiotic disturbances’ such as cyclones, floods, landslides, tornadoes, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and mega-fires occurred between 2000 and 2009 worldwide.
Posted: 2011-08-08 at 11:00
Increased forest threat from extreme weather
An international partnership for forest conservation and improvement warned today that extreme weather events and natural disasters will pose an increasing threat to the world’s forests in coming years, requiring heightened cooperation between regions and countries.
The warning was issued by the Collaborative Partnership on Forests (CPF), a mechanism comprising 14 international organizations and secretariats, in line with FAO’s forthcoming launch of a new publication, Abiotic disturbances and their influence on forest health.
Almost 4000 extreme events, so-called ‘abiotic disturbances’ such as cyclones, floods, landslides, tornadoes, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and mega-fires occurred between 2000 and 2009 worldwide.
Posted: 2011-08-08 at 11:00
Increased forest threat from extreme weather
Extreme weather events and natural disasters will pose an increasing threat to the world's forests in coming years, requiring heightened cooperation between regions and countries, an international partnership for forest conservation and improvement warned today.The Collaborative Partnership on Forests (CPF), comprising 14 international organizations and secretariats, issued its warning as FAO released a new report, Abiotic disturbances and their influence on forest health. Almost 4 000 extreme events — so-called ‘abiotic disturbances' such as cyclones, floods, landslides, tornadoes, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and "mega" forest fires — occurred between 2000 and 2009 worldwide, according to the report.
Posted: 2011-08-08 at 11:00
Increased forest threat from extreme weather
Posted: 2011-08-07 at 11:00
Increased forest threat from extreme weather
Posted: 2011-08-07 at 11:00
News - Transforming Algeria's National Action Plan into a bankable strategy
As the current chair of the African Group of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) and one of the pilot countries selected to align its national action plan (NAP) to combat desertification, Algeria is at the forefront in tackling land degradation and drought in North Africa.
In this context and with the with the support of the Global Mechanism (GM) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Directorate General for Forests/Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development hosted the national workshop on NAP alignment, on 27 and 28 July, in Algiers.
“It is all about transforming the NAP into a strategy that can be integrated into our national investment frameworks” declared Sid-Ahmed Ferroukhi, Secretary General of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, in his opening address.
“Inadequate awareness on the part of decision-makers and insufficient coordination at the institutional level, are major stumbling blocks to effectively combating land degradation” said Youssef Brahimi Programme Coordinator for North Africa at the Global Mechanism (GM) of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification. “We must strive for greater inter-sectoral synergy and concerted action if we are to enhance the wellbeing of communities and mobilize additional resources”.
With this in mind, during the two-day event, working groups were organized on:
Integrating the NAP into sectoral policies;
Technology transfer and adaptation to climate change;
Human & financial resources; and
Coordination between the various stakeholders.
The workshop saw the active participation of representatives of nine ministries. Their recommendations will be formally presented at the Regional African Focal Points meeting preparatory to COP 10, to be held in Algiers on 6 September 2011.
Read about the event in the national press:
Le Jeune Indépendant, 28 July 2011 (French, PDF, 132KB)
Le Soir d’Algérie, 28 July 2011 (French, PDF, 237KB)
For more information:
Mr Youssef Brahimi, Programme Coordinator, North Africa & South-to-South Cooperation
Tel. +39 06 5459 2584
y.brahimi (at) global-mechanism.org
Posted: 2011-08-03 at 01:49
News - Aid for Trade confirmed
The commitment of development partners to stepping up their engagement in Aid for Trade (AfT) implementation and to increasing the level of financing, was the key message emerging from the 3rd Aid for Trade Global Review, held at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) in Geneva on 18 and 19 July 2011.
The level of participation was impressively high, with the UN Secretary General and the Presidents of the World Bank and the African Development Bank, and other eminent international leaders. A large number of Ministers of Agriculture from developed and developing nations took part in the debate, thereby providing the political momentum to strengthen the links between AfT and the sustainable development agenda in general, and in particular, the pivotal role of AfT in bolstering aid effectiveness, food security and agriculture, and regional trade – particularly in Africa.
A clear message in this sense was sent out by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, and reaffirmed in the conclusive remarks of WTO Director General, Pascal Lamy. Indeed “deepening coherence” has been indicated as the one of the main focus areas of AfT during the next biennium.
While the World Trade Organization (WTO) embraces Aid for Trade as one of its major engagements beyond supporting the conclusions of the Doha Round, the Secretariat of the Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF) for Trade-related Assistance in Least Developed Countries (LDC), hosted by the WTO, is working to meet the challenge of supporting LDCs by stepping up the trade agenda, especially by fostering inter-Ministerial dialogue and dialogue between the private sector and community-based organizations (CSOs) on AfT for sustainable development, food security and regional trade.
The Global Mechanism (GM) in cooperation with various bilaterals, multilaterials and the EIF Secretariat is well positioned in the context of enhanced implementation of AfT measures. There was great interest in the GM’s work in Uganda and Mail – as tangible examples providing ground-truthing for the findings and recommendations of the 2011 Review.
For more information:
Ms Eleonora Canigiani, Trade & Market Access Officer
Tel. +39 06 5459 2734
e.canigiani (at) global-mechanism.org
Posted: 2011-07-27 at 02:50
News - Guatemala: Implementing the IFS at the local level
Guatemala’s IFS is designed to ensure that activities can be implemented right down to the local level. This is done through the systematic engagement of civil society organizations (CSOs). In Guatemala ASORECH (Association of the Chortí Region) - a CSO that since 2005 has worked alongside the Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources (MARN) in the country’s drylands, is now contributing to the mobilization of external resources for IFS goals.
ASORECH is engaged in some twenty low-income communities located in Chiquimula Province, where it has promoted different methods of rainwater harvesting in the framework of the IFS in the context of climate change adaptation. The CSO has successfully mobilized financial resources for such activities from local cooperation agencies such as the Netherlands Embassy in Guatemala.
Another important achievement has been ASORECH’s mobilization of financial resources from the Forest Incentives Program, through direct payments to small farmers for planting trees in small plots. This programme that began in 1977 and consists of promoting reforestation and conservation of natural forests on both a small and large scale, is supported by the National Forest Institute (INAB). Several small farmers in the region are beneficiaries of this program and are now able to harvest the trees and sell the timber, or process it at local level into furniture or wood souvenirs, which they sell locally to generate income. Some 150 families have seen a prompt improvement in their quality of life as a result.
While further efforts are required to tackle the issues of longer-term food security and the related problems of malnutrition and illness, it is clear that the IFS has proved itself as a strategic tool for generating finance for a range of landscape restoration activities.
For more information:
José Miguel Leiva, Regional Advisor for Mesoamerica
j.leiva (at) global-mechanism.org
Posted: 2011-07-27 at 02:47
News - Economic valuation: providing the arguments
The economic evaluation of politics, programmes and projects to combat desertification is the bedrock on which to develop arguments to influence decision-makers at all levels. It must be at the centre of the debate on the implementation of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification – making the case for increased financial support at all levels, by illustrating the cost-benefit ratio of DLDD-related investments - especially now in the run up to the 10th Session of the Conference of the Parties to be held in South Korea in October 2011.
The scientific community is engaged in the development of integrated evaluation frameworks to assess the effectiveness of measures to combat DLDD. Identifying and pilot-testing impact indicators and methodologies is part and parcel of this work. In this context, the scientific seminar on “politics, programmes and projects to combat desertification”, organized by the French Desertification Scientific Committee (CSFD) and the Mediterranean Agronomic Institute in Montpellier (IAMM) from 28-30 June 2011 in Montpellier, was a major step in this direction. This seminar was intended as a follow up to the international workshop on the economic & social costs of desertification held in December 2006 at FAO, jointly organized by the GM, AfD, CSFD and other partners.
The Global Mechanism (GM)’s Simone Quatrini was invited to chair the session on “Integrated approaches to evaluation” and as a panellist to the concluding session on “Evaluation: research needs”.
The seminar clearly emphasized the importance of promoting overall coherence in the evaluation criteria and methodologies from project to policy levels, as well as that of ensuring consistency with agreed, overarching objectives. In the rich debate during and on the margins of the seminar, the strengths and weaknesses of the international response to desertification came to light, and suggestions were made to advance the SLM agenda. The value of the UNCCD 10-year Strategy in providing a common framework that has the potential to attract and catalyse complementary action from all concerned stakeholders was highlighted in this context.
The French scientific community expressed its renewed and sustained commitment towards the development and fine-tuning of an integrated framework for evaluating the operational and institutional performance of the UNCCD. As part of this process, the GM will be working closely alongside the French scientific community in relevant initiatives to facilitate the integration of biophysical and socio-economic aspects in decision making on financial resource allocation for combating DLDD.
For more information:
Mr Simone Quatrini, Coordinator, Policy & Investment Analysis
Tel. +39 06 5459 2154
s.quatrini (at) global-mechanism.org
Annie Maillard, maillard@agropolis.fr Tel + 33 (0)4 67 04 75 29
Posted: 2011-07-25 at 03:50
News - Re-engineering financial analysis
FIELD is a comprehensive database of authoritative information on desertification-related funding sources, programmes and projects, donor profiles, relevant policies and strategies. Maintained and updated by the GM, FIELD has the overall objective of informing UNCCD stakeholders on the financial risks, opportunities, costs and benefits of sustainable land management (SLM) investments and other activities related to Convention implementation.
Knowledge management on finance has always been part and parcel of GM’s core functions. In particular, information on funding sources, financial opportunities, investment patterns and trends related to the implementation of the Convention are essential aspects of the GM’s specific advisory function that is part of its mandate. This information is instrumental in the resource mobilization process, guides policy-making, fosters dialogue and facilitates coordination among interested Parties and relevant organizations involved in the implementation of the UNCCD.
Today FIELD contains approximately 12000 cross-referenced records, including over 400 donor profiles, 7000 project details, and 1700 publications regarding the implementation of the UNCCD in all countries and regions, collected from some 4700 official sources and over 550 organizations worldwide.
FIELD is now being re-engineered, its database updated and all analytical functionalities enhanced in response to an evolving stakeholder demand driven by the recent changes introduced by the performance review and assessment of implementation (PRAIS) of the UNCCD 10-year Strategy. A new, user-friendly interface is being developed as part of this project to facilitate accessibility, online analysis and data download.
For more information:
Mr Simone Quatrini, Coordinator, Policy & Investment Analysis
Tel. +39 06 5459 2154
s.quatrini (at) global-mechanism.org
Posted: 2011-07-25 at 03:46
News - Shaping the Great Green Wall at local level
FLEUVE stems from the conviction that, in the African wave of decentralization, local African communities must become the real protagonists in decision-making processes and be capacitated to shape the Great Green Wall Initiative at local level. It therefore aims to involve all the North African and Sub-Saharan African countries in a network of South-to-South solidarity.
The initiative aims to strengthen the role and the capacity of local stakeholders and local authorities in designing their decentralized programmes for sustainable natural resource management and engage in resource mobilization, in order to catalyze sustainable development in the desert margins to north and south of the Sahara.
FLEUVE works in partnership with FAO and the European Union (EU) funded project “Support to the implementation of the Great Green Wall”. The co-partner of the GM in FLEUVE is Drynet, a network of NGOs which has successfully built a foundation for civil society across the world to strengthen its position in the struggle to sustainably manage drylands (www.dry-net.org).
FLEUVE will be complementary to the other initiatives launched in support of the implementation of the Great Green Wall, in particular, the GEF-World Bank programme in the Region.
The specific objectives of FLEUVE are:
to reinforce local authorities’ and local stakeholders’ capacities in SLM planning so they can develop integrated SLM programmes and mainstream then at the subnational/national levels;
to enhance these authorities’ and stakeholders’ understanding of the strategies to be adopted and procedures to be followed in order to access funding sources and to support them in developing and implementing resource mobilization strategies at the local level; and
to provide an optimal framework in which to promote North-South and South-South decentralised cooperation. In this context, the GM is already working to involve the Italian, French and Spanish local authorities. IFAD projects in the region that are linked to the FLEUVE objectives will also be approached.
FLEUVE can be considered a ‘sub-product’ of the spirit of scope acp, a GM and EU-funded south-to-south cooperation project that promotes regional and international solidarity for improved governance between African, Caribbean and Pacific countries with a view to building financial and technical partnerships to combat desertification and poverty.
The global cost of FLEUVE has been estimated at around € 13 000 000. A Steering Committee of stakeholders will be constituted in the coming months.
For more information:
Mr Youssef Brahimi
Programme Coordinator, North Africa & South-to-South Cooperation
Tel. +39 06 5459 2584
y.brahimi (at) global-mechanism.org
Posted: 2011-07-21 at 12:54
IUFRO-SPDC Training Workshop on Communication
Posted: 2011-07-20 at 09:41
Forestry investments in emerging markets
Sustainable forest management requires sustainable forest finance. Watch forest finance professionals, investors and forestry specialists share perspectives and observations on forestry investments. At a recent meeting held in the Netherlands, 17 forestry investment opportunities in the tropical hemisphere were presented, together worth over 95 million USD of investments in responsible forestry. The meeting was organized by FAO, the NFP Facility and Tropenbos International with support of the Business in Development Network, and the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Agriculture and Innovation of the Netherlands. Details can be found at http://www.tropenbos.org/index.php/en/news/news-outcomes-bussines-event.
Posted: 2011-07-13 at 11:00
Forestry investments in emerging markets
Sustainable forest management requires sustainable forest finance. Watch forest finance professionals, investors and forestry specialists share perspectives and observations on forestry investments. At a recent meeting held in the Netherlands, 17 forestry investment opportunities in the tropical hemisphere were presented, together worth over 95 million USD of investments in responsible forestry. The meeting was organized by FAO, the NFP Facility and Tropenbos International with support of the Business in Development Network, and the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Agriculture and Innovation of the Netherlands. Details can be found at http://www.tropenbos.org/index.php/en/news/news-outcomes-bussines-event.
Posted: 2011-07-13 at 11:00
Forestry investments in emerging markets
Sustainable forest management requires sustainable forest finance. Watch forest finance professionals, investors and forestry specialists share perspectives and observations on forestry investments. At a recent meeting held in the Netherlands, 17 forestry investment opportunities in the tropical hemisphere were presented, together worth over 95 million USD of investments in responsible forestry. The meeting was organized by FAO, the NFP Facility and Tropenbos International with support of the Business in Development Network, and the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Agriculture and Innovation of the Netherlands. Details can be found at http://www.tropenbos.org/index.php/en/news/news-outcomes-bussines-event.
Posted: 2011-07-13 at 11:00
Reforming forest tenure systems
Posted: 2011-07-13 at 06:00
Reforming forest tenure systems
Posted: 2011-07-13 at 06:00
Forest ownership rights can improve peoples’ livelihoods
Reforming forest tenure systems and securing forest ownership rights can significantly improve peoples’ livelihoods and enable them to gain income from forest products, said FAO in a newly published guide, Reforming Forest Tenure. “The continuing demand for land, weak governance in many countries, and emerging global challenges such as climate change increase the urgency of addressing forest tenure reform,” said Eva Muller, FAO’s Chief Forest Policy Officer. The guide was launched at the Forest Tenure, Governance and Enterprise Conference taking place in Lombok, Indonesia, from 11 to 15 July.
Posted: 2011-07-12 at 11:00
Forest ownership rights can improve peoples’ livelihoods
Reforming forest tenure systems and securing forest ownership rights can significantly improve peoples’ livelihoods and enable them to gain income from forest products, said FAO in a newly published guide, Reforming Forest Tenure. “The continuing demand for land, weak governance in many countries, and emerging global challenges such as climate change increase the urgency of addressing forest tenure reform,” said Eva Muller, FAO’s Chief Forest Policy Officer. The guide was launched at the Forest Tenure, Governance and Enterprise Conference taking place in Lombok, Indonesia, from 11 to 15 July.
Posted: 2011-07-12 at 11:00
Forest ownership rights can improve peoples’ livelihoods
Reforming forest tenure systems and securing forest ownership rights can significantly improve peoples’ livelihoods and enable them to gain income from forest products, said FAO in a newly published guide, Reforming Forest Tenure. “The continuing demand for land, weak governance in many countries, and emerging global challenges such as climate change increase the urgency of addressing forest tenure reform,” said Eva Muller, FAO’s Chief Forest Policy Officer. The guide was launched at the Forest Tenure, Governance and Enterprise Conference taking place in Lombok, Indonesia, from 11 to 15 July.
Posted: 2011-07-12 at 11:00
Forest policies from six countries shortlisted for Future Policy Award
Bhutan, The Gambia, Nepal, Rwanda, Switzerland and the USA are still in the running for the most inspiring, innovative and influential forest policies worldwide. The Future Policy Award is granted by the World Future Council, an international policy research organization that provides decision makers with effective policy solutions. The three winning policies will be announced on 21 September at the UN headquarters in New York. Eduardo Rojas Briales, Assistant Director General of the Food and Agriculture Organization, says “The Future Policy Award presents an excellent opportunity to emphasize the important role of national policies in restoring and preserving the vital functions of forests for people and to shed some light on the world’s best practices in governing forest resources.” Photo credit: ©FAO/Noel Celis
Posted: 2011-07-06 at 11:00
Forest policies from six countries shortlisted for Future Policy Award
Bhutan, The Gambia, Nepal, Rwanda, Switzerland and the USA are still in the running for the most inspiring, innovative and influential forest policies worldwide. The Future Policy Award is granted by the World Future Council, an international policy research organization that provides decision makers with effective policy solutions. The three winning policies will be announced on 21 September at the UN headquarters in New York. Eduardo Rojas Briales, Assistant Director General of the Food and Agriculture Organization, says “The Future Policy Award presents an excellent opportunity to emphasize the important role of national policies in restoring and preserving the vital functions of forests for people and to shed some light on the world’s best practices in governing forest resources.” Photo credit: ©FAO/Noel Celis
Posted: 2011-07-06 at 11:00
Forest policies from six countries shortlisted for Future Policy Award
Bhutan, The Gambia, Nepal, Rwanda, Switzerland and the USA are still in the running for the most inspiring, innovative and influential forest policies worldwide. The Future Policy Award is granted by the World Future Council, an international policy research organization that provides decision makers with effective policy solutions. The three winning policies will be announced on 21 September at the UN headquarters in New York. Eduardo Rojas Briales, Assistant Director General of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, says “The Future Policy Award presents an excellent opportunity to emphasize the important role of national policies in restoring and preserving the vital functions of forests for people and to shed some light on the world’s best practices in governing forest resources.” Photo credit: ©FAO/Noel Celis
Posted: 2011-07-06 at 11:00
News - Promoting technology transfer for SLM in the Circum-Sahara region
The GM is a longstanding partner of the OSS, whose work focuses on enhancing African capacities to produce, manage, share and disseminate information applicable to sustainable natural resource management.
Together, and in collaboration with the Arab Maghreb Union (AMU), the partners have already engaged in technology transfer in the Circum-Sahara region by facilitating an e-forum between members of the Arab Maghreb Union (AMU) and ECOWAS countries in the context of its SolArid initiative. Through this flexible platform, the GM has fostered exchanges between these countries that already have a long history of cooperation in implementing the UNCCD, on the common issues of migration and its links to land degradation and climate change; the role of local authorities in the management of natural resources; and gender issues in natural resource management (NRM) policies, strategies and programmes.
The specific objectives of this new initiative will be to foster a common understanding of what technology transfer means in the CCD context and to identify the modalities of cooperation on technology transfer best suited how the Maghreb and West Africa, including financing opportunities. The workshop will be tasked with elaborating a draft programme on technology transfer for the region, in the context of the UNCCD that will be shared with the CCD Committee on Science and Technology.
The initiative took shape during the OSS-organized scientific workshop on Environmental Monitoring in the Circum-Sahara Region, in the framework of the UNCCD, held in Tunis, Tunisia, on 1 and 2 June, that brought together some 50 scientists, development partners, institutions and representatives of the Rio Conventions. Participants exchanged knowledge on various aspects of environmental monitoring (EM), including their assessment of existing networks, the institutional aspects involved in setting up an EM system, the socio-economic dimensions of EM, and how to EM in the broader development process. The GM used this opportunity to discuss the technology transfer more broadly within the framework of the UNCCD’s Operational Objective 5 on financing and technology transfer.
For more information:
Mr Youssef Brahimi, Programme Coordinator, North Africa & South-to-South Cooperation
Tel. +39 06 5459 2584
y.brahimi (at) global-mechanism.org
Posted: 2011-06-30 at 04:05
New publication on assessment and monitoring of forest governance
The Framework for Assessing and Monitoring Forest Governance was developed jointly by FAO and the World Bank’s Program on Forests, assisted by a group of experts on forest governance . The Framework facilitates description, diagnosis, monitoring, assessment and reporting on the state of governance in a country’s forest sector. It features a globally relevant and comprehensive list of the major elements that describe forest governance. It also provides a frame of reference for organizing governance-relevant information that can be used within and across countries to assess and monitor the governance of forests and forest resources. It can assist countries in reflecting on and responding to critical issues in forest governance in ways that can be measured, tracked and improved over time. By enabling informed discussions among stakeholders on governance in the forest sector, the Framework also seeks to foster opportunities for wider national discussions on overall governance beyond the forest sector.
Posted: 2011-06-29 at 11:00
New publication on assessment and monitoring of forest governance
The Framework for Assessing and Monitoring Forest Governance was developed jointly by FAO and the World Bank’s Program on Forests, assisted by a group of experts on forest governance . The Framework facilitates description, diagnosis, monitoring, assessment and reporting on the state of governance in a country’s forest sector. It features a globally relevant and comprehensive list of the major elements that describe forest governance. It also provides a frame of reference for organizing governance-relevant information that can be used within and across countries to assess and monitor the governance of forests and forest resources. It can assist countries in reflecting on and responding to critical issues in forest governance in ways that can be measured, tracked and improved over time. By enabling informed discussions among stakeholders on governance in the forest sector, the Framework also seeks to foster opportunities for wider national discussions on overall governance beyond the forest sector.
Posted: 2011-06-29 at 11:00
Agricultural biotechnologies in developing countries: Options and opportunities in crops, forestry, livestock, fisheries and agro-industry to face the challenges of food insecurity and climate change
This book represents the proceedings of the FAO international technical conference dedicated to Agricultural Biotechnologies in Developing Countries (ABDC-10 ) that took place in Guadalajara, Mexico on 1-4 March 2010 . A major objective of the conference was to take stock of the application of biotechnologies across the different food and agricultural sectors in developing countries, in order to learn from the past and to identify options for the future to face the challenges of food insecurity, climate change and natural resource degradation.
Posted: 2011-06-29 at 11:00
Agricultural biotechnologies in developing countries: Options and opportunities in crops, forestry, livestock, fisheries and agro-industry to face the challenges of food insecurity and climate change
This book represents the proceedings of the FAO international technical conference dedicated to Agricultural Biotechnologies in Developing Countries (ABDC-10 ) that took place in Guadalajara, Mexico on 1-4 March 2010 . A major objective of the conference was to take stock of the application of biotechnologies across the different food and agricultural sectors in developing countries, in order to learn from the past and to identify options for the future to face the challenges of food insecurity, climate change and natural resource degradation.
Posted: 2011-06-29 at 11:00
Agricultural biotechnologies: options and opportunities in crops, forestry, livestock, fisheries and agro-industry
This publication represents the proceedings of the FAO international technical conference dedicated to Agricultural Biotechnologies in Developing Countries that took place in Mexico on 1-4 March 2010 . A major objective of the conference was to take stock of the application of biotechnologies across the different food and agricultural sectors in developing countries, in order to learn from the past and to identify options for the future to face the challenges of food insecurity, climate change and natural resource degradation.
Posted: 2011-06-29 at 11:00
New publication on assessment and monitoring of forest governance
The Framework for Assessing and Monitoring Forest Governance was developed jointly by FAO and the World Bank’s Program on Forests, assisted by a group of experts on forest governance. The Framework facilitates description, diagnosis, monitoring, assessment and reporting on the state of governance in a country’s forest sector. It features a globally relevant and comprehensive list of the major elements that describe forest governance. It also provides a frame of reference for organizing governance-relevant information that can be used within and across countries to assess and monitor the governance of forests and forest resources. It can assist countries in reflecting on and responding to critical issues in forest governance in ways that can be measured, tracked and improved over time. By enabling informed discussions among stakeholders on governance in the forest sector, the Framework also seeks to foster opportunities for wider national discussions on overall governance beyond the forest sector.
Posted: 2011-06-29 at 11:00
Scientific Summary No. 82, 2011
Posted: 2011-06-29 at 10:53
News - GM steps up its role in GEF STAR and related processes
The GM is well positioned as a broker to facilitate strategic partnerships and to identify ways of blending GEF funds with other sources of financing including the identification of baseline investments for GEF financing and using the GEF as a catalyst to leverage additional financial resources.
While the GM has been involved in GEF processes for some time, the need to further strengthen its co-operation has become increasingly important in order to facilitate optimal use of GEF 5 STAR resources, This is also a way to facilitating the mobilization of additional financial resources around GEF through integrated financing strategies (IFSs) and and integrated investment frameworks (IIFs).
Areas where the GM is stepping up its complementarity include:
Support to UNCCD and GEF Joint action plan (JAP) implementation: The recently developed Joint Action Plan focuses on awareness building, policy, country programming, project appraisal, monitoring and assessment of implementation. The GM will support all five thematic areas by participating in and contributing to National Portfolio Formulation exercises; and identify project ideas for instance, through outcomes from IFS stocktaking and other diagnostic work. The GM will promote awareness by contributing to GEF Expanded Constituency workshops; facilitating meetings between UNCCD and the GEF Focal points during country missions; and developing a GEF module to be integrated into GM workshops on Designing Integrated Financing Strategies (DIFS).
IFS Formulation and implementation: The GM will work at country & regional levels to develop IFSs that help to leverage baseline investments for the GEF and help facilitate the blending of GEF resources with other innovative financing sources.
Supporting Enabling Activities: The GEF has provided resources for enabling activities under land degradation. At the invitation of countries, the GM will work with countries on stocktaking assessments and awareness raising and in establishing the finance and technology framework for NAP implementation.
Engaging in programmatic approaches: The GM will support programmatic initiatives such as the Great Green Wall and the development of innovative programmatic approaches on the GEF. Through this engagement, the GM will help facilitate the mobilization of regional set asides and the blending of GEF resources with other sources of financing.
Participating in GEF-related meetings: The GM will continue to participate in meetings of interest to both organizations. In May, it attended the GEF 40TH Council meeting, where it held consultations with the GEF Secretariat and other partners.
Partnerships: The GM’s role within GEF processes will be implemented in close co-operation with the UNCCD Secretariat. This co-operation is highlighted through key decisions of the UNCCD COP – notably Decision 8/COP.9 (10) which invites the secretariat and the GM to strengthen their coordinated approach to exploring opportunities for accessing funding through the GEF and Decision 10/COP.9 (8) concurrently requests that the two-year joint work programme of the secretariat and the GM “[...] give due attention to coordination and liaison with the GEF with the aim of establishing exchanges as regards preferred policy approaches that lead to resource mobilization.”
The GM’s involvement in a series of actions which complements the GEF, is line with the GM’s mandate to “increase the effectiveness and efficiency of existing financial mechanisms [...] to promote actions leading to the mobilisation and channelling of substantial financial resources [...] to affected developing country Parties.” (Article 21 of the Convention).
For more information:
Ms Elsie Attafuah, Programme Officer, East and Southern Africa
Tel. +39 06 5459 2577
e.attafuah (at) global-mechanism.org
Posted: 2011-06-24 at 02:15
IUFRO Forest Governance Fact Sheet
Posted: 2011-06-22 at 09:04
International institutions call for increased investments for the arid zone forests
Drylands make up 40% of the world’s land area, cover more than 100 countries and are the basis for the livelihoods of 2 billion people. But the long-term sustainability of the drylands forests is in jeopardy due to a shortage in the investments needed to scale up the sustainable forest management practices and to support policies to prevent and reverse land degradation. On World Day to Combat Desertification, members of the Collaborative Partnership on Forests (CPF), a mechanism comprising 14 global institutions and organizations dealing with forestry matters, called for more urgent investments to stem the growing degradation of natural resources, especially the forests in Africa’s drylands.
Posted: 2011-06-19 at 11:00
International institutions call for increased investments for the arid zone forests
Drylands make up 40% of the world’s land area, cover more than 100 countries and are the basis for the livelihoods of 2 billion people. But the long-term sustainability of the drylands forests is in jeopardy due to a shortage in the investments needed to scale up the sustainable forest management practices and to support policies to prevent and reverse land degradation. On World Day to Combat Desertification, members of the Collaborative Partnership on Forests (CPF), a mechanism comprising 14 global institutions and organizations dealing with forestry matters, called for more urgent investments to stem the growing degradation of natural resources, especially the forests in Africa’s drylands.
Posted: 2011-06-19 at 11:00
International institutions call for increased investments for the arid zone forests
Drylands make up 40% of the world’s land area, cover more than 100 countries and are the basis for the livelihoods of 2 billion people. But the long-term sustainability of the drylands forests is in jeopardy due to a shortage in the investments needed to scale up the sustainable forest management practices and to support policies to prevent and reverse land degradation. On World Day to Combat Desertification, members of the Collaborative Partnership on Forests (CPF), a mechanism comprising 14 global institutions and organizations dealing with forestry matters, called for more urgent investments to stem the growing degradation of natural resources, especially the forests in Africa’s drylands.
Posted: 2011-06-19 at 11:00
1st IUFRO-FORNESSA Regional Congress
Posted: 2011-06-16 at 09:59
Olympic track legend Carl Lewis sprints again for Haiti forests
14 June 2011, Port-au-Prince/Haiti - FAO Goodwill Ambassador and Olympic track legend Carl Lewis ended a two-day visit to Haiti today where he saw for himself reforestation efforts to help the country protect itself against flash floods and mudslides as hurricane season begins. Lewis's visit was planned to mark the UN's celebration of the International Year of Forests and followed a similar trip to the neighboring Dominican Republic.
Posted: 2011-06-14 at 11:00
Olympic track legend Carl Lewis sprints again for Haiti forests
Port-au-Prince/Haiti - FAO Goodwill Ambassador and Olympic track legend Carl Lewis ended a two-day visit to Haiti today where he saw for himself reforestation efforts to help the country protect itself against flash floods and mudslides as hurricane season begins. Lewis's visit was planned to mark the UN's celebration of the International Year of Forests and followed a similar trip to the neighboring Dominican Republic.
Posted: 2011-06-14 at 11:00
Olympic track legend Carl Lewis sprints again for Haiti forests
Port-au-Prince/Haiti - FAO Goodwill Ambassador and Olympic track legend Carl Lewis ended a two-day visit to Haiti today where he saw for himself reforestation efforts to help the country protect itself against flash floods and mudslides as hurricane season begins. Lewis's visit was planned to mark the UN's celebration of the International Year of Forests and followed a similar trip to the neighboring Dominican Republic.
Posted: 2011-06-14 at 11:00
Olympic track legend Carl Lewis sprints again for Haiti forests
Posted: 2011-06-14 at 05:00
Olympic track legend Carl Lewis sprints again for Haiti forests
Posted: 2011-06-14 at 05:00
Turning the tide on desertification in Africa
Posted: 2011-06-13 at 11:00
Turning the tide on desertification in Africa
Posted: 2011-06-13 at 11:00
Turning the tide on desertification in Africa
Posted: 2011-06-13 at 11:00
Forestry Leaders Summit
Posted: 2011-06-12 at 09:37
FAO pilot project in Senegal combats desertification
An FAO pilot project that has proved a great success in combating desertification is to be rolled out more widely in an attempt to turn African drylands back into fertile land. With two thirds of the African continent now classified as desert or drylands and desertification affecting a quarter of the world's population, the breakthrough has the potential to transform the lives of vulnerable populations. In operation since 2004, the Acacia project has involved the planting and managing of Acacia forests in arid lands helping combat desertification while providing socio-economic benefits to local communities.
Posted: 2011-06-09 at 11:00
FAO pilot project in Senegal combats desertification
An FAO pilot project that has proved a great success in combating desertification is to be rolled out more widely in an attempt to turn African drylands back into fertile land. With two thirds of the African continent now classified as desert or drylands and desertification affecting a quarter of the world's population, the breakthrough has the potential to transform the lives of vulnerable populations. In operation since 2004, the Acacia project has involved the planting and managing of Acacia forests in arid lands helping combat desertification while providing socio-economic benefits to local communities.
Posted: 2011-06-09 at 11:00
FAO pilot project in Senegal combats desertification
An FAO pilot project that has proved a great success in combating desertification is to be rolled out more widely in an attempt to turn African drylands back into fertile land. With two thirds of the African continent now classified as desert or drylands and desertification affecting a quarter of the world's population, the breakthrough has the potential to transform the lives of vulnerable populations. In operation since 2004, the Acacia project has involved the planting and managing of Acacia forests in arid lands helping combat desertification while providing socio-economic benefits to local communities.
Posted: 2011-06-09 at 11:00
Turning the tide on desertification in Africa
Posted: 2011-06-09 at 11:00
Turning the tide on desertification in Africa
Posted: 2011-06-09 at 11:00
Event - Research Workshop on Evaluating Policies, Programmes and Projects to fight desertification
The event, which will take place on 29 and 30 June 2011is being supported by the Agence française de développement (AfD) , Agence universitaire de la francophonie (AUF), Centre de coopération internationale en recherche agronomique pour le développement (CIRAD, Institut de recherche pour le développement (IRD), Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Sustainable Development.
The workshop is being organized within the framework of activities that were first initiated by the CSFD back in 2005, concerning an evaluation of the costs and benefits of investments into fighting desertification, and which promote sustainable land and natural resource management in arid regions.
It will provide an opportunity for a broad variety of different actors who have a stake in fighting desertification to meet and compare the results of their work. The overarching aim of the workshop is to clarify controversial points and improve the evaluation process to make actions more effective.
The GM will present a session on “Integrated Approaches to evaluation” and will participate as a panelist in the closing session on “Evaluation: the research needs”. The event will also be an important occasion to establish linkages with the scientific community and to provide methodological inputs to its work.
During the workshop, it is expected that:
- Theoretical frameworks, the methods and evaluation tools that can respond to the operational needs of people responsible for policies and operations in the fight against desertification will be made more explicit. A presentation on experiences will take place to facilitate this process;
- Interests and limitations of their application will be presented with linkages made to the needs of both development actors and beneficiary populations;
- The social, environmental and institutional dimensions of local contexts , as well their influence on the evaluation exercise will be analyzed;
- The quality of reading grids, considered a strategic dimension for field actors and decision-makers will also be explored.
The workshop intends to contribute at the international level to the preparation of the second big scientific conference of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) and to promote French expertise within an international framework. The Terms of Reference of this conference, which will take place in 2012, target the development of an assessment on the knowledge on desertification economics, SLM and on the ecosystem resilience. They include the translation of the scientific results developed into operational policies and strategies for sustainable development.
For more information:
Mr Simone Quatrini, Coordinator, Policy & Investment Analysis
Tel. +39 06 5459 2154
s.quatrini (at) global-mechanism.org
Annie Maillard, maillard@agropolis.fr, Tél.: + 33 (0)4 67 04 75 29
Posted: 2011-06-09 at 03:11
FAO Forestry Paper 165: Reforming forest tenure
Secure tenure is an important prerequisite for sustainable forest management. In the past decade many countries have initiated efforts to reform their tenure arrangements for forests and forest land, devolving some degree of access and management from the State to others, mainly households, private companies and communities. This new publication provides practical guidance for policy-makers and others concerned with addressing forest tenure reform. Drawing from many sources, including forest tenure assessments carried out by FAO in Africa, Southeast Asia, Latin America and Central Asia, it deduces lessons about what works and what does not, and why. It formulates a set of ten principles to guide tenure reform, and proposes an adaptive process for diversifying forest tenure in a context-appropriate way.
Posted: 2011-06-08 at 11:00
FAO Forestry Paper 165: Reforming forest tenure
Secure tenure is an important prerequisite for sustainable forest management. In the past decade many countries have initiated efforts to reform their tenure arrangements for forests and forest land, devolving some degree of access and management from the State to others, mainly households, private companies and communities. This new publication provides practical guidance for policy-makers and others concerned with addressing forest tenure reform. Drawing from many sources, including forest tenure assessments carried out by FAO in Africa, Southeast Asia, Latin America and Central Asia, it deduces lessons about what works and what does not, and why. It formulates a set of ten principles to guide tenure reform, and proposes an adaptive process for diversifying forest tenure in a context-appropriate way.
Posted: 2011-06-08 at 11:00
Event - International Conference on Dryland ecosystem functioning and resilience: integrating biophysical assessment with socio-economic issues
The first objective of this Conference is, therefore, to relate a better understanding of the landscape-scale dynamics that lead to improvements in nutrient and water cycling, to their impacts on the climate sensitivity of desertification.
This new knowledge is then set against the context of the complexity of increasing the resilience of dryland ecosystems particularly in relation to looming problems of food security and the expected costs and benefits to society of land degradation and sustainable land management respectively.
The conference intends to play an important role as a platform to elaborate scientific issues and make proposals to be presented at the forthcoming COP10 of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) to be held in South Korea in October 2011.
Sessions will address the themes of climate sensitivity of desertification; dryland resilience; how to generate baseline information for DLDD assessment; food security and food sovereignty in drylands; and the economics of land degradation and sustainable land management.
As part of Session 5, ‘The economics of land degradation and sustainable land management”, the GM will present the findings of its pilot valuation studies in Cambodia, Tanzania and Zambia, as well as outcomes and suggestions for scaling up. The GM’s economic valuation of land initiative, launched in 2008, hinges on generating evidence-based arguments to demonstrate the contribution of responsibly managed ecosystems to sustainable development and poverty reduction. A consortium of research and scientific institutions from the North and the South have contributed to this initiative by developing an innovative, integrated valuation methodology with three components:
• the valuation of the natural capital in line with the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment approach:
• the assessment of impact from unsustainable use of natural resources, and
• the valuation of net benefits from the adoption of SLM-smart technologies and practices.
The conference is being jointly organized by European Science Foundation, DesertNet International and NRD Desertification Research Group (University of Sassari), with co-financing from GIZ (E-DLDD).
For more information on the conference and how to register:
www.uniss.it/nrd
Download the paper
For more information, please contact
Mr Simone Quatrini, Coordinator, Policy & Investment Analysis
Tel. +39 06 5459 2154
s.quatrini (at) global-mechanism.org
Posted: 2011-06-06 at 01:31
Scientific Summary No. 81, 2011
Posted: 2011-05-30 at 11:00
Scientific Summary No. 80, 2011
Posted: 2011-05-30 at 10:57
News - Pakistan launches NAP Alignment Process
At a national workshop held in Islamabad on 26 April, first steps were taken to review the country’s NAP and identify institutional, financial and capacity gaps with regard to the effectiveness of its implementation. The main objective of the workshop was to validate these gaps and launch the NAP alignment process. Key provincial and national stakeholders participated in the workshop. In conjunction with the NAP alignment, Pakistan has also initiated sectoral policy reviews.
Significant changes have taken place since the preparation of the original NAP in 2002 which demand review and action. These include the adoption of the UNCCD Ten Year Strategy, which calls for recognition of the synergies between land degradation and key development challenges, climate change and food security foremost amongst them. Aligning the NAP with the Strategy is of the utmost priority in ensuring an up-to-date plan of action for restoring the productivity of Pakistan’s lands and creating sustainable livelihoods.
In his inaugural address Pakistan’s Federal Secretary of the Environment, Mr Khawaja Mohammed Naeem stressed that the value of a functional NAP is enormous: ‘Sustainable management of land and water resources is critical for Pakistan’s economic development, food security and poverty alleviation.’
However, in order to operationalise the NAP, a clear strategy for mobilizing a variety of financial resources is essential. In this regard, Pakistan has requested the support of the GM in the development of an Integrated Financing Strategy (IFS), which will be part and parcel of the new NAP. The IFS will aim to provide a clear plan for integrating sustainable land management into country driven strategies and development frameworks such as Vision 2030, whilst mobilizing financial resources from public and private sources.
As one of the first countries worldwide to develop an IFS in conjunction with the NAP alignment process, other countries will no doubt be looking to Pakistan as a leading light in the harmonized development of UNCCD tools and processes that contribute towards addressing the problems of DLDD.
For more information:
Ms Camilla Nordheim-Larsen, Programme Coordinator, Asia and Pacific (OiC)
Tel. +39 06 5459 2061
c.nordheim-larsen (at) global-mechanism.org
Posted: 2011-05-30 at 08:49
The State of Forests in the Amazon Basin, Congo Basin and Southeast Asia
To continue the celebration of the International Year of Forests 2011, Heads of State from the three tropical rainforest basins will be meeting in Brazzaville, The Congo, from 29 May until 3 June, to establish new ways to increase their technical cooperation on forest matters. The ‘Summit of the 3 Rainforest Basins’ will bring together governments and number of partners working on these critical issues to improve the management and conservation of important forest resources in the Amazon Basin, Congo Basin and Southeast Asia. Governments will meet to negotiate new cooperation mechanisms, likely to result in a new Cooperation Agreement and Declaration that will help them to further economic development, fight poverty and mitigate climate change in the three tropical basins.
Ahead of the event, FAO and the ITTO stressed that the potential value of the many goods and services provided by rainforests in the three basins clearly outweigh the benefits that can be obtained from almost any alternative land use. “Recent studies have found, for example, that the value of tropical forest services (such as carbon sequestration, biodiversity conservation and soil and water protection) could reach many thousands of dollars per hectare,” wrote Eduardo Rojas-Briales, FAO Assistant Director-General Forestry and Emmanuel Ze Meka, ITTO Executive Director in a report to be discussed at the Summit. FAO continues to support the efforts of countries during the Summit as part of its activities during the International Year of Forests, including through the launch of the joint report with ITTO, ‘The State of Forests in the Amazon Basin, Congo Basin and Southeast Asia’. The report highlights trends on forest resources in the three tropical rainforest basins and can be found by clicking here: http://www.fao.org/forestry/fra/70893/en/. Additional information on the Summit can be found on the following websites: http://www.3bassinsforestiers.org/fr/ and http://www.3bassinsforestiers.org/en/.
Posted: 2011-05-29 at 11:00
The State of Forests in the Amazon Basin, Congo Basin and Southeast Asia
Heads of State from the three tropical rainforest basins are meeting in Brazzaville from 29 May until 3 June, to establish new ways to increase technical cooperation on forest matters. The ‘Summit of the 3 Rainforest Basins’ will bring together governments and partners working on these critical issues to improve the management and conservation of important forest resources in the Amazon Basin, Congo Basin and Southeast Asia.
FAO and the ITTO stress that the potential value of the many goods and services provided by rainforests clearly outweigh the benefits that can be obtained from almost any alternative land use. “Recent studies have found, for example, that the value of tropical forest services (such as carbon sequestration, biodiversity conservation and soil and water protection) could reach many thousands of dollars per hectare,” write Eduardo Rojas-Briales, FAO Assistant Director-General Forestry and Emmanuel Ze Meka, ITTO Executive Director in a new report launched at the Summit. The State of Forests in the Amazon Basin, Congo Basin and Southeast Asia highlights trends on forest resources. Summit meeting details http://www.3bassinsforestiers.org/en/.
Posted: 2011-05-29 at 11:00
The State of Forests in the Amazon Basin, Congo Basin and Southeast Asia
Heads of State from three tropical rainforest basins met in Brazzaville from 29 May until 3 June, to establish new ways to increase technical cooperation on forest matters. The ‘Summit of the 3 Rainforest Basins’ brought together governments and partners to improve the management and conservation of important forest resources in the Amazon Basin, Congo Basin and Southeast Asia. In a new report launched at the Summit, The State of Forests in the Amazon Basin, Congo Basin and Southeast Asia, FAO and ITTO stress that the potential value of the many goods and services provided by rainforests clearly outweigh the benefits that can be obtained from almost any alternative land use. “Recent studies have found, for example, that the value of tropical forest services (such as carbon sequestration, biodiversity conservation and soil and water protection) could reach many thousands of dollars per hectare,” writes Eduardo Rojas-Briales, FAO Assistant Director-General Forestry and Emmanuel Ze Meka, ITTO Executive Director. Summit meeting details http://www.3bassinsforestiers.org/en/.
Posted: 2011-05-29 at 11:00
News - SLM: an integral part of the poverty reduction strategy of the Banco del Sur
The Ecuadorian Presidential Commission for a New Regional Financial Architecture created by the Government in the context of its policy to promote regional integration and support the design of the Banco del Sur, is committed to proposing to all member countries and the governing body of the Bank, the establishment of a financing mechanism, as part of the Bank’s official strategy and project portfolio for promoting natural resource and food sovereignty.
In February 2011, the head of the Ecuadorian Presidential Commission, Mr Pedro Paez and Christian Mersmann, Managing Director of the Global Mechanism (GM), signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the objective of establishing a general framework of mutual cooperation to design and promote a financing and investment mechanism for the Banco del Sur to finance projects combating land degradation and desertification.
In late April 2011 the two signatories of the MoU met again in Rome to discuss the next steps in the cooperation process. The GM agreed to provide technical and financial support for the establishment of a regional trust fund in 2011 to address the effects of desertification and land degradation in the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR) region, as part of the Bank’s strategy for poverty reduction, enhancing food sovereignty and regional integration.
Mr Pedro Paez and Mr Mersmann are looking forward to sharing the initial outcomes of this cooperation process with the UNCCD constituencies at the 10th Session of the Conference of the Parties to the UNCCD (COP10) in Korea in October 2011.
For more information:
Mr Youssef Brahimi, Programme Coordinator, North Africa & South-to-South Cooperation
Tel. +39 06 5459 2584
y.brahimi (at) global-mechanism.org
Posted: 2011-05-26 at 10:56
Good forest governance key for climate change schemes
Rome - FAO and the World Bank have unveiled a new guidance framework which can help countries assess the governance of their forest resources. The ability to demonstrate good governance in forestry is becoming increasingly important for countries wishing to participate in emerging climate change mitigation schemes.
Posted: 2011-05-22 at 11:00
Good forest governance key for climate change schemes
Rome - FAO and the World Bank have unveiled a new guidance framework which can help countries assess the governance of their forest resources. The ability to demonstrate good governance in forestry is becoming increasingly important for countries wishing to participate in emerging climate change mitigation schemes.
Posted: 2011-05-22 at 11:00
Good forest governance key for climate change schemes
Rome - FAO and the World Bank have unveiled a new guidance framework which can help countries assess the governance of their forest resources. The ability to demonstrate good governance in forestry is becoming increasingly important for countries wishing to participate in emerging climate change mitigation schemes.
Posted: 2011-05-22 at 11:00
Good forest governance key for climate change schemes
Posted: 2011-05-22 at 11:00
Good forest governance key for climate change schemes
Posted: 2011-05-22 at 11:00
New web-based implementation tool to support forest protection
Montreal - In celebration of the International Day for Biological Diversity on 22 May, the Collaborative Partnership on Forests (CPF), a voluntary mechanism comprising 14 organizations with forest-related mandates, have called for improved coordination of biodiversity-related work with the launch of a new web-based tool to support the conservation and sustainable use of the world’s forest biodiversity, based on the TEMATEA platform (www.tematea.org).
Posted: 2011-05-19 at 11:00
New web-based implementation tool to support forest protection
Montreal - In celebration of the International Day for Biological Diversity on 22 May, the Collaborative Partnership on Forests (CPF), a voluntary mechanism comprising 14 organizations with forest-related mandates, have called for improved coordination of biodiversity-related work with the launch of a new web-based tool to support the conservation and sustainable use of the world’s forest biodiversity. Launched by the Convention on Biological Diversity, the tool will address gaps in reporting on forest biodiversity.
Posted: 2011-05-19 at 11:00
New web-based implementation tool to support forest protection
Montreal - In celebration of the International Day for Biological Diversity on 22 May, the Collaborative Partnership on Forests (CPF), a voluntary mechanism comprising 14 organizations with forest-related mandates, have called for improved coordination of biodiversity-related work with the launch of a new web-based tool to support the conservation and sustainable use of the world’s forest biodiversity. Launched by the Convention on Biological Diversity, the tool will address gaps in reporting on forest biodiversity.
Posted: 2011-05-19 at 11:00
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Montreal - In celebration of the International Day for Biological Diversity on 22 May, the Collaborative Partnership on Forests (CPF), a voluntary mechanism comprising 14 organizations with forest-related mandates, have called for improved coordination of biodiversity-related work with the launch of a new web-based tool to support the conservation and sustainable use of the world’s forest biodiversity. Launched by the Convention on Biological Diversity, the tool will address gaps in reporting on forest biodiversity.
Posted: 2011-05-19 at 11:00
World photography contest launched on the art and joy of wood
A world photography contest has been launched by FAO and the United Nations in affiliation with The International Conference and Exhibition on the Art and Joy of Wood that will take place in Bangalore, India during 19-22 October 2011. The event is being held as part the UN’s International Year of Forests. The photography contest invites entries from both professional and amateur photographers and enthusiasts celebrating the art and joy of wood.
Posted: 2011-05-18 at 11:00
Celebrating the art and joy of wood: photography contest launch
To celebrate the art and joy of wood, a photography contest has been launched by FAO and the United Nations in affiliation with the international conference and exhibition on the art and joy of wood that will take place in Bangalore, India during 19-22 October 2011. The photography contest invites entries from both professional and amateur photographers. Winners will receive a trip to Bangalore.
Posted: 2011-05-18 at 11:00
FAO launches photo contest to celebrate the art and joy of wood
A photography contest has been launched by FAO and the United Nations in affiliation with the international conference and exhibition on the art and joy of wood that will take place in Bangalore, India during 19-22 October 2011. The photography contest invites entries from both professional and amateur photographers. Winners will receive a trip to Bangalore.
Posted: 2011-05-18 at 11:00
News - From theory to practice - How economic incentives can promote SLM investments
This was one of the key messages emerging from the international expert workshop, “Exchange of Experiences and Knowledge on Incentive and Market Based Mechanisms for Sustainable Land Management” organized by the Global Mechanism (GM) and CATIE in Costa Rica (23-25 March 2011).
A framework of Incentive and Market Based Mechanisms (IMBMs) relevant for SLM and a tool to assess the applicability of the mechanisms in six country contexts (Cameroon, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Mozambique, Tanzania and Zambia) have been developed with GM support. The findings emerging from the in-country studies were the starting point for discussions.
The participants conveyed the importance of the framework and tool in establishing a systematic and comprehensive process for identifying IMBM opportunities in a given country. The tool should be considered a starting point for more in–depth and site-specific economic costs/benefits analysis and valuation studies to identify the price of the eco-system services. Such economic assessments illustrating the benefits and economic value of improved ecosystem services would also help increase the engagement of the public and private sectors.
Over and above the potential for promoting SLM, the participants concurred that the IMBMs could also be used to promote biodiversity and climate change mitigation activities conservation, in an effort to enhance policy coherence and synergies with the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Convention on Biodiversity (CBD).
By holding the workshop in Costa Rica participants had the opportunity to learn first hand from the Costa Rican experience of applying IMBMs to promote nature conservation.Costa Rica is one of the champions of Payment for Environmental Services (PES) mechanisms. In 1997, the National Forestry Financing Fund (FONAFIFO) launched the Environmental Services Payments Program to maintain and recover forest loss. The Fund is financed by revenues from gasoline tax, water tax and private sector contributions. Land users are financially compensated by the Fund for environmental services related to reforestation, forest protection, timber plantations, and agro-forestry systems. The population benefits from these activities in the form of cleaner water, higher biodiversity and larger forest cover. The PES initiative has actually contributed to increasing forest cover to around 42% in Costa Rica. One of the lessons learned is that political will and commitment were essential in enabling the promulgation of national laws and taxes that have made the PES scheme successful.
For more information:
Ms Siv Oystese
Innovative Finance Officer
Tel. +39 06 5459 2782
s.oystese (at) global-mechanism.org
Posted: 2011-05-18 at 08:19
Forests are a path to sustainable development
As discussions drew to a close at the UN Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD) in UN Headquarters last week, members of the Collaborative Partnership on Forests (CPF), an international mechanism composed of 14 forest related organizations and secretariats, are calling upon countries to pay more attention to the crucial contribution of forests to sustainable development. Members of the CPF are working to improve management, conservation and sustainable development of all types of forests. Sustainably managed forests contribute directly to poverty reduction by providing jobs, incomes, and consumable goods for poor families.
Posted: 2011-05-15 at 11:00
Forests are a path to sustainable development
As discussions drew to a close at the UN Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD) in UN Headquarters last week, members of the Collaborative Partnership on Forests (CPF), an international mechanism composed of 14 forest related organizations and secretariats, are calling upon countries to pay more attention to the crucial contribution of forests to sustainable development. Members of the CPF are working to improve management, conservation and sustainable development of all types of forests. Sustainably managed forests contribute directly to poverty reduction by providing jobs, incomes, and consumable goods for poor families.
Posted: 2011-05-15 at 11:00
Forests are a path to sustainable development
As discussions drew to a close at the UN Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD) in UN Headquarters last week, members of the Collaborative Partnership on Forests (CPF), an international mechanism composed of 14 forest related organizations and secretariats, are calling upon countries to pay more attention to the crucial contribution of forests to sustainable development. Members of the CPF are working to improve management, conservation and sustainable development of all types of forests. Sustainably managed forests contribute directly to poverty reduction by providing jobs, incomes, and consumable goods for poor families.
Posted: 2011-05-15 at 11:00
Growing number of mega-fires may contribute to global warming
10 May 2011, Rome/Sun City - Whilst changing climatic conditions may be exacerbating the growing number of mega-fires round the world, these fires may also themselves be a contributing factor to global warming, said FAO in a report presented today at the 5th International Wildland Fire Conference in Sun City, South Africa.
FAO Media Centre
Posted: 2011-05-10 at 11:00
Growing number of mega-fires may contribute to global warming
10 May 2011, Rome/Sun City - Whilst changing climatic conditions may be exacerbating the growing number of mega-fires round the world, these fires may also themselves be a contributing factor to global warming, said FAO in a report presented today at the 5th International Wildland Fire Conference in Sun City, South Africa.
FAO Media Centre
Posted: 2011-05-10 at 11:00
Growing number of mega-fires may contribute to global warming
10 May 2011, Rome/Sun City - Whilst changing climatic conditions may be exacerbating the growing number of mega-fires round the world, these fires may also themselves be a contributing factor to global warming, said FAO in a report presented today at the 5th International Wildland Fire Conference in Sun City, South Africa.The agency called upon countries to implement more comprehensive fire management strategies and improve the monitoring of wildfire carbon gas emissions that cause global warming.
Posted: 2011-05-09 at 11:00
Growing number of mega-fires may contribute to global warming
10 May 2011, Rome/Sun City - Whilst changing climatic conditions may be exacerbating the growing number of mega-fires round the world, these fires may also themselves be a contributing factor to global warming, said FAO in a report presented today at the 5th International Wildland Fire Conference in Sun City, South Africa.The agency called upon countries to implement more comprehensive fire management strategies and improve the monitoring of wildfire carbon gas emissions that cause global warming.
Posted: 2011-05-09 at 11:00
Growing number of mega-fires may contribute to global warming
Rome/Sun City - Whilst changing climatic conditions may be exacerbating the growing number of mega-fires round the world, these fires may also themselves be a contributing factor to global warming, said FAO in a report presented today at the 5th International Wildland Fire Conference in Sun City, South Africa.The agency called upon countries to implement more comprehensive fire management strategies and improve the monitoring of wildfire carbon gas emissions that cause global warming.
Posted: 2011-05-09 at 11:00
Growing number of mega-fires may contribute to global warming
Posted: 2011-05-09 at 11:00
Growing number of mega-fires may contribute to global warming
Posted: 2011-05-09 at 11:00
Global forestry institutions call for more community-based forest management
The leading international organizations working to protect and manage the world’s forests are calling for governments across the globe to increase communities’ role in forest management. Doing so could contribute to lifting close to a billion people out of poverty, as well as improve the health and vitality of forests.
Posted: 2011-04-25 at 11:00
Global forestry institutions call for more community-based forest management
The leading international organizations working to protect and manage the world’s forests are calling for governments across the globe to increase communities’ role in forest management. Doing so could contribute to lifting close to a billion people out of poverty, as well as improve the health and vitality of forests.
Posted: 2011-04-25 at 11:00
Holy Wood
Wood is not harmonious, homogenous and static and, on the island of Bali, wood is the living fabric of art, ritual and performance. Whether it is an artistic object or a building material, wood shows how life and art are seamlessly intertwined. This video belongs to a series aiming to launch “Rediscovering Wood, Key to a Sustainable Future” - an international conference on the art and joy of wood, jointly organized by FAO and the Government of India. For more information please visit: http://www.artjoywood.org/
Posted: 2011-04-18 at 11:00
Holy Wood
Wood is not harmonious, homogenous and static and, on the island of Bali, wood is the living fabric of art, ritual and performance. Whether it is an artistic object or a building material, wood shows how life and art are seamlessly intertwined. This video belongs to a series aiming to launch “Rediscovering Wood, Key to a Sustainable Future” - an international conference on the art and joy of wood, jointly organized by FAO and the Government of India. For more information please visit: http://www.artjoywood.org/
Posted: 2011-04-18 at 11:00
Holy Wood
Wood is not harmonious, homogenous and static and, on the island of Bali, wood is the living fabric of art, ritual and performance. Whether it is an artistic object or a building material, wood shows how life and art are seamlessly intertwined. This video belongs to a series aiming to launch “Rediscovering Wood, Key to a Sustainable Future” - an international conference on the art and joy of wood, jointly organized by FAO and the Government of India. For more information please visit: http://www.artjoywood.org/
Posted: 2011-04-18 at 11:00
News - International Responses to Global Food Security: GM knowledge product online
These alarming numbers are a direct consequence of longstanding underinvestment in food security, agriculture and rural development. They have been further exacerbated by financial and economic crises, increased oil prices, extreme weather conditions, and increased demand for bio-fuels and food, among other factors.
There are strong links between sustainable management of land resources and food security. Indeed, sustainable land management (SLM) actively contributes to food and livelihood security in a manner that promotes sustainable income generation and poverty reduction.
The international food crisis in 2008 sparked a series of global responses to mitigate its widespread effects, tackle the underlying causes and issues and increase food security. With a view to providing a comprehensive overview of these responses, including key processes, initiatives, financing opportunities and events with relevance to SLM, the Global Mechanism has developed a paper on ''The International Responses to Global Food Security''.
The paper is a key knowledge piece which is designed to support country partners on the international response mechanisms, including food security funds that may be accessed for programmes tackling food security, SLM and for implementing the UNCCD.
For more information:
Ms Siv Oystese, Innovative Finance Officer
Tel. +39 06 5459 2782
s.oystese (at) global-mechanism.org
Posted: 2011-04-18 at 09:57
The art of cork transformation
When you uncork a bottle of wine, have you ever asked yourself if that piece of cork has a story to tell?
Mainly prized for its function as bottle stoppers - the backbone of the cork economy, cork is also used in the building sector for insulation and flooring as well as in several kinds of manufacture. However, the economic and social significance of cork oak forests goes well beyond cork production and industry. Watch this video, recorded on the occasion of the Committee on Forestry 2010, and discover the art of cork transformation in Sardinia (Italy) through Roberto Graffi’s photographs.
For more information please see: http://www.fao.org/forestry/24048-0d0f7526e0dde2b210afee69f94c22931.pdf
Posted: 2011-04-12 at 11:00
The art of cork transformation
When you uncork a bottle of wine, have you ever asked yourself if that piece of cork has a story to tell? Mainly prized for its function as a bottle stopper - the backbone of the cork economy, cork is also used in the building sector for insulation and flooring as well as in several kinds of manufacture. However, the economic and social significance of cork oak forests goes well beyond cork production and industry. Watch this video, recorded on the occasion of the Committee on Forestry 2010, and discover the art of cork transformation in Sardinia (Italy) through Roberto Graffi’s photographs.
For more information please see: http://www.fao.org/forestry/24048-0d0f7526e0dde2b210afee69f94c22931.pdf
Posted: 2011-04-12 at 11:00
The art of cork transformation
When you uncork a bottle of wine, have you ever asked yourself if that piece of cork has a story to tell? Mainly prized for its function as a bottle stopper - the backbone of the cork economy, cork is also used in the building sector for insulation and flooring as well as in several kinds of manufacture. However, the economic and social significance of cork oak forests goes well beyond cork production and industry. Watch this video, recorded on the occasion of the Committee on Forestry 2010, and discover the art of cork transformation in Sardinia (Italy) through Roberto Graffi’s photographs.
For more information please see: http://www.fao.org/forestry/24048-0d0f7526e0dde2b210afee69f94c22931.pdf
Posted: 2011-04-12 at 11:00
News - Regional Action Program for Latin America and the Caribbean underway
The Regional Action Program for Latin America and the Caribbean is a crucial vehicle for putting forward a common vision for implementing the UNCCD Ten Year Strategy, whilst providing strong guidance to country Parties and the Convention bodies concerning the priorities of the region.
The RAP will be fully aligned with the functions of the Regional Coordination Unit (RCU), which is located in Mexico City. The Global Mechanism (GM) continues to play an active role in the RCU in accordance with Decision 3 COP 9, including with regard to issues focusing on finance and investments for UNCCD implementation, such as identifying key donors, initiatives and financing opportunities for the region. In addition, the RCU is also proving very effective in strengthening the interaction between the GM and country Parties in defining joint interventions geared towards enhanced UNCCD implementation.
For more information:
Mr Alejandro Kilpatrick, Programme Coordinator, Latin America and the Caribbean and the Climate Change Finance Programme
Tel. +39 06 5459 2524
a.kilpatrick (at) global-mechanism.org
Posted: 2011-04-08 at 01:54
Forests Provide Untapped Resources for Human Health
Posted: 2011-04-06 at 10:29
Forests provide untapped resources for human health
Vienna/Vantaa: “It is not commonly understood how much ‐ even in our hypermodern urban age ‐ human health and well‐being are influenced by forests and trees”, said Professor Hannu Raitio, coordinator of the IUFRO Task Force on Forests and Human Health of the Vienna‐based International Union of Forest Research Organizations, and Director General of the Finnish Forest Research Institute Metla in Vantaa, prior to World Health Day on 7 April. Research shows that there is a huge untapped economic and health potential in forest biodiversity.
Posted: 2011-04-05 at 11:00
New partnership for forests and climate change in the Mediterranean
Rome/Avignon - A new partnership for Mediterranean forests has been established to address major threats to the region's forests being exacerbated by the severe impact of climate change. The partnership was announced at the Second Mediterranean Forest Week, which is taking place in Avignon, France (5-8 April)."The Collaborative Partnership on Mediterranean Forestswill help raise awareness on the wealth of vital functions Mediterranean forests provide. These include soil and water protection, landscape values, carbon sequestration and biodiversity conservation. It is urgent that we join efforts to restore and preserve their functions for future generations," said Eduardo Rojas-Briales, Assistant Director-General of the FAO Forestry Department.
Posted: 2011-04-05 at 11:00
Forests provide untapped resources for human health
Vienna/Vantaa: “It is not commonly understood how much ‐ even in our hypermodern urban age ‐ human health and well‐being are influenced by forests and trees”, said Professor Hannu Raitio, coordinator of the IUFRO Task Force on Forests and Human Health of the Vienna‐based International Union of Forest Research Organizations, and Director General of the Finnish Forest Research Institute Metla in Vantaa, prior to World Health Day on April 7. Research shows that there is a huge untapped economic and health potential in forest biodiversity.
Posted: 2011-04-05 at 11:00
Forests provide untapped resources for human health
Vienna/Vantaa: “It is not commonly understood how much ‐ even in our hypermodern urban age ‐ human health and well‐being are influenced by forests and trees”, said Professor Hannu Raitio, coordinator of the IUFRO Task Force on Forests and Human Health of the Vienna‐based International Union of Forest Research Organizations, and Director General of the Finnish Forest Research Institute Metla in Vantaa, prior to World Health Day on April 7. Research shows that there is a huge untapped economic and health potential in forest biodiversity.
Posted: 2011-04-05 at 11:00
New partnership for forests and climate change in the Mediterranean
Rome/Avignon - A new partnership for Mediterranean forests has been established to address major threats to the region's forests being exacerbated by the severe impact of climate change. The partnership was announced at the Second Mediterranean Forest Week, which is taking place in Avignon, France (5-8 April)."The Collaborative Partnership on Mediterranean Forestswill help raise awareness on the wealth of vital functions Mediterranean forests provide. These include soil and water protection, landscape values, carbon sequestration and biodiversity conservation. It is urgent that we join efforts to restore and preserve their functions for future generations," said Eduardo Rojas-Briales, Assistant Director-General of the FAO Forestry Department.
Posted: 2011-04-05 at 11:00
Forests provide untapped resources for human health
Vienna/Vantaa: “It is not commonly understood how much ‐ even in our hypermodern urban age ‐ human health and well‐being are influenced by forests and trees”, said Professor Hannu Raitio, coordinator of the IUFRO Task Force on Forests and Human Health of the Vienna‐based International Union of Forest Research Organizations, and Director General of the Finnish Forest Research Institute Metla in Vantaa, prior to World Health Day on April 7. Research shows that there is a huge untapped economic and health potential in forest biodiversity.
Posted: 2011-04-05 at 11:00
New partnership for forests and climate change in the Mediterranean
Rome/Avignon - A new partnership for Mediterranean forests has been established to address major threats to the region's forests being exacerbated by the severe impact of climate change. The partnership was announced at the Second Mediterranean Forest Week, which is taking place in Avignon, France (5-8 April)."The Collaborative Partnership on Mediterranean Forestswill help raise awareness on the wealth of vital functions Mediterranean forests provide. These include soil and water protection, landscape values, carbon sequestration and biodiversity conservation. It is urgent that we join efforts to restore and preserve their functions for future generations," said Eduardo Rojas-Briales, Assistant Director-General of the FAO Forestry Department.
Posted: 2011-04-05 at 11:00
Forests and climate change in the Mediterranean
Posted: 2011-04-05 at 11:00
Forests and climate change in the Mediterranean
Posted: 2011-04-05 at 11:00
Silva Mediterranea celebrates 100th anniversary
Experts celebrate the 100th anniversary of regional cooperation on Mediterranean Forestry Questions - Silva Mediterranea - to emphasize the fact that regional cooperation is not new to this area, but has evolved over time, on a very solid foundation. In observance of the occasion during the Second Mediterranean Forest Week being held in Avignon, the Assistant Director General of the FAO Forestry Department, Eduardo Rojas-Briales, will distribute commemorative plaques to fifteen forest experts who have been instrumental in the coordination of this regional cooperation on Mediterranean Forests for the past thirty years.
Posted: 2011-04-04 at 11:00
The impact of climate change on sustainable forest management strategies in the Mediterranean
A Collaborative Partnership on Mediterranean Forests has been recently established to strengthen the capacities of member countries of the FAO Committee on Mediterranean Forestry Questions - Silva Mediterranea. The new Partnership aims to ensure sustainable production of goods and services provided by forest ecosystems in the region under current conditions of climate change. The Partnership focuses in particular on Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Syria, Lebanon and Turkey. Eduardo Rojas-Briales, FAO Assistant Director-General for Forestry, and other representatives from the organising institutions for the Second Mediterranean Forest Week will address a press conference on 6 April at 18.00, Palais des Papes, Avignon.
Posted: 2011-04-04 at 11:00
Silva Mediterranea celebrates 100th anniversary
Experts celebrate the 100th anniversary of regional cooperation on Mediterranean Forestry Questions - Silva Mediterranea - to emphasize the fact that regional cooperation is not new to this area, but has evolved over time, on a very solid foundation. In observance of the occasion during the Second Mediterranean Forest Week being held in Avignon, the Assistant Director General of the FAO Forestry Department, Eduardo Rojas-Briales, will distribute commemorative plaques to fifteen forest experts who have been instrumental in the coordination of this regional cooperation on Mediterranean Forests for the past thirty years.
Posted: 2011-04-04 at 11:00
The impact of climate change on sustainable forest management strategies in the Mediterranean
A Collaborative Partnership on Mediterranean Forests has been recently established to strengthen the capacities of member countries of the FAO Committee on Mediterranean Forestry Questions - Silva Mediterranea. The new Partnership aims to ensure sustainable production of goods and services provided by forest ecosystems in the region under current conditions of climate change. The Partnership focuses in particular on Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Syria, Lebanon and Turkey. Eduardo Rojas-Briales, FAO Assistant Director-General for Forestry, and other representatives from the organising institutions for the Second Mediterranean Forest Week will address a press conference on 6 April at 18.00, Palais des Papes, Avignon.
Posted: 2011-04-04 at 11:00
Silva Mediterranea celebrates 100th anniversary
Experts celebrate the 100th anniversary of regional cooperation on Mediterranean Forestry Questions - Silva Mediterranea - to emphasize the fact that regional cooperation is not new to this area, but has evolved over time, on a very solid foundation. In observance of the occasion during the Second Mediterranean Forest Week being held in Avignon, the Assistant Director General of the FAO Forestry Department, Eduardo Rojas-Briales, will distribute commemorative plaques to fifteen forest experts who have been instrumental in the coordination of this regional cooperation on Mediterranean Forests for the past thirty years.
Posted: 2011-04-04 at 11:00
Second Mediterranean Forest Week 5-8 April 2011, Avignon
As part of the International Year of Forests 2011, the Second Mediterranean Forest Week will be held in Avignon (France) from 5-8 April 2011.
During this week, key Mediterranean forest stakeholders will address policy-relevant questions regarding the role of forests for the sustainable development of Mediterranean territories and the impact of climate change on forest fire prevention strategies and key resources as water.
Posted: 2011-04-03 at 11:00
Second Mediterranean Forest Week 5-8 April 2011, Avignon
As part of the International Year of Forests 2011, the Second Mediterranean Forest Week will be held in Avignon (France) from 5-8 April 2011.
During this week, key Mediterranean forest stakeholders will address policy-relevant questions regarding the role of forests for the sustainable development of Mediterranean territories and the impact of climate change on forest fire prevention strategies and key resources as water.
Posted: 2011-04-03 at 11:00
Second Mediterranean Forest Week 5-8 April 2011, Avignon
As part of the International Year of Forests 2011, the Second Mediterranean Forest Week will be held in Avignon (France) from 5-8 April 2011.
During this week, key Mediterranean forest stakeholders will address policy-relevant questions regarding the role of forests for the sustainable development of Mediterranean territories and the impact of climate change on forest fire prevention strategies and key resources as water.
Posted: 2011-04-03 at 11:00
Get smart about forest health!
How much do you know about the health of forests? FAO, using an integrated approach to deal with forest health problems, has produced the Guide to implementation of phytosanitary standards in forestry that provides easy to understand information about everything you should know to help protect the forests from pests. Meanwhile, Senior Pathologist Dr Kerry Britton from the US Forest Service has devised a “teaser” as part of an ongoing effort to raise awareness among the general public.
For more information on forest health: http://www.fao.org/forestry/foresthealthguide/en/
For more information on the guide: http://www.fao.org/docrep/013/i2080e/i2080e00.pdf
Posted: 2011-03-31 at 11:00
Get smart about forest health!
How much do you know about the health of forests? FAO, using an integrated approach to deal with forest health problems, has produced the Guide to implementation of phytosanitary standards in forestry that provides easy to understand information about everything you should know to help protect the forests from pests. Meanwhile, Senior Pathologist Dr Kerry Britton from the US Forest Service has devised a “teaser” as part of an ongoing effort to raise awareness among the general public.
For more information on forest health: http://www.fao.org/forestry/foresthealthguide/en/
For more information on the guide: http://www.fao.org/docrep/013/i2080e/i2080e00.pdf
Posted: 2011-03-31 at 11:00
Get smart about forest health!
How much do you know about the health of forests? FAO, using an integrated approach to deal with forest health problems, has produced the Guide to implementation of phytosanitary standards in forestry that provides easy to understand information about everything you should know to help protect the forests from pests. Meanwhile, Senior Pathologist Dr Kerry Britton from the US Forest Service has devised a “teaser” as part of an ongoing effort to raise awareness among the general public.
For more information on forest health: http://www.fao.org/forestry/foresthealthguide/en/
For more information on the guide: http://www.fao.org/docrep/013/i2080e/i2080e00.pdf
Posted: 2011-03-31 at 11:00
New publication: Guide to implementation of phytosanitary standards in forestry
This guide, produced by an international group of scientists, phytosanitary authorities, forest experts and industry representatives, provides easy-to-understand information on how good forest management practices and well implemented phytosanitary standards can minimize pest spread and facilitate safe trade. The guide will be of vital interest to people involved in nursery activities, planting, managing, harvesting, manufacturing, trading and transporting forest products. It will soon be available in Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian and Spanish.
Posted: 2011-03-28 at 11:00
New publication: Guide to implementation of phytosanitary standards in forestry
This guide, produced by an international group of scientists, phytosanitary authorities, forest experts and industry representatives, provides easy-to-understand information on how good forest management practices and well implemented phytosanitary standards can minimize pest spread and facilitate safe trade. The guide will be of vital interest to people involved in nursery activities, planting, managing, harvesting, manufacturing, trading and transporting forest products. It will soon be available in Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian and Spanish.
Posted: 2011-03-28 at 11:00
New publication: Guide to implementation of phytosanitary standards in forestry
This guide, produced by an international group of scientists, phytosanitary authorities, forest experts and industry representatives, provides easy-to-understand information on how good forest management practices and well implemented phytosanitary standards can minimize pest spread and facilitate safe trade. The guide will be of vital interest to people involved in nursery activities, planting, managing, harvesting, manufacturing, trading and transporting forest products. It will soon be available in Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian and Spanish.
Posted: 2011-03-28 at 11:00
Celebrating World Forest Day
To celebrate the World Forest Day of the International Year of Forests, on 21 March 2011, the UNECE/FAO Forestry and Timber Section held a tree planting ceremony in the “Parc Ariana” which surrounds the Palais des Nations in Geneva. A tulip tree from the “Art of Trees: A Forest Gallery” exhibit which was held inside the Palais from 15 to 25 February 2011, was planted by distinguished guests including the Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, Mr. Ján Kubiš, Permanent Representative of the United States to the United Nations, Ambassador Betty E. King, and the Permanent Representative of Finland to the United Nations, Ambassador Hannu Himanen.
Posted: 2011-03-28 at 11:00
Celebrating World Forest Day
To celebrate the World Forest Day of the International Year of Forests, on 21 March 2011, the UNECE/FAO Forestry and Timber Section held a tree planting ceremony in the “Parc Ariana” which surrounds the Palais des Nations in Geneva. A tulip tree from the “Art of Trees: A Forest Gallery” exhibit which was held inside the Palais from 15 to 25 February 2011, was planted by distinguished guests including the Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, Mr. Ján Kubiš, Permanent Representative of the United States to the United Nations, Ambassador Betty E. King, and the Permanent Representative of Finland to the United Nations, Ambassador Hannu Himanen.
Posted: 2011-03-28 at 11:00
New publication: Guide to implementation of phytosanitary standards in forestry
Produced by an international group of scientists, phytosanitary authorities, forest experts and industry representatives, this guide describes how good forest management practices and well implemented phytosanitary standards can minimize pest spread and facilitate safe trade. The guide will be of interest to people involved in nursery activities, planting, managing, harvesting, manufacturing, trading and transporting forest products. It will soon be available in Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian and Spanish.
Posted: 2011-03-28 at 11:00
Rediscovering wood: the key to a sustainable future
Chairs are an everyday object holding a strong symbolic value. To this day, whenever a meeting is held, somebody "chairs" it. Wooden chairs, in particular, lead us into the future. This is the first video in a series aimed at launching an international event that FAO is organizing together with the Government of India. The event celebrates "Rediscovering wood: the key to a sustainable future" and it will be held later this year. Designers, architects, experts and technicians are all invited to gather together and rediscover wood’s character, its protean quality, versatility, durability. For more information, please check http://www.artjoywood.org
Posted: 2011-03-23 at 11:00
News - The imperative of an integrated approach to the challenges of land degradation
Notwithstanding the considerable efforts being made by the Government to address land degradation and desertification that jeopardize livelihoods, especially in dry rural and refugee-impacted areas of the country, ODA records show that the donor funds marked specifically for SLM-related activities under the environment component constitute less than 3% of the total of USD 600 million.
Today, donor attention is increasingly focused on climate change mitigation, adaptation and Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD) - a trend that was confirmed by figures from Tanzania’s Development Partners Group on the Environment (DPGE).
In this context, the GM’s comprehensive approach of mainstreaming sustainable land management issues into broader development processes and exploring a multiple sources of finance is most welcome. Indeed, the Development Partners defined the GM’s comprehensive approach as helpful and quite unique – in so far as there is no other organization in Tanzania that is looking at how all the sectoral efforts come together to support the SLM drive.
The GM is currently supporting the Government of Tanzania in identifying opportunities for promoting and developing incentive and market-based mechanisms (IMBMs) for land users, including both small scale farmers and large scale private sector entities, to manage their land resources sustainably, as part of Tanzania’s Integrated Financing Strategy. This work is based on previous collaboration between the GM and the Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Center in Costa Rica (CATIE) that has led to the identification of fourteen such mechanisms that were the subject of discussion with a broad, multidisciplinary team of experts, during a two-day workshop in Dar es Salaam on 26 and 27 January 2011.
The participants discussed the relevance and applicability of these mechanisms in the context of each of Tanzania’s seven agro-ecological zones. Many IMBMs are already being used in specific contexts and now need to be upscaled. To this end, the Government is looking forward to the outcomes of the GM’s economic valuation work as they believe this will provide the compelling arguments needed to mainstream SLM into other development processes.
Mr Kwame Awere-Gyekye, Programme Coordinator, East & Southern Africa
Tel. +39 065459 2199
k.awere (at) global-mechanism.org
Ms Siv Oystese, Financial and Private Sector Strategy Officer
Tel. +39 06 5459 2782
s.oystese (at) global-mechanism.org
Posted: 2011-03-23 at 08:45
Forests are key for high quality water supply
By 2025, 1.8 billion people will be living in regions with absolute water scarcity and two-thirds of the world's population may experience water-stress conditions. Forests capture and store water and can play an important role in providing drinking water for millions of people in the world's mega-cities. Given this fact, the members of the Collaborative Partnership on Forests (CPF), international organizations involved in forests, call upon countries to pay more attention to forest protection and management for the provision of clean water.
Posted: 2011-03-17 at 11:00
Forests are key for high quality water supply
By 2025, 1.8 billion people will be living in regions with absolute water scarcity and two-thirds of the world's population may experience water-stress conditions. Forests capture and store water and can play an important role in providing drinking water for millions of people in the world's mega-cities. Given this fact, the members of the Collaborative Partnership on Forests (CPF), international organizations involved in forests, call upon countries to pay more attention to forest protection and management for the provision of clean water.
Posted: 2011-03-17 at 11:00
Event - Exchange of Experience and Knowledge on Incentive and Market-based Mechanisms for Sustainable Land Management
In this context and in response to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD)’s 10-year Strategy, the Global Mechanism (GM) has been working with CATIE to develop an analytical framework to identify relevant incentive and market-based mechanisms (IMBMs) for environmental stewardship along with a tool to assess the applicability of these mechanisms in a given country. To date, the framework and tool have been used in Cameroon, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Mozambique, Tanzania and Zambia.
A international consultation is now being organized at CATIE, in Turrialba, Costa Rica from 23-25 March 2011, bringing together some of the main actors involved at the national level in the work on IMBMs together with other key partners and experts from a variety of international organisations, with a view to
exchanging country experiences of using the IMBM framework and methodology with a view to validating them;
sharing lessons on the application of IMBMs for promoting SLM practices in national and regional contexts; and
opportunities for increasing investments through the application of IMBMs;
The consultation will also explore potential partnerships between participants, identify next steps for scaling up IMBM initiatives at the country/regional levels, and establish a knowledge exchange mechanism or community of practice to share knowledge between participants.
Importantly, the consultation will provide a unique opportunity to share experiences and build knowledge on incentive and market based mechanisms and will also draw on Costa Rica’s first hand experience as a forerunner in implementing many of the mechanisms discussed on the ground.
Ms Siv Oystese, Financial and Private Sector Strategy Officer
Tel. +39 06 5459 2782
s.oystese (at) global-mechanism.org
Posted: 2011-03-17 at 09:55
Forests are key for high quality water supply
Posted: 2011-03-16 at 11:00
Forests are key for high quality water supply
Posted: 2011-03-16 at 11:00
IUFRO World Congress 2019 - Call for Bids
Posted: 2011-03-15 at 01:42
Water security depends on forests and wetlands
In this rapidly urbanizing world, water security is a key issue. Today, as we celebrate World Wetlands Day and inaugurate the International Year of Forests, it is important to recognize the critical links between water, forests, wetlands and people.
Posted: 2011-03-14 at 11:00
Water security depends on forests and wetlands
In this rapidly urbanizing world, water security is a key issue. Today, as we celebrate World Wetlands Day and inaugurate the International Year of Forests, it is important to recognize the critical links between water, forests, wetlands and people.
Posted: 2011-03-14 at 11:00
Climate change highlights need for women to take greater role in forest management
Women are the main users of forests in developing countries – gathering food and firewood – but they continue to be sidelined in how the forests are managed despite years of efforts to mainstream their involvement, experts said following International Women's Day on March 8. In the International Year of Forests 2011, members of the Collaborative Partnership on Forests (CPF), a consortium of 14 forest-related organizations and secretariats, revisit the challenges of promoting women's involvement in forestry,
Posted: 2011-03-10 at 11:00
ACP-FLEGT Support Programme: Fourth call for proposals
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations announces the fourth Call for Proposals (deadline: 20 May 2011) for pilot projects and technical assistance through the Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade Support Programme for African, Caribbean and Pacific Countries (ACP-FLEGT Support Programme).
The four-year initiative has two main components: providing assistance to ACP countries in putting the European Union FLEGT Action Plan into practice, and supporting the collection, analysis and dissemination of FLEGT-related information and lessons learned among stakeholder groups in ACP countries.
To learn more please visit our website at www.fao.org/forestry/acp-flegt/en .
Posted: 2011-03-09 at 11:00
ACP-FLEGT Support Programme: Fourth call for proposals
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations announces the fourth Call for Proposals (deadline: 20 May 2011) for pilot projects and technical assistance through the Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade Support Programme for African, Caribbean and Pacific Countries (ACP-FLEGT Support Programme). The four-year initiative has two main components: providing assistance to ACP countries in putting the European Union FLEGT Action Plan into practice, and supporting the collection, analysis and dissemination of FLEGT-related information and lessons learned among stakeholder groups in ACP countries. To learn more please visit our website (click "more").
Posted: 2011-03-09 at 11:00
ACP-FLEGT Support Programme: Fourth call for proposals
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations announces the fourth Call for Proposals (deadline: 20 May 2011) for pilot projects and technical assistance through the Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade Support Programme for African, Caribbean and Pacific Countries (ACP-FLEGT Support Programme). The four-year initiative has two main components: providing assistance to ACP countries in putting the European Union FLEGT Action Plan into practice, and supporting the collection, analysis and dissemination of FLEGT-related information and lessons learned among stakeholder groups in ACP countries. To learn more please visit our website (click "more").
Posted: 2011-03-09 at 11:00
Event - Workshop on Incentive and Market-based Mechanisms for Sustainable Land Management in Mozambique: Opportunities and Applicability
In this context, the Ministry for the Coordination of Environmental Affairs (MICOA) and the Global Mechanism (GM) of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) are organizing a workshop identify opportunities for promoting and developing IMBMs that support the sustainable management of fragile land resources in Mozambique.
The workshop has been conceived as an interactive forum that will bring together experts from Government Ministries, the private sector, civil society, research institutions and other development partners.
The specific objectives of this event are to identify applicable IMBMs for SLM in Mozambique, pinpoint opportunities for partnership and upscaling such mechanisms, and explore opportunities for integrating SLM into climate change financing mechanisms in the agricultural, water and land use sectors. The links with climate change finance This is crucial in a context in which the vast majority of subsistence farmers are located in marginal lands and face climate change impacts, such as drought, soil erosion and water run off that jeopardize their livelihoods.
News on the outcomes of the workshop will be published after the workshop.
For more information:
Ms Elsie Attafuah, Programme Officer, East and Southern Africa
Tel. +39 06 5459 2577
e.attafuah (at) global-mechanism.org
Posted: 2011-03-07 at 11:21
Scientific Summary No. 79, 2011
Posted: 2011-03-03 at 01:37
Community-based forest management key to success of REDD+
Local communities need to be given a greater role in the management of forests to ensure the best chance for REDD+ schemes to work, experts said as the United Nations launched the 2011 International Year of Forests.
Posted: 2011-02-28 at 11:00
Growing Forest Partnerships Update
Growing Forest Partnerships is an initiative that helps create and strengthen ways of working together for the benefit of forests and the people that depend on them. Funded by the World Bank, the partnership includes the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED), the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) and the World Bank. The February newsletter includes stories from projects in Nepal, Guatemala and Liberia and an update from G3's recent participation in Cancun and UNFF9 in New York.
Posted: 2011-02-23 at 11:00
Growing Forest Partnerships Update
Growing Forest Partnerships is an initiative that helps create and strengthen ways of working together for the benefit of forests and the people that depend on them. Funded by the World Bank, the partnership includes the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED), the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) and the World Bank. The February newsletter includes stories from projects in Nepal, Guatemala and Liberia and an update from G3's recent participation in Cancun and UNFF9 in New York.
Posted: 2011-02-23 at 11:00
Growing Forest Partnerships Update
Growing Forest Partnerships is an initiative that helps create and strengthen ways of working together for the benefit of forests and the people that depend on them. Funded by the World Bank, the partnership includes the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED), the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) and the World Bank. The February newsletter includes stories from projects in Nepal, Guatemala and Liberia and an update from G3's recent participation in Cancun and UNFF9 in New York.
Posted: 2011-02-23 at 11:00
Growing Forest Partnerships Update
Growing Forest Partnerships is an initiative that helps create and strengthen ways of working together for the benefit of forests and the people that depend on them. Funded by the World Bank, the partnership includes the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED), FAO and the World Bank. The February newsletter includes stories from projects in Nepal, Guatemala and Liberia and an update from G3's recent participation in Cancun and UNFF9 in New York.
Posted: 2011-02-23 at 11:00
Art of Trees exhibition in UN Geneva
A unique Art of Trees exhibition, organized by the UNECE and FAO in partnership with the United States of America Permanent Mission to the United Nations and with the United Nations Office in Geneva, was held at the Palais des Nations in Geneva. The exhibit combines artwork on the theme of trees - including a series of 24 posters by Montana artist Monte Dolack - and beautiful living trees. Following the exhibition, many of them will be planted in the park of the Palais des Nations on March 21st, World Forestry Day. Click the link to view the opening of the exhibiton and interviews.
Posted: 2011-02-17 at 11:00
Art of Trees exhibition in UN Geneva
A unique Art of Trees exhibition, organized by the UNECE and FAO in partnership with the United States of America Permanent Mission to the United Nations and with the United Nations Office in Geneva, was held at the Palais des Nations in Geneva. The exhibit combines artwork on the theme of trees - including a series of 24 posters by Montana artist Monte Dolack - and beautiful living trees. Following the exhibition, many of them will be planted in the park of the Palais des Nations on March 21st, World Forestry Day. Click the link to view the opening of the exhibiton and interviews.
Posted: 2011-02-17 at 11:00
News - Aid for Trade investments in agriculture and sustainable land management
In this regard, the GM recently released three new publications on the subject:
"Vers un agenda commun de l’Agriculture et de l'Aide pour le commerce pour la gestion durable des terres: L'expérience du Mali".
"Towards a common agenda on Aid for Trade and Agriculture for sustainable land management: the experience of Uganda".
Knowledge Exchange Programme on Aid for Trade Finance for Sustainable Land Management: A manual for least developed countries (LDCs)
In developing countries, particularly the least developed countries (LDCs), agriculture is the main source of food and income for the majority of the population. Developing trade in agriculture is crucial to achieve poverty reduction goals, thereby strengthening the impacts of Aid for Trade processes.
One important factor contributing to making trade in agriculture sustainable and profitable is SLM, a vital measure in determining the quantity, quality and sustainability of agricultural production. Moreover SLM is crucial in strengthening the capacity of the agricultural sector to feed the population, by supporting rural producers to generate sustainable incomes and enhancing a stable and quality supply that meets market demand.
The experiences of Mali and Uganda share the progress made to-date by these countries in harmonizing their trade priorities across sectors in order to build more coherent policy frameworks, and coordinate trade investments in agriculture to promote SLM and facilitate the matching of supply and demand of agricultural products.
The cross-sectoral priorities identified have become a useful reference for the development of integrated trade project proposals based on sustainable production principles and the provision of targeted support to agriculture in general and to SLM in particular. The increased interaction between the ministries has also contributed to an improved policy environment for cross-sectoral cooperation. In the case of non-trade ministries, an increased appreciation of the importance of trade as a means to promote investment in sustainable production has been clearly demonstrated. Equally, ministries of trade themselves have also increased their efforts to integrate sustainable production in the national trade development plans in view of its potential to increase trade sustainability and profitability.
The exercise carried out in Mali and Uganda builds on the Country Strategic Investment Framework for Sustainable Land Management (CSIF), and on the National Implementation Unit (NIU) of the Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF), which played a crucial role in the coordination process. Both countries are in the process of further strengthening such processes by engaging with the national structures of the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP).
The Knowledge Exchange Programme on Designing Integrated Financing Strategies (DIFS) for SLM has been designed by the GM to generate and share information and knowledge on financing to address land degradation and promote SLM for country Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD). The DIFS draws on the GM’s programmatic approach to resource mobilization - the Integrated Financing Strategy (IFS) - a process for identifying and mobilizing a mix of financial resources to fund projects, programmes and priority actions contributing to SLM and UNCCD implementation in a given country.
In order to build and disseminate knowledge on the different types of innovative sources of financing involved in the IFS, and enhance access to these sources for financing SLM projects and programmes, the GM has also developed thematic DIFS modules, which include the Aid for Trade (AfT) Finance for SLM module (DIFS-AfT).
The DIFS-AfT has been developed to help stakeholders involved in SLM, particularly the UNCCD focal point institutions (i.e. agriculture and environment ministries), to mobilise Aid for Trade resources in the context of the IFS.
The DIFS-AfT will strengthen the capacity of country partners to develop a trade component under the IFS, building on existing processes to support trade development in LDCs, the aim of which is to mobilize trade-related resources and pool them within the IFS package. This will ensure that:
the trade component in the IFS is incorporated under AfT implementation in the country;
the key elements for designing the IFS trade component are elaborated based on existing processes to support trade development;
the processes of consultation, partnership building, coordination and awareness raising are undertaken concurrently with the development of the IFS trade component;
the contributions of the different stakeholders are integrated in the development of the IFS trade component in order to make it the result of a participatory and inter-sectoral process.
For more information:
Ms Eleonora Canigiani, Trade & Market Access Officer
Tel. +39 06 5459 2734
e.canigiani (at) global-mechanism.org
Posted: 2011-02-17 at 01:09
Reviving agricultural and forestry research in DR Congo
Posted: 2011-02-13 at 11:00
Reviving agricultural and forestry research in DR Congo
Posted: 2011-02-13 at 11:00
Dance performance raises awareness of the importance of forests
Moses Pendleton , founder of the internationally renowned Momix dance company, used the opening night of Momix's new "Bothanica" production at Rome's Teatro Olimpico yesterday to announce his support for the International Year of Forests. "It is important to raise awareness about forests. They are important," he said. "Without them we would not breathe. They give us air and water."
Posted: 2011-02-08 at 11:00
Dance performance raises awareness of the importance of forests
Moses Pendleton , founder of the internationally renowned Momix dance company, used the opening night of Momix's new "Bothanica" production at Rome's Teatro Olimpico yesterday to announce his support for the International Year of Forests. "It is important to raise awareness about forests. They are important," he said. "Without them we would not breathe. They give us air and water."
Posted: 2011-02-08 at 11:00
Unasylva 237: International Year of Forests 2011 - Celebrate forests every day
2011 is a special year for forests and for all who care about them. To inaugurate it, FAO has created a special issue of Unasylva. More than 100 international days are celebrated throughout the year, in recognition of a vast range of issues, occupations, activities and cultural values important to humanity. What better way to demonstrate the myriad functions of forests than to show that forests have a link to almost all of them?
With only photos and the briefest of stories, the issue expresses the theme of the international year – “Forests for people” – by showing how forests are important to nearly all kinds of human activity
Posted: 2011-02-07 at 11:00
Unasylva 237 International Year of Forests 2011: Celebrate forests every day
FAO inaugurates the International Year of Forests with a special photographic issue of Unasylva. More than 100 international days are celebrated throughout the year, in recognition of a vast range of issues, occupations, activities and cultural values important to humanity. This beautiful compilation of images illustrates that forests have a link to almost all of them. While the international days are the thread that holds the collection together, the organization is thematic, rather than chronological, the better to catalogue forests’ place in many sectors. The issue expresses the theme of the international year – “Forests for people” – by showing how forests are important to nearly all kinds of human activity.
Posted: 2011-02-07 at 11:00
Unasylva 237: International Year of Forests 2011 - Celebrate forests every day
FAO inaugurates the International Year of Forests with a special photographic issue of Unasylva. More than 100 international days are celebrated throughout the year, in recognition of a vast range of issues, occupations, activities and cultural values important to humanity. This beautiful compilation of images illustrates that forests have a link to almost all of them. While the international days are the thread that holds the collection together, the organization is thematic, rather than chronological, the better to catalogue forests’ place in many sectors. The issue expresses the theme of the international year – “Forests for people” – by showing how forests are important to nearly all kinds of human activity.
Posted: 2011-02-07 at 11:00
News - CILSS builds new financing momentum
In recent years, the relationship between CILSS and the GM has been a dynamic one, with the GM’s Regional Advisor for West and Central Africa being hosted by CILSS. Joint initiatives have been launched not only at the country level, but also sub-regionally, through the development of integrated investment frameworks (IIFs) for sustainable land management (SLM) and the implementation of Integrated Financing Strategies (IFSs) to mobilize external, internal and innovative finance for SLM.
Currently, 95% of CILSS’ financing is provided by the donor community. The Heads of State Summit held in Ndjamena in 2010 agreed to increase member countries’ contributions by 20% with a view to inverting this ratio over time, to bolster the institution’s stability. After 34 years of existence and activities, with its current financing modalities CILSS is still “a precarious organization, built on sand, that operates according to the logic of the projects financed by its technical and financial partners” (European Union, Chef de File of the technical and financial partners of CILSS, at the opening session of the Council of Ministers). In order to reach a 50:50 TFP: member state financing ratio in a short space of time, the Council of Ministers has encouraged the Executive Secretariat of CILSS to work more closely with or even merge with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). By the same coin, in his closing address, Albert Pahimi Padacké, Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation of the Republic of Chad and Coordinating Minister of CILSS, called on Member States to increase their contributions by 20% with immediate effect.
To galvanise momentum, the Council of Ministers called on CILSS to make resource mobilisation for its own activities and for the food security and natural resource management (NRM) activities of its Member States, to be a top priority.
A flurry of financial agreements signed in 2010 for a total of Euro 32 million over the next four years, has reinstated CILSS a key player among West Africa’s Subregional organizations, on issues of food security and NRM.
The Council of Ministers of CILSS, held on 14 and 15 January 2011 was advised that many new agreements concerning food security, SLM and climate change adaptation, had been signed and would be implemented over the next three years (2011 –13). Major contributors are the European Union (Euros 24 443 million), the French Global Environment Fund (FGEF) and the French Development Agency, AFD (Euro 6.2 million), USAID (USD 2.7 million per annum for 3 years) and West African Economic and Monetary Union, UEMOA,(Euro 763 360)
For more information:
François Tapsoba
Regional Financial Advisor for Francophone Africa
f.tapsoba (at) global-mechanism.org
Posted: 2011-02-03 at 12:08
Scientific Summary No. 78, 2010
Posted: 2011-02-02 at 07:57
Scientific Summary No. 78, 2011
Posted: 2011-02-02 at 07:57
International Year of Forests launched
On Wednesday, 2 February, Eduardo Rojas-Briales, Assistant Director General of the FAO Forestry Department, participated in the launch of the International Year of Forests 2011 (Forests 2011) during the 9th Session of the UN Forum on Forests at UN Headquarters in New York, USA. ADG Rojas joined Nobel Prize winner Wangaari Maathai during a press conference, where he discussed FAO's contributions to Forests 2011 and encouraged people to take action to improve the state of forests during the Year. He also called attention to the first publication produced by the FAO Forestry Department in celebration of the Year: State of the World's Forests 2011. To learn more about the current edition of State of the World's Forests 2011, follow the link to FAO's press release on the publication.
Posted: 2011-02-01 at 11:00
International Year of Forests launched
New York/Rome - Eduardo Rojas-Briales, Assistant Director General of the FAO Forestry Department, participated in the launch of the International Year of Forests 2011 (Forests 2011) during the 9th Session of the UN Forum on Forests at UN Headquarters in New York, USA. ADG Rojas joined Nobel Prize winner Wangaari Maathai during a press conference, where he discussed FAO's contributions to Forests 2011 and encouraged people to take action to improve the state of forests during the Year. He also called attention to the first publication produced by the FAO Forestry Department in celebration of the Year: State of the World's Forests 2011. To learn more about the current edition of State of the World's Forests 2011, follow the link to FAO's press release on the publication.
Posted: 2011-02-01 at 11:00
2011 State of the World's Forests
The ninth biennial issue of State of the World’s Forests, published at the outset of 2011, the International Year of Forests, considers the theme ‘Changing pathways, changing lives: forests as multiple pathways to sustainable development’.
Posted: 2011-02-01 at 11:00
2011 State of the World's Forests
The ninth biennial issue of State of the World’s Forests, published at the outset of 2011, the International Year of Forests, considers the theme ‘Changing pathways, changing lives: forests as multiple pathways to sustainable development’.
Posted: 2011-02-01 at 11:00
2011 State of the World's Forests
The ninth biennial issue of State of the World’s Forests, published at the outset of 2011, the International Year of Forests, considers the theme ‘Changing pathways, changing lives: forests as multiple pathways to sustainable development’.
Posted: 2011-02-01 at 11:00
International Year of Forests launch
The Forests 2011 launch coincided with the release of the State of the World’s Forests 2011 during a press conference at United Nations Headquarters. The Forests 2011 launch ceremony and program was incorporated into the high level Ministerial segment of the United Nations Forum of Forests. The ceremony was presided over by H.E. Mr. Joseph Deiss, President of the 65th session of the United Nations General Assembly and attended by world leaders, Nobel Laureate Wangaari Maathai and forest experts at the United Nations. The Assistant Director-General of the Forestry Department and a panel of experts briefed Permanent Representatives to the Food and Agriculture Organization on communication plans for the International Year of Forests and the 2011 edition of the FAO flagship publication, the State of the World’s Forests (SOFO).
Posted: 2011-02-01 at 11:00
State of the World's Forests released
Millions of forest-dependant people play a vital role in managing, conserving, and developing the world's forests in a sustainable manner, but the outside world often underestimates their rights to use and benefit from local forest resources, says FAO's new State of the World's Forests report, launched at the opening ceremony of the United Nations International Year of Forests in New York today.
Posted: 2011-02-01 at 11:00
International Year of Forests launch
The Forests 2011 launch coincided with the release of the State of the World’s Forests 2011 during a press conference at United Nations Headquarters. The Forests 2011 launch ceremony and program was incorporated into the high level Ministerial segment of the United Nations Forum of Forests. The ceremony was presided over by H.E. Mr. Joseph Deiss, President of the 65th session of the United Nations General Assembly and attended by world leaders, Nobel Laureate Wangaari Maathai and forest experts at the United Nations. The Assistant Director-General of the Forestry Department and a panel of experts briefed Permanent Representatives to the Food and Agriculture Organization on communication plans for the International Year of Forests and the 2011 edition of the FAO flagship publication, the State of the World’s Forests (SOFO).
Posted: 2011-02-01 at 11:00
State of the World's Forests released
Millions of forest-dependant people play a vital role in managing, conserving, and developing the world's forests in a sustainable manner, but the outside world often underestimates their rights to use and benefit from local forest resources, says FAO's new State of the World's Forests report, launched at the opening ceremony of the United Nations International Year of Forests in New York today.
Posted: 2011-02-01 at 11:00
International Year of Forests launched
New York/Rome - Eduardo Rojas-Briales, Assistant Director General of the FAO Forestry Department, participated in the launch of the International Year of Forests 2011 (Forests 2011) during the 9th Session of the UN Forum on Forests at UN Headquarters in New York, USA. ADG Rojas joined Nobel Prize winner Wangaari Maathai during a press conference, where he discussed FAO's contributions to Forests 2011 and encouraged people to take action to improve the state of forests during the Year. He also called attention to the first publication produced by the FAO Forestry Department in celebration of the Year: State of the World's Forests 2011. To learn more about the current edition of State of the World's Forests 2011, follow the link to FAO's press release on the publication.
Posted: 2011-02-01 at 11:00
2011 State of the World's Forests
The ninth biennial issue of State of the World’s Forests, published at the outset of 2011, the International Year of Forests, considers the theme ‘Changing pathways, changing lives: forests as multiple pathways to sustainable development’.
Posted: 2011-02-01 at 11:00
Managing forests for climate change - the Main Issues
The new publication, “Managing forests for climate change”, focuses on the central role of forest management in climate change mitigation and adaptation. It describes the many ways in which good forest management practices can maximize forests’ contribution to climate change mitigation as well as help forests and forest-dependent people adapt to new conditions. With an integrated approach to sustainable forest management, FAO’s work is highlighted in supporting countries’ efforts to strengthen the management of forests in a changing climate and to optimize forests’ role in climate change mitigation, while still considering their multiple functions and benefits. When facing new challenges such as climate change, FAO emphasizes the importance of innovative approaches, best practices and international partnerships, while building on the wealth of existing knowledge and experience in sustainable forest management.
Posted: 2011-01-31 at 11:00
Managing forests for climate change - the Main Issues
The new publication, “Managing forests for climate change”, focuses on the central role of forest management in climate change mitigation and adaptation. It describes the many ways in which good forest management practices can maximize forests’ contribution to climate change mitigation as well as help forests and forest-dependent people adapt to new conditions. With an integrated approach to sustainable forest management, FAO’s work is highlighted in supporting countries’ efforts to strengthen the management of forests in a changing climate and to optimize forests’ role in climate change mitigation, while still considering their multiple functions and benefits. When facing new challenges such as climate change, FAO emphasizes the importance of innovative approaches, best practices and international partnerships, while building on the wealth of existing knowledge and experience in sustainable forest management.
Posted: 2011-01-31 at 11:00
Managing forests for climate change - the main issues
The new publication, “Managing forests for climate change”, focuses on the central role of forest management in climate change mitigation and adaptation. It describes the many ways in which good forest management practices can maximize forests’ contribution to climate change mitigation as well as help forests and forest-dependent people adapt to new conditions. With an integrated approach to sustainable forest management, FAO’s work is highlighted in supporting countries’ efforts to strengthen the management of forests in a changing climate and to optimize forests’ role in climate change mitigation, while still considering their multiple functions and benefits. When facing new challenges such as climate change, FAO emphasizes the importance of innovative approaches, best practices and international partnerships, while building on the wealth of existing knowledge and experience in sustainable forest management.
Posted: 2011-01-31 at 11:00
International Year of Forests launched
Posted: 2011-01-31 at 11:00
International Year of Forests launched
Posted: 2011-01-31 at 11:00
New GFEP Assessment Report – IUFRO World Series 28
Posted: 2011-01-24 at 07:09
UN Special interview of the month: FAO Forestry's Assistant Director-General
Interviewed by UN Special magazine, Eduardo Rojas-Briales discusses the global forest challenges, work priorities of FAO's Forestry Department, International Year of Forests 2011 and the main findings of the 2010 Global Forest Resource Assessment.
Posted: 2011-01-19 at 11:00
UN Special interview of the month: FAO Forestry's Assistant Director-General Eduardo Rojas-Briales
Interviewed by UN Special magazine, Eduardo Rojas-Briales discusses global forest challenges, the work priorities of FAO's Forestry Department, the International Year of Forests 2011 and the main findings of the 2010 Global Forest Resource Assessment.
Posted: 2011-01-19 at 11:00
UN Special interview of the month: FAO Forestry's Assistant Director-General Eduardo Rojas-Briales
Interviewed by UN Special magazine, Eduardo Rojas-Briales discusses global forest challenges, the work priorities of FAO's Forestry Department, the International Year of Forests 2011 and the main findings of the 2010 Global Forest Resource Assessment.
Posted: 2011-01-19 at 11:00
Treasures from the forest: the Millennium Development Goals in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
"Everything comes from the forest. People and forest, it's like husband and wife. No divorce!" The people of Kingombi (Democratic Republic of the Congo) are well aware of the difference the forest makes in their lives - day after day. The Democratic Republic of the Congo holds a forest cover of key importance to Central Africa. With the support of the European Union, SNV, CIFOR, ICRAF, the main objective of project GCP/RAF/408/EC is to contribute to poverty reduction and sustainable forest management. Click to watch the video.
Posted: 2011-01-18 at 11:00
Treasures from the forest: the Millennium Development Goals in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
"Everything comes from the forest. People and forest, it's like husband and wife. No divorce!" The people of Kingombi and Mbanza Ngungu (Democratic Republic of the Congo) are well aware of the difference the forest makes in their lives - day after day. The Democratic Republic of the Congo holds a forest cover of key importance to Central Africa. With the support of the European Union, SNV, CIFOR, ICRAF, the main objective of project GCP/RAF/408/EC is to contribute to poverty reduction and sustainable forest management. Click to watch the video.
Posted: 2011-01-18 at 11:00
Treasures from the forest: the Millennium Development Goals in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
"Everything comes from the forest. People and forest, it's like husband and wife. No divorce!" The people of Kingombi and Mbanza Ngungu (Democratic Republic of the Congo) are well aware of the difference the forest makes in their lives - day after day. The Democratic Republic of the Congo holds a forest cover of key importance to Central Africa. With the support of the European Union, SNV, CIFOR, ICRAF, the main objective of project GCP/RAF/408/EC is to contribute to poverty reduction and sustainable forest management. Click to watch the video.
Posted: 2011-01-18 at 11:00
Event - Central African countries step-up action ahead of CRIC 9
The meeting is being organized by the Global Mechanism together with the Central African Forest Commission (COMIFAC), and the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS).
The event will present an excellent opportunity to assess the implementation of a roadmap established at the Second Working Group Meeting held in Libreville, Gabon on 25-26 May 2009, which outlined key recommendations with regard to enhancing UNCCD implementation in the sub-region.
Identified as foremost amongst these recommendations, was the need to increase awareness of UNCCD related issues within national governments; strengthen frameworks for action for the elaboration of joint procedures on the UNCCD in international forums; and develop digestible summaries of the sub-regional action plans to facilitate the work of new focal points in the sub-region.
In addition, participants will:
Review the different agenda items for CRIC 9;
Identify pertinent themes for the engagement of Central African countries, whilst planning actions and interventions for CRIC 9; and
Review the functioning of the sub-regional working group and in particular its Steering Committee
Mr Sven Walter, Programme Officer, West and Central Africa
Tel. +39 06 5459 2150
s.walter (at) global-mechanism.org
Posted: 2011-01-18 at 02:47
National forest inventory of Kyrgyzstan completed
Kabar, December 17, 2010. "Kyrgyzstan has completed a national inventory of forests", - said at a press conference in agency "Kabar" Mr Abdymital Chyngozhoev, State Secretary of the State Agency of Environment and Forestry of the Republic. According to him, this work was initiated in 2008 with the support of the FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations). Every 5 years in our country, we took into account forest on Soviet methods. But that method is outdated. This type of inventory is the first in the Central Asian region, and Kyrgyzstan is the first country to implement it and our people worked together on this. "This is a very big job. We wanted to get reliable data about our forests and we need to think about tomorrow's forest conservation "- said the State Secretary. As a result, the inventory showed 1,123,045.2 ha of forest in Kyrgyzstan (5,26%), of which 846,043.4 hectares (4.23%) were found in the territory of the State Forest Fund (SFF) and Protected Areas (PAs), while outside the territory of SFF and PAs - 277,001.8 hectares (1.39%) were found.
Posted: 2011-01-03 at 11:00
National forest inventory of Kyrgyzstan completed
Bishkek, December 17, 2010. "Kyrgyzstan has completed a national inventory of forests" said Mr Abdymital Chyngozhoev, State Secretary of the State Agency of Environment and Forestry of the Republic. The work was initiated in 2008 with the support of the FAO. "Every 5 years in our country, our forest inventory was developed using Soviet methods. But that method is outdated. This type of inventory is the first in the Central Asian region. This is a very big job. We wanted to get reliable data about our forests and we need to think about tomorrow's forest conservation" said the State Secretary. As a result, the inventory showed 1,123,045.2 ha of forest in Kyrgyzstan (5,26%), of which 846,043.4 hectares (4.23%) were found in the territory of the State Forest Fund (SFF) and Protected Areas (PAs), while outside the territory of SFF and PAs - 277,001.8 hectares (1.39%) were found.
Posted: 2011-01-03 at 11:00
National forest inventory of Kyrgyzstan completed
Bishkek, December 17, 2010. "Kyrgyzstan has completed a national inventory of forests" said Mr Abdymital Chyngozhoev, State Secretary of the State Agency of Environment and Forestry of the Republic. The work was initiated in 2008 with the support of the FAO. "Every 5 years in our country, our forest inventory was developed using Soviet methods. But that method is outdated. This type of inventory is the first in the Central Asian region. This is a very big job. We wanted to get reliable data about our forests and we need to think about tomorrow's forest conservation" said the State Secretary. As a result, the inventory showed 1,123,045.2 ha of forest in Kyrgyzstan (5,26%), of which 846,043.4 hectares (4.23%) were found in the territory of the State Forest Fund (SFF) and Protected Areas (PAs), while outside the territory of SFF and PAs - 277,001.8 hectares (1.39%) were found.
Posted: 2011-01-03 at 11:00
National forest inventory of Kyrgyzstan completed
Bishkek, December 17, 2010. "Kyrgyzstan has completed a national inventory of forests" said Mr Abdymital Chyngozhoev, State Secretary of the State Agency of Environment and Forestry of the Republic. The work was initiated in 2008 with the support of the FAO. "Every 5 years in our country, our forest inventory was developed using Soviet methods. But that method is outdated. This type of inventory is the first in the Central Asian region. This is a very big job. We wanted to get reliable data about our forests and we need to think about tomorrow's forest conservation" said the State Secretary. As a result, the inventory showed 1,123,045.2 ha of forest in Kyrgyzstan (5,26%), of which 846,043.4 hectares (4.23%) were found in the territory of the State Forest Fund (SFF) and Protected Areas (PAs), while outside the territory of SFF and PAs - 277,001.8 hectares (1.39%) were found.
Posted: 2011-01-03 at 11:00
Kyrgyzstan has completed a national forest inventory
Kabar, December 17, 2010. "Kyrgyzstan has completed a national inventory of forests", - said at a press conference in agency "Kabar" Mr Abdymital Chyngozhoev, State Secretary of the State Agency of Environment and Forestry of the Republic. According to him, this work was initiated in 2008 with the support of the FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations). Every 5 years in our country, we took into account forest on Soviet methods. But that method is outdated. This type of inventory is the first in the Central Asian region, and Kyrgyzstan is the first country to implement it and our people worked together on this. "This is a very big job. We wanted to get reliable data about our forests and we need to think about tomorrow's forest conservation "- said the State Secretary. As a result, the inventory showed 1,123,045.2 ha of forest in Kyrgyzstan (5,26%), of which 846,043.4 hectares (4.23%) were found in the territory of the State Forest Fund (SFF) and Protected Areas (PAs), while outside the territory of SFF and PAs - 277,001.8 hectares (1.39%) were found. Great concern over illegal felling of Christmas trees now just before the holidays was discussed, and according to A. Chyngozhoeva, permissions were given to two forest enterprises in Chui and Issyk-Ata, to provide firs for schools and kindergartens in Bishkek. "According to Forest law, the penalty shall be imposed on the length of harvested trees, "- said the head of the environmental monitoring and forest management Camille Ashimov. Note that the forest inventory system in Kyrgyzstan dates back to 1995, but as of 2008 it has evolved to 2-level system, (by analogy with European countries), to provide national level information through National Forest Inventory (NFI), in addition to the operational planning level of forest information (forest management plan inventory), (R. Almakunova).
Posted: 2010-12-21 at 11:00
National forest inventory of Kyrgyzstan has shown satisfactory results
Bishkek (AKI) - National forest inventory of Kyrgyzstan has shown satisfactory results, announced at a press conference in agency "Kabar" Head of the Office of Environmental Monitoring and Forest inventory Venera Surappaeva.
According to her, monitoring has shown that forests cover 5.6% of the country. "It has been defined forest area, and now we need to define their boundaries and ownership, who will manage them" - she said.
"The next time we will through the inventory be able to evaluate the trends in increasing or decreasing forest area of the country", - she said.
As noted by the State Secretary of the State Agency of Environment and Forestry Abdymital Chengozhoev, the national forest inventory was carried out during the last 2 years and it assessed not only the forest area, but also its quality and species composition. The inventory was not carried out by the “Soviet method” previously used, but new methods provided by donors (FAO).
Posted: 2010-12-21 at 11:00
Кыргызстане завершена национальная инвентаризация лесов
КАБАР, 17 декабря 2010 года. «В Кыргызстане завершена национальная инвентаризация лесов», - заявил сегодня на пресс-конференции в Агентстве «КАБАР» статс-секретарь Государственного агентства охраны окружающей среды и лесного хозяйства республики Абдымитал Чынгожоев.По его словам, эта работа была начата в 2008 году при поддержке проекта ФАО (продовольственная и сельскохозяйственная организация Объединенных Наций). Каждые 5 лет в нашей стране проводился учет лесного фонда по советской методике. Но этот метод уже устарел. Такая работа в странах СНГ ведется впервые, Кыргызстан попал как пилотная страна и наши сотрудники работали в составе этой группе.«Это очень большая работа. Мы хотели получить достоверные данные о наших лесах, и мы должны думать о завтрашнем сохранении лесов», - отметил статс-секретарь.В результате инвентаризации лесистость составляет 1123045,2 га – 5,26% из них на территории государственного лесного фонда (ГЛФ) и особо охраняемых природных территории (ООПТ) – 846043,4 га или 4,23%, также вне территории ГЛФ и ООПТ -277001,8 га или 1,39%.
Также участники обсудили наболевшую проблему вырубки ёлок в преддверии Нового года. По словам А.Чынгожоева, разрешение дано двум лесхозам Чуйскому и Ысык-Атинскому, которые должны обеспечить ёлками школы и детсады Бишкека.
«Проводятся рейды. По административному кодексу штраф налагается по длине вырубленной елки», - сказал начальник Управления экологического мониторинга и лесоохотустройста Камиль Ашимов
Отметим, что система лесоучетных работ Кыргызстана берет свое начало с 1995 года, но с 2008 года развивается по 2-х уровневой системе, т.е. включается (по аналогии с другими европейскими странами) новое мероприятие учета – национальная инвентаризация лесов (НИЛ). Кроме того, самостоятельно функционирует повыдельное устройство лесов, то есть лесоустройство. (Р.Алмакунова)
Posted: 2010-12-21 at 11:00
Kyrgyzstan has completed a national forest inventory
Kabar, December 17, 2010. "Kyrgyzstan has completed a national inventory of forests", - said at a press conference in agency "Kabar" Mr Abdymital Chyngozhoev, State Secretary of the State Agency of Environment and Forestry of the Republic. According to him, this work was initiated in 2008 with the support of the FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations). Every 5 years in our country, we took into account forest on Soviet methods. But that method is outdated. This type of inventory is the first in the Central Asian region, and Kyrgyzstan is the first country to implement it and our people worked together on this. "This is a very big job. We wanted to get reliable data about our forests and we need to think about tomorrow's forest conservation "- said the State Secretary. As a result, the inventory showed 1,123,045.2 ha of forest in Kyrgyzstan (5,26%), of which 846,043.4 hectares (4.23%) were found in the territory of the State Forest Fund (SFF) and Protected Areas (PAs), while outside the territory of SFF and PAs - 277,001.8 hectares (1.39%) were found. Great concern over illegal felling of Christmas trees now just before the holidays was discussed, and according to A. Chyngozhoeva, permissions were given to two forest enterprises in Chui and Issyk-Ata, to provide firs for schools and kindergartens in Bishkek. "According to Forest law, the penalty shall be imposed on the length of harvested trees, "- said the head of the environmental monitoring and forest management Camille Ashimov. Note that the forest inventory system in Kyrgyzstan dates back to 1995, but as of 2008 it has evolved to 2-level system, (by analogy with European countries), to provide national level information through National Forest Inventory (NFI), in addition to the operational planning level of forest information (forest management plan inventory), (R. Almakunova).
Posted: 2010-12-21 at 11:00
Национальная инвентаризация лесов Кыргызстана показала удовлетворительные результаты
Бишкек (АКИpress) - Национальная инвентаризация лесов Кыргызстана показала удовлетворительные результаты, сообщила на пресс-конференции в агентстве «Кабар» начальник отдела Управления экологического мониторинга и лесоохотоустройства Венера Сураппаева.
По ее словам, мониторинг показал, что леса составляют 5,6% территории республики. «Сейчас была определена площадь лесов, и теперь необходимо определить их границы и принадлежность, кто будет за ними следить», - сказала она.
«При следующей инвентаризации мы сможем сравнить, увеличиваются или уменьшаются площади лесов республики», - отметила она.
Как отметил статс-секретарь Госагентства охраны окружающей среды и лесного хозяйства Абдымитал Ченгожоев, инвентаризация лесов велась последние 2 года. Определялись не только площади лесов, но и качественный и породный состав. Инвентаризация проводилась не по советской методике, используемой ранее, а по новой методике, предложенной донорами
Posted: 2010-12-21 at 11:00
National forest inventory of Kyrgyzstan has shown satisfactory results
Bishkek (AKI) - National forest inventory of Kyrgyzstan has shown satisfactory results, announced at a press conference in agency "Kabar" Head of the Office of Environmental Monitoring and Forest inventory Venera Surappaeva.
According to her, monitoring has shown that forests cover 5.6% of the country. "It has been defined forest area, and now we need to define their boundaries and ownership, who will manage them" - she said.
"The next time we will through the inventory be able to evaluate the trends in increasing or decreasing forest area of the country", - she said.
As noted by the State Secretary of the State Agency of Environment and Forestry Abdymital Chengozhoev, the national forest inventory was carried out during the last 2 years and it assessed not only the forest area, but also its quality and species composition. The inventory was not carried out by the “Soviet method” previously used, but new methods provided by donors (FAO).
Posted: 2010-12-21 at 11:00
Кыргызстане завершена национальная инвентаризация лесов
КАБАР, 17 декабря 2010 года. «В Кыргызстане завершена национальная инвентаризация лесов», - заявил сегодня на пресс-конференции в Агентстве «КАБАР» статс-секретарь Государственного агентства охраны окружающей среды и лесного хозяйства республики Абдымитал Чынгожоев.По его словам, эта работа была начата в 2008 году при поддержке проекта ФАО (продовольственная и сельскохозяйственная организация Объединенных Наций). Каждые 5 лет в нашей стране проводился учет лесного фонда по советской методике. Но этот метод уже устарел. Такая работа в странах СНГ ведется впервые, Кыргызстан попал как пилотная страна и наши сотрудники работали в составе этой группе.«Это очень большая работа. Мы хотели получить достоверные данные о наших лесах, и мы должны думать о завтрашнем сохранении лесов», - отметил статс-секретарь.В результате инвентаризации лесистость составляет 1123045,2 га – 5,26% из них на территории государственного лесного фонда (ГЛФ) и особо охраняемых природных территории (ООПТ) – 846043,4 га или 4,23%, также вне территории ГЛФ и ООПТ -277001,8 га или 1,39%.
Также участники обсудили наболевшую проблему вырубки ёлок в преддверии Нового года. По словам А.Чынгожоева, разрешение дано двум лесхозам Чуйскому и Ысык-Атинскому, которые должны обеспечить ёлками школы и детсады Бишкека.
«Проводятся рейды. По административному кодексу штраф налагается по длине вырубленной елки», - сказал начальник Управления экологического мониторинга и лесоохотустройста Камиль Ашимов
Отметим, что система лесоучетных работ Кыргызстана берет свое начало с 1995 года, но с 2008 года развивается по 2-х уровневой системе, т.е. включается (по аналогии с другими европейскими странами) новое мероприятие учета – национальная инвентаризация лесов (НИЛ). Кроме того, самостоятельно функционирует повыдельное устройство лесов, то есть лесоустройство. (Р.Алмакунова)
Posted: 2010-12-21 at 11:00
Национальная инвентаризация лесов Кыргызстана показала удовлетворительные результаты
Бишкек (АКИpress) - Национальная инвентаризация лесов Кыргызстана показала удовлетворительные результаты, сообщила на пресс-конференции в агентстве «Кабар» начальник отдела Управления экологического мониторинга и лесоохотоустройства Венера Сураппаева.
По ее словам, мониторинг показал, что леса составляют 5,6% территории республики. «Сейчас была определена площадь лесов, и теперь необходимо определить их границы и принадлежность, кто будет за ними следить», - сказала она.
«При следующей инвентаризации мы сможем сравнить, увеличиваются или уменьшаются площади лесов республики», - отметила она.
Как отметил статс-секретарь Госагентства охраны окружающей среды и лесного хозяйства Абдымитал Ченгожоев, инвентаризация лесов велась последние 2 года. Определялись не только площади лесов, но и качественный и породный состав. Инвентаризация проводилась не по советской методике, используемой ранее, а по новой методике, предложенной донорами
Posted: 2010-12-21 at 11:00
Национальная инвентаризация лесов Кыргызстана показала удовлетворительные результаты
Бишкек (АКИpress) - Национальная инвентаризация лесов Кыргызстана показала удовлетворительные результаты, сообщила на пресс-конференции в агентстве «Кабар» начальник отдела Управления экологического мониторинга и лесоохотоустройства Венера Сураппаева.
По ее словам, мониторинг показал, что леса составляют 5,6% территории республики. «Сейчас была определена площадь лесов, и теперь необходимо определить их границы и принадлежность, кто будет за ними следить», - сказала она.
«При следующей инвентаризации мы сможем сравнить, увеличиваются или уменьшаются площади лесов республики», - отметила она.
Как отметил статс-секретарь Госагентства охраны окружающей среды и лесного хозяйства Абдымитал Ченгожоев, инвентаризация лесов велась последние 2 года. Определялись не только площади лесов, но и качественный и породный состав. Инвентаризация проводилась не по советской методике, используемой ранее, а по новой методике, предложенной донорами
Posted: 2010-12-21 at 11:00
Scientific Summary No. 77, 2010
Posted: 2010-12-21 at 09:29
Scientific Summary No. 76, 2010
Posted: 2010-12-21 at 09:21
News - Organization of American States recognises integrated ecosystems' management for combating desertification as a sustainable development priority
The Global Mechanism (GM), jointly with the Regional Coordination Unit (RCU) based in Mexico, D.F., represented the UNCCD as resource persons at the preparatory & plenary sessions that addressed, inter alia, vulnerability in the framework of sustainable development; management of risk in planning; and institutional and management aspects in the face of climate change.
Irene Klinger, Director of the OAS Department of International Affairs called on the international community “to fulfil the promises made in Copenhagen towards the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and access to the funds pledged to the most vulnerable regions”, highlighting how “civil society, environmental agencies and the private sector have an important duty in the evaluation of social and environmental impacts”.
The Santo Domingo Declaration was adopted by all but one of the 35 OAS member countries. It recognises the interdependence between humans and nature and the integrated management of ecosystems for combating desertification and drought. It calls for the adoption of policies, practices, and capacity building for ecosystem rehabilitation and climate change adaptation, the exchange of information, best practices, and lessons in sustainable land management and sustainable forest management, along with the development if valuation programmes and the implementation of multilateral environmental agreements under a synergistic approach.
The meeting was an excellent opportunity to position UNCCD issues in the final Declaration that will, in turn feed into 2010-2013 Inter-American Programme for Sustainable Development (PIDS), currently being revised.
Download OAS press release on the conference (PDF, English, 44 Kb)
For more information:
Mr Alejandro Jacques
Financial Strategy Officer, Regional Coordination Unit, Latin America and the Caribbean
Tel. +5255 5263 9600
a.jacques (at) global-mechanism.org
Posted: 2010-12-15 at 02:52
News - Applying incentive & market-based mechanisms in Dominican Republic
One such initiative is the work to identify incentive and market-based mechanisms for sustainable land management (SLM) that responds to the call of the Ten-year Strategy to explore market based mechanisms as innovative financing instruments’ for UNCCD implementation.
The initiative examines land users’ land management choices and has identified fourteen key mechanisms that give land users incentives to invest in SLM practices, as well as developing a tool to assess such mechanisms are applicable in a given context. Launched at CATIE’s annual meeting in April 2010, the framework and tool is being tested in two countries in Africa and two in Central America.
One is Dominican Republic – a middle income country with a solid institutional framework that is already using some incentive and market based mechanisms. This work aims to build further awareness and knowledge of the mechanisms and identify potential opportunities for investments within the framework of the Integrated Financing Strategy (IFS) for UNCCD implementation that Dominican Republic is currently developing.
In this context, a one-day workshop was held in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, on 17 November 2010, bringing together 20 experts, with the objective of relating their expertise to the broader context of the 14 mechanisms identified and ascertaining which of these are best suited level to the Haiti border area, to the Central Mountain range, and nationwide – the three contexts addressed by the working groups
The Dominican authorities will discuss the results of the mechanism inventory and applicability exercise with the Inter-institutional Technical Group for UNCCD implementation to determine how to add value to ongoing market-based initiatives and incentivate new ones. The outcomes of the meeting in Santo Domingo fed the workshop organized in Guatemala and held on 24 November 2010, and the results of both workshops will inform the next IMBM workshop to be developed in Tanzania in early 2011 - demonstrating South-to-South cooperation in practice.
Download the paper "Incentive and market based mechanisms to prevent land degradation: Promoting land user investments in sustainable land management" (PDF, English, 1537 Kb)
For more information:
Mr Alan González Figueroa, Regional Advisor for Mesoamerica
a.figueroa (at) global-mechanism.org
Posted: 2010-12-15 at 02:42
FAO Director-General stresses key role of agriculture and forestry in tackling climate change at UN Climate Change Conference
Boosting investment in developing world agriculture is necessary not only to reduce current levels of world hunger but to safeguard future world food supplies against the impacts of climate change, FAO Director-General Jacques Diouf said today at a press conference at the UN Conference on Climate Change, in Cancun, Mexico."We will not achieve food security without serious investment in climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction in the rural sector," said Diouf.
Posted: 2010-12-12 at 11:00
FAO Director-General stresses key role of agriculture and forestry in tackling climate change at UN Climate Change Conference
Boosting investment in developing world agriculture is necessary not only to reduce current levels of world hunger but to safeguard future world food supplies against the impacts of climate change, FAO Director-General Jacques Diouf said at a press conference at the UN Conference on Climate Change, in Cancun, Mexico."We will not achieve food security without serious investment in climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction in the rural sector," said Diouf.
Posted: 2010-12-12 at 11:00
FAO Director-General stresses key role of agriculture and forestry in tackling climate change at UN Climate Change Conference
Boosting investment in developing world agriculture is necessary not only to reduce current levels of world hunger but to safeguard future world food supplies against the impacts of climate change, FAO Director-General Jacques Diouf said at a press conference at the UN Conference on Climate Change, in Cancun, Mexico."We will not achieve food security without serious investment in climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction in the rural sector," said Diouf.
Posted: 2010-12-12 at 11:00
FAO Director-General stresses key role of agriculture and forestry in tackling climate change at UN Climate Change Conference
Boosting investment in developing world agriculture is necessary not only to reduce current levels of world hunger but to safeguard future world food supplies against the impacts of climate change, FAO Director-General Jacques Diouf said at a press conference at the UN Conference on Climate Change, in Cancun, Mexico."We will not achieve food security without serious investment in climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction in the rural sector," said Diouf.
Posted: 2010-12-12 at 11:00
FAO Director-General stresses key role of agriculture and forestry in tackling climate change at UN Climate Change Conference
Boosting investment in developing world agriculture is necessary not only to reduce current levels of world hunger but to safeguard future world food supplies against the impacts of climate change, FAO Director-General Jacques Diouf said at a press conference at the UN Conference on Climate Change, in Cancun, Mexico."We will not achieve food security without serious investment in climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction in the rural sector," said Diouf.
Posted: 2010-12-12 at 11:00
FAO Director-General stresses key role of agriculture and forestry in tackling climate change at UN Climate Change Conference
Boosting investment in developing world agriculture is necessary not only to reduce current levels of world hunger but to safeguard future world food supplies against the impacts of climate change, FAO Director-General Jacques Diouf said at a press conference at the UN Conference on Climate Change, in Cancun, Mexico."We will not achieve food security without serious investment in climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction in the rural sector," said Diouf.
Posted: 2010-12-12 at 11:00
International Mountain Day
In September 2007, the UN General Assembly adopted the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, marking an important step in international efforts to preserve the identity of indigenous peoples and address the discrimination and hardships they face. A majority of the world’s indigenous people live in mountain regions, and many live on the margins of society and face poverty and chronic food insecurity.
This year the International Mountain Day theme focuses on indigenous peoples and other minorities living in mountains. The purpose is to highlight the threats faced by these communities but also to acknowledge the invaluable contribution they can make towards overcoming the global challenges of hunger and malnutrition, biodiversity loss and climate change. To learn more about the International Mountain Day 2010 and about the legacy of mountain indigenous peoples, please visit us at our stand in the Atrium from 8 to 14 December where we will display the communication materials. There will also be an exhibition about Ladin culture, a mountain minority of Northern Italy. To celebrate the Day here at headquarters we are pleased to announce that that on 10 December at 13:00 in the Flag Hall, Eduardo Rojas-Briales, FAO ADG for Forestry, will say a few words to introduce the celebrations and a concert of mountain music with musicians from India, Kurdistan and Syria.
Posted: 2010-12-07 at 11:00
International Mountain Day
In September 2007, the UN General Assembly adopted the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, marking an important step in international efforts to preserve the identity of indigenous peoples and address the discrimination and hardships they face. A majority of the world’s indigenous people live in mountain regions, and many live on the margins of society and face poverty and chronic food insecurity.
This year the International Mountain Day theme focuses on indigenous peoples and other minorities living in mountains. The purpose is to highlight the threats faced by these communities but also to acknowledge the invaluable contribution they can make towards overcoming the global challenges of hunger and malnutrition, biodiversity loss and climate change. To learn more about the International Mountain Day 2010 and about the legacy of mountain indigenous peoples, please visit us at our stand in the Atrium from 8 to 14 December where we will display the communication materials. There will also be an exhibition about Ladin culture, a mountain minority of Northern Italy. To celebrate the Day here at headquarters we are pleased to announce that that on 10 December at 13:00 in the Flag Hall, Eduardo Rojas-Briales, FAO ADG for Forestry, will say a few words to introduce the celebrations and a concert of mountain music with musicians from India, Kurdistan and Syria.
Posted: 2010-12-07 at 11:00
International Mountain Day
This year the International Mountain Day theme focuses on indigenous peoples and other minorities living in mountains. The purpose is to highlight the threats faced by these communities but also to acknowledge the invaluable contribution they can make towards overcoming the global challenges of hunger and malnutrition, biodiversity loss and climate change.
To learn more about the International Mountain Day 2010 and about the legacy of mountain indigenous peoples, please visit us at our stand in the Atrium from 8 to 14 December where we will display the communication materials. There will also be an exhibition about Ladin culture, a mountain minority of Northern Italy. To celebrate the Day here at headquarters we are pleased to announce that on 10 December at 13:00 in the Flag Hall, Eduardo Rojas-Briales, FAO ADG for Forestry, will say a few words to introduce the celebrations and a concert of mountain music with musicians from India, Kurdistan and Syria.
Posted: 2010-12-07 at 11:00
International Mountain Day
International Mountain Day, held on 11 December 2010, focused on indigenous peoples and other minorities living in mountains. The purpose was to highlight the threats faced by these communities but also to acknowledge the invaluable contribution they can make towards overcoming the global challenges of hunger and malnutrition, biodiversity loss and climate change.
Posted: 2010-12-07 at 11:00
International Mountain Day
International Mountain Day, held on 11 December 2010, focused on indigenous peoples and other minorities living in mountains. The purpose was to highlight the threats faced by these communities but also to acknowledge the invaluable contribution they can make towards overcoming the global challenges of hunger and malnutrition, biodiversity loss and climate change.
Posted: 2010-12-07 at 11:00
International Mountain Day
International Mountain Day, held on 11 December 2010, focused on indigenous peoples and other minorities living in mountains. The purpose was to highlight the threats faced by these communities but also to acknowledge the invaluable contribution they can make towards overcoming the global challenges of hunger and malnutrition, biodiversity loss and climate change.
Posted: 2010-12-07 at 11:00
Sensitive and Profound: The connection between forest and people in Rwanda
“Our most important partner are the population, the people who are living in the forest,” affirms Mr Dan Rugabira, Programme Coordinator working for FAO’s Forestry Department, as he showcases the successful relationship established by Rwanda’s population with their forest. As a result of the sensitization programmes that FAO has carried out with many other partners, continues Mr Rugabira,“The forest is really in their daily life, from morning to evening. For today’s use but also for the generations to come.” Watch this video, highlighting the fundamental forest-people relationship which is at the heart of the upcoming International Year of Forests 2011.
Posted: 2010-12-05 at 11:00
Sensitive and profound: The connection between forest and people in Rwanda
“Our most important partner is the population, the people who are living in the forest,” affirms Mr Dan Rugabira, Programme Coordinator working for FAO’s Forestry Department, as he showcases the successful relationship established by Rwanda’s population with their forest. As a result of the sensitization programmes that FAO has carried out with many other partners, continues Mr Rugabira,“The forest is really in their daily life, from morning to evening. For today’s use but also for the generations to come.” Watch this video, highlighting the fundamental forest-people relationship which is at the heart of the upcoming International Year of Forests 2011.
Posted: 2010-12-05 at 11:00
Sensitive and profound: The connection between forest and people in Rwanda
“Our most important partner is the population, the people who are living in the forest,” affirms Mr Dan Rugabira, Programme Coordinator working for FAO’s Forestry Department, as he showcases the successful relationship established by Rwanda’s population with their forest. As a result of the sensitization programmes that FAO has carried out with many other partners, continues Mr Rugabira,“The forest is really in their daily life, from morning to evening. For today’s use but also for the generations to come.” Watch this video, highlighting the fundamental forest-people relationship which is at the heart of the upcoming International Year of Forests 2011.
Posted: 2010-12-05 at 11:00
Sensitive and profound: The connection between forest and people in Rwanda
“Our most important partner is the population, the people who are living in the forest,” affirms Mr Dan Rugabira, Programme Coordinator working for FAO’s Forestry Department, as he showcases the successful relationship established by Rwanda’s population with their forest. As a result of the sensitization programmes that FAO has carried out with many other partners, continues Mr Rugabira,“The forest is really in their daily life, from morning to evening. For today’s use but also for the generations to come.” Watch this video, highlighting the fundamental forest-people relationship which is at the heart of the upcoming International Year of Forests 2011.
Posted: 2010-12-05 at 11:00
Sensitive and profound: The connection between forest and people in Rwanda
“Our most important partner is the population, the people who are living in the forest,” affirms Mr Dan Rugabira, Programme Coordinator working for FAO’s Forestry Department, as he showcases the successful relationship established by Rwanda’s population with their forest. As a result of the sensitization programmes that FAO has carried out with many other partners, continues Mr Rugabira,“The forest is really in their daily life, from morning to evening. For today’s use but also for the generations to come.” Watch this video, highlighting the fundamental forest-people relationship which is at the heart of the upcoming International Year of Forests 2011.
Posted: 2010-12-05 at 11:00
Sensitive and profound: The connection between forest and people in Rwanda
“Our most important partner is the population, the people who are living in the forest,” affirms Mr Dan Rugabira, Programme Coordinator working for FAO’s Forestry Department, as he showcases the successful relationship established by Rwanda’s population with their forest. As a result of the sensitization programmes that FAO has carried out with many other partners, continues Mr Rugabira,“The forest is really in their daily life, from morning to evening. For today’s use but also for the generations to come.” Watch this video, highlighting the fundamental forest-people relationship which is at the heart of the upcoming International Year of Forests 2011.
Posted: 2010-12-05 at 11:00
Sensitive and profound: The connection between forest and people in Rwanda
“Our most important partner is the population, the people who are living in the forest,” affirms Mr Dan Rugabira, Programme Coordinator working for FAO’s Forestry Department, as he showcases the successful relationship established by Rwanda’s population with their forest. As a result of the sensitization programmes that FAO has carried out with many other partners, continues Mr Rugabira,“The forest is really in their daily life, from morning to evening. For today’s use but also for the generations to come.” Watch this video, highlighting the fundamental forest-people relationship which is at the heart of the upcoming International Year of Forests 2011.
Posted: 2010-12-05 at 11:00
Forest Day 4
On 5 December 2010, Eduardo Rojas-Briales, FAO ADG for Forestry, on behalf of the Collaborative Partnership on Forests (CPF), will welcome participants in Cancún, Mexico to Forest Day 4. CPF organized the event together with the Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) and Mexico’s National Forestry Commission. Held in the setting of the sixteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), Forest Day 4 has the theme "Time to Act," highlighting the urgency of ensuring the survival of the world's forests, the biodiversity they embrace and the hundreds of millions of people who depend on them. The event will serve as a bridge between the 2010 International Year of Biodiversity and the 2011 International Year of Forests.
Posted: 2010-11-30 at 11:00
Forest Day 4
On 5 December 2010, Eduardo Rojas-Briales, FAO ADG for Forestry, on behalf of the Collaborative Partnership on Forests (CPF), will welcome participants in Cancún, Mexico to Forest Day 4. CPF organized the event together with the Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) and Mexico’s National Forestry Commission. Held in the setting of the sixteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), Forest Day 4 has the theme "Time to Act," highlighting the urgency of ensuring the survival of the world's forests, the biodiversity they embrace and the hundreds of millions of people who depend on them. The event will serve as a bridge between the 2010 International Year of Biodiversity and the 2011 International Year of Forests.
Posted: 2010-11-30 at 11:00
Forest Day 4
On 5 December 2010, Eduardo Rojas-Briales, FAO ADG for Forestry, on behalf of the Collaborative Partnership on Forests (CPF), will welcome participants in Cancún, Mexico to Forest Day 4. CPF organized the event together with the Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) and Mexico’s National Forestry Commission. Held in the setting of the sixteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), Forest Day 4 has the theme "Time to Act," highlighting the urgency of ensuring the survival of the world's forests, the biodiversity they embrace and the hundreds of millions of people who depend on them. The event will serve as a bridge between the 2010 International Year of Biodiversity and the 2011 International Year of Forests.
Posted: 2010-11-30 at 11:00
Forest Day 4
On 5 December 2010, Eduardo Rojas-Briales, FAO ADG for Forestry, on behalf of the Collaborative Partnership on Forests (CPF), will welcome participants in Cancún, Mexico to Forest Day 4. CPF organized the event together with the Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) and Mexico’s National Forestry Commission. Held in the setting of the sixteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), Forest Day 4 has the theme "Time to Act," highlighting the urgency of ensuring the survival of the world's forests, the biodiversity they embrace and the hundreds of millions of people who depend on them. The event will serve as a bridge between the 2010 International Year of Biodiversity and the 2011 International Year of Forests.
Posted: 2010-11-30 at 11:00
Forest Day 4
On 5 December 2010, Eduardo Rojas-Briales, FAO ADG for Forestry, on behalf of the Collaborative Partnership on Forests (CPF), will welcome participants in Cancún, Mexico to Forest Day 4. CPF organized the event together with the Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) and Mexico’s National Forestry Commission. Held in the setting of the sixteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), Forest Day 4 has the theme "Time to Act," highlighting the urgency of ensuring the survival of the world's forests, the biodiversity they embrace and the hundreds of millions of people who depend on them. The event will serve as a bridge between the 2010 International Year of Biodiversity and the 2011 International Year of Forests.
Posted: 2010-11-30 at 11:00
Forest Day 4
On 5 December 2010, Eduardo Rojas-Briales, FAO ADG for Forestry, on behalf of the Collaborative Partnership on Forests (CPF), will welcome participants in Cancún, Mexico to Forest Day 4. CPF organized the event together with the Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) and Mexico’s National Forestry Commission. Held in the setting of the sixteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), Forest Day 4 has the theme "Time to Act," highlighting the urgency of ensuring the survival of the world's forests, the biodiversity they embrace and the hundreds of millions of people who depend on them. The event will serve as a bridge between the 2010 International Year of Biodiversity and the 2011 International Year of Forests.
Posted: 2010-11-30 at 11:00
FAO receives top award for forest fire protection
The Forestry Department of FAO yesterday received an important Spanish award in recognition of its outstanding merits in forest fire protection. Each year, the Spanish NGO "Asociación para la Promoción de Actividades Socioculturales" gives the "El Batefuegos de Oro" (Golden Fire Swatter) award for achievements in forest fire protection.
Posted: 2010-11-25 at 11:00
FAO receives top award for forest fire protection
FAO received an important Spanish award in recognition of its outstanding merits in forest fire protection. Each year, the Spanish NGO "Asociación para la Promoción de Actividades Socioculturales" gives the "El Batefuegos de Oro" (Golden Fire Swatter) award for achievements in forest fire protection.
Posted: 2010-11-25 at 11:00
FAO receives top award for forest fire protection
FAO received an important Spanish award in recognition of its outstanding merits in forest fire protection. Each year, the Spanish NGO "Asociación para la Promoción de Actividades Socioculturales" gives the "El Batefuegos de Oro" (Golden Fire Swatter) award for achievements in forest fire protection.
Posted: 2010-11-25 at 11:00
FAO receives top award for forest fire protection
FAO received an important Spanish award in recognition of its outstanding merits in forest fire protection. Each year, the Spanish NGO "Asociación para la Promoción de Actividades Socioculturales" gives the "El Batefuegos de Oro" (Golden Fire Swatter) award for achievements in forest fire protection.
Posted: 2010-11-25 at 11:00
FAO receives top award for forest fire protection
FAO received an important Spanish award in recognition of its outstanding merits in forest fire protection. Each year, the Spanish NGO "Asociación para la Promoción de Actividades Socioculturales" gives the "El Batefuegos de Oro" (Golden Fire Swatter) award for achievements in forest fire protection.
Posted: 2010-11-25 at 11:00
FAO receives top award for forest fire protection
FAO received an important Spanish award in recognition of its outstanding merits in forest fire protection. Each year, the Spanish NGO "Asociación para la Promoción de Actividades Socioculturales" gives the "El Batefuegos de Oro" (Golden Fire Swatter) award for achievements in forest fire protection.
Posted: 2010-11-25 at 11:00
FAO receives top award for forest fire protection
26 November 2010, Rome - The Forestry Department of FAO yesterday received an important Spanish award in recognition of its outstanding merits in forest fire protection.
Posted: 2010-11-25 at 11:00
FAO receives top award for forest fire protection
26 November 2010, Rome - The Forestry Department of FAO yesterday received an important Spanish award in recognition of its outstanding merits in forest fire protection.
Posted: 2010-11-25 at 11:00
FAO receives top award for forest fire protection
Posted: 2010-11-24 at 11:00
FAO receives top award for forest fire protection
Posted: 2010-11-24 at 11:00
News - Spelling out the financing options: the Little Biodiversity Finance Book
The authors –Charlie Parker (Global Canopy Programme) and Matt Cranford (London School of Economics), analyse new sources of finance that could raise up to USD 141 billion by 2020 to help meet the target of halting global biodiversity loss - provided there is strong coordination across the biodiversity, climate change and developments agendas.
The Global Mechanism, as a subsidiary body of the UNCCD with a focus on finance, is therefore proud to have made a small contribution to the foreword of the book, based on its experience of applying some of these mechanisms in national contexts to support countries’ integrated investment frameworks.
The GM believes that vision, an enabling institutional environment, and political will are essential for increasing the volume and the effectiveness of investments. It is therefore important that the Rio Conventions make the most of every opportunity to provide leadership and guidance – in a spirit of transparency, efficiency and harmony – to develop resource mobilization strategies in a broader sustainable development context.
We are sure that the Little Biodiversity Finance Book will facilitate understanding, encourage discussion, and inspire both decision makers and land users to support and adopt such mechanisms.
For more information:
Charlie Parker
c.parker (at) globalcanopy.org
To download the Little Biodiversity Finance Book visit:
http://www.globalcanopy.org/go/biodiversityfinance
The GCP is a global alliance of governmental and non-governmental organisations linking major studies of forest canopies worldwide into a collaborative programme of research, education, and conservation addressing biodiversity, climate change and poverty alleviation.
Posted: 2010-11-22 at 09:39
Committee on Forestry 2010: Get the facts on forest products
Do you ever wonder how much paper is produced each year? Where is it produced and where does it go?At the recent Committee on Forestry, Mr Felice Padovani from the FAO Forestry Statistics Team engaged participants in face-to-face dialogue, based on an "along-the-corridors", open-space approach aiming to give non-technical users a straight-forward understanding of the process of assembling the facts on forest products."The facts on forest products?," you may ask. Watch this video and find out.
Posted: 2010-11-16 at 11:00
Event - Workshop on Designing an Integrated Financing Strategy for The Gambia
The Gambia has taken bold steps to improve the livelihoods of its citizens. Agriculture has been defined as one of the three priority sectors for investment, while the sustainable and effective management of natural resources, together with institution building, market linkages and public-private partnerships are strategic thrusts of the country’s Agricultural and Natural Resources Policy (ANRP) for 2007-2015
To support the government in its efforts to promote sustainable development through sustainable land management (SLM) process, the Global Mechanism (GM) in collaboration with the National Environment Agency of The Gambia, is organizing a workshop for key national stakeholders on how to design and implement an integrated financing strategy (IFS).
The IFS is a guiding tool developed by the GM to facilitate the establishment of an SLM investment framework in affected country Parties to the UNCCD. It supports increased resource mobilization for SLM by broadening the scope of planning processes, increasing interaction with sectors and stakeholders that have not traditionally been part of the UNCCD agenda, and helping to ensure that SLM-related development policies receive adequate resource allocations in public budgets and expenditure frameworks.
This practical, three-day workshop will consist of dynamic presentations, knowledge exchange, group exercises and discussions on the design and implementation of an IFS specifically tailored to meet the country’s needs. It is expected that by the end of the workshop the participants will have the tools they need to take full ownership of the IFS process and responsibility for its successful implementation.
More information on the workshop and its outcomes will be posted here.
For more information:
Mr Kwame Awere-Gyekye, Programme Coordinator, East & Southern Africa
Tel. +39 065459 2199
k.awere (at) global-mechanism.org
Posted: 2010-11-16 at 02:17
FAO’s Forest fire work awarded
In 2002 the Spanish NGO “APAS” created the award "El Batefuegos de Oro" (The Golden Swatter). With the sponsorship of the Ministry of Environment the awards are given to distinguished persons and organizations with outstanding merits in forest protection against fire. This year, FAO Forestry Department received the award in the category “international”. We are proud of the recognition given FAO’s work on Forests and fire, but much work remains to be done.
Posted: 2010-11-10 at 11:00
Third call for propsals
The ACP-FLEGT Support Programme announces the third call for proposals for pilot projects
Posted: 2010-11-10 at 11:00
FAO’s forest fire work awarded
Each year, the Spanish NGO Asociación para la Promoción de Actividades Socioculturales (APAS) awards the "Batefuego de Oro" (Golden Fire Swatter) to distinguished persons and organizations with outstanding merits in forest protection against fire. FAO's Forest Assessment, Management and Conservation Division has been chosen to receive the 2010 award in the category “International”. The prize will be awarded on 25 November in Madrid.
Posted: 2010-11-10 at 11:00
FAO’s forest fire work awarded
Each year, the Spanish NGO Asociación para la Promoción de Actividades Socioculturales (APAS) awards the "Batefuego de Oro" (Golden Fire Swatter) to distinguished persons and organizations with outstanding merits in forest protection against fire. FAO's Forest Assessment, Management and Conservation Division has been chosen to receive the 2010 award in the category “International”. The prize will be awarded on 25 November in Madrid.
Posted: 2010-11-10 at 11:00
Singing the praises of the edible insect
At the Shanghai World Expo, FAO's exhibition space is dedicated to the edible insect to illustrate how insects can be an affordable way to provide much-needed nutritional supplements to the hungry or undernourished. For approximately 2.5 billion people, mainly in Africa, Asia and Latin America, eating insects is part of their common diets, in a similar way as eating meat or fish. FAO’s Forestry Department is taking steps in drawing attention to this valuable food source with the launch of a new website on edible forest insects.
Posted: 2010-11-07 at 11:00
Singing the praises of the edible insect
At the Shanghai World Expo, FAO's exhibition space is dedicated to the edible insect to illustrate how insects can be an affordable way to provide much-needed nutritional supplements to the hungry or undernourished. For approximately 2.5 billion people, mainly in Africa, Asia and Latin America, eating insects is part of their common diets, in a similar way as eating meat or fish. FAO’s Forestry Department is taking steps in drawing attention to this valuable food source with the launch of a new website on edible forest insects.
Posted: 2010-11-07 at 11:00
Singing the praises of the edible insect
At the Shanghai World Expo, FAO's exhibition space is dedicated to the edible insect to illustrate how insects can be an affordable way to provide much-needed nutritional supplements to the hungry or undernourished. For approximately 2.5 billion people, mainly in Africa, Asia and Latin America, eating insects is part of their common diets, in a similar way as eating meat or fish. FAO’s Forestry Department is taking steps in drawing attention to this valuable food source with the launch of a new website on edible forest insects.
Posted: 2010-11-07 at 11:00
Singing the praises of the edible insect
At the Shanghai World Expo, FAO's exhibition space is dedicated to the edible insect to illustrate how insects can be an affordable way to provide much-needed nutritional supplements to the hungry or undernourished. For approximately 2.5 billion people, mainly in Africa, Asia and Latin America, eating insects is part of their common diets, in a similar way as eating meat or fish. FAO’s Forestry Department is taking steps in drawing attention to this valuable food source with the launch of a new website on edible forest insects.
Posted: 2010-11-07 at 11:00
Singing the praises of the edible insect
At the Shanghai World Expo, FAO's exhibition space is dedicated to the edible insect to illustrate how insects can be an affordable way to provide much-needed nutritional supplements to the hungry or undernourished. For approximately 2.5 billion people, mainly in Africa, Asia and Latin America, eating insects is part of their common diets, in a similar way as eating meat or fish. FAO’s Forestry Department is taking steps in drawing attention to this valuable food source with the launch of a new website on edible forest insects.
Posted: 2010-11-07 at 11:00
Singing the praises of the edible insect
At the Shanghai World Expo, FAO's exhibition space is dedicated to the edible insect to illustrate how insects can be an affordable way to provide much-needed nutritional supplements to the hungry or undernourished. For approximately 2.5 billion people, mainly in Africa, Asia and Latin America, eating insects is part of their common diets, in a similar way as eating meat or fish. FAO’s Forestry Department is taking steps in drawing attention to this valuable food source with the launch of a new website on edible forest insects.
Posted: 2010-11-07 at 11:00
NFMA Kyrgyzstan: Project Status / update
The field data collection was completed in 2009 and the remote sensing survey, also completed last year, was carried out within the Swiss-Kyrgyz forestry programme. Recent activities include scrutinising data in the NFMA database and organization of three data processing and analysis training workshops. Currently five national consultants are working on the last phase of the project: finalization of data processing and analysis, report writing (in Russian and later translated into English), printing and organization of final seminar and press conference. The project will be completed by the end of 2010. Details on the Kyrgyzstan NFMA here.
Posted: 2010-11-03 at 11:00
NFMA Kyrgyzstan: Project Status / update
The field data collection was completed in 2009 and the remote sensing survey, also completed last year, was carried out within the Swiss-Kyrgyz forestry programme. Recent activities include scrutinising data in the NFMA database and organization of three data processing and analysis training workshops. Currently five national consultants are working on the last phase of the project: finalization of data processing and analysis, report writing (in Russian and later translated into English), printing and organization of final seminar and press conference. The project will be completed by the end of 2010. Details on the Kyrgyzstan NFMA here.
Posted: 2010-11-03 at 11:00
Service Unavailable!
The field data collection was completed in 2009 and the remote sensing survey, also completed last year, was carried out within the Swiss-Kyrgyz forestry programme. Recent activities include scrutinising data in the NFMA database and organization of three data processing and analysis training workshops. Currently five national consultants are working on the last phase of the project: finalization of data processing and analysis, report writing (in Russian and later translated into English), printing and organization of final seminar and press conference. The project will be completed by the end of 2010. Details on the Kyrgyzstan NFMA here.
Posted: 2010-11-03 at 11:00
News - Translating dialogue on forests and land into national sustainable action
Partnership and networking are prerequisites for mobilizing and channelling resources for sustainable forest management (SFM). Inter-ministerial dialogue, particularly with Ministry of Finance, must be bolstered, since many of the key factors affecting forestry are outside the sector, and measures to tackle degraded forests and deforestation often go far beyond control of the forest community. Too often the debate on financing SFM remains among the “forestry fraternity”: forestry is not mainstreamed into domestic budgeting processes nor does it or figure amongst national development priorities. This would be a major step towards ensuring the availability of public finance and attracting international finance and private sector investment.
It is in this context that the GM attended the Ad Hoc Experts Group (AHEG) meeting on Forest Financing from 12-18 September, in Nairobi, Kenya, at the invitation of the United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF) Secretariat. The GM and the UNCCD Secretariat made a joint presentation on ‘Financing Sustainable Forest Management (SFM): a Strategic Cross-Sectoral Requirement for Achieving Internationally Agreed Development Goals’, the highlights of which included the need to focus investment in dryland forests and agro-forests, the importance of mainstreaming forestry into national development priorities and the close relationship between SFM and sustainable land management (SLM).
Two of the inter-sessional activities the various stakeholders will now undertake prior to the 9th session of the UNFF, are extremely pertinent to the UNCCD: the analysis of forest related financing mechanisms, strategies and frameworks on SLM; and the call for implementation of the Facilitative Process, established to mobilize financial resources to catalyse implementation of SFM, especially in low forest cover countries (LFCCs).
It has therefore been recommended that the UNCCD Secretariat, the GM, UNFF Secretariat and FAO to engage interested countries and pool resources to respond to the AHEG's relevant requests in accordance with their respective mandates. The tentative next steps include a meeting before end 2010 to brainstorm on the nature and content of the collaboration, the timeline, the sample country and the resources required. This recommendation is based on the notion that it is time that the international dialogue on SFM and SLM translate into action at the national level. Forest finance will be debated in January 2011 at UNFF9 and in the context of the International Year of Forests and to this end the GM is engaging with the UNFF Secretariat and in particular the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), on the inclusion of innovative finance in the rather traditional debate of forest finance.
For more information:
Mr J. Kamugisha-Ruhombe, Coordinator, Forest Finance Programme
j.ruhombe (at) global-mechanism.org
Posted: 2010-11-03 at 10:41
Event - Showcasing Grassroots Initiatives to Combat Desertification
Resources for agriculture and food security are increasing as public and private stakeholders are investing in climate change adaptation and mitigation: low cost and low carbon emission technologies and practices which have been proven to sustain nature capital and enhance livelihoods and should therefore be part of the response.
This is why SCOPE - the Society for Conservation and Protection of Environment – a CSO in Pakistan - is organizing an event to showcase international and national best practices in mitigating the effects of drought and desertification. This is more than a national event – SCOPE is seeking to secure the participation of a broad range of CSOs from dryland countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America in order to convince and other interested stakeholders that investing in CSO activities is worthwhile.
The event will be articulated into interactive workshops, presentations panel discussions, and multi-media exhibits, based on two themes – social approaches to drylands development for capacity building, empowerment and participatory decision making – and innovative technological approaches to drylands development for water management, conservation farming, and soil improvement.
The initiative will primarily promote the role of CSOs as partners in raising, channelling, and leveraging public and private resources, and facilitating access to technology within the framework of South-South cooperation, as per Objective 5 of the UNCCD 10-year Strategy. The GM has committed to providing financial support, in view of the crucial role CSOs play in resource mobilization.
For more information:
Mr Tanveer Arif
Society for Conservation and Protection of Environment (SCOPE)
scope@scope.org.pk
For more information on SCOPE:
www.scope.org.pk
Posted: 2010-11-03 at 10:38
What woodfuels can do to mitigate climate change
Most climate change strategies emphasize reducing greenhouse gas emissions by reducing energy use and switching to energy sources that are less carbon intensive than fossil fuels. This new publication explores the scope, potential and implications for using woodfuels to replace fossil fuels and thereby contribute to climate change mitigation. The publication will be of interest to specialists and policy-makers in forestry, climate change and renewable energy, as well as to forest managers, students and general audiences interested in learning more about the role of forests in energy production and the resulting mitigation potential.
Posted: 2010-11-01 at 11:00
What woodfuels can do to mitigate climate change
Most climate change strategies emphasize reducing greenhouse gas emissions by reducing energy use and switching to energy sources that are less carbon intensive than fossil fuels. This new publication explores the scope, potential and implications for using woodfuels to replace fossil fuels and thereby contribute to climate change mitigation. The publication will be of interest to specialists and policy-makers in forestry, climate change and renewable energy, as well as to forest managers, students and general audiences interested in learning more about the role of forests in energy production and the resulting mitigation potential.
Posted: 2010-11-01 at 11:00
What woodfuels can do to mitigate climate change
Most climate change strategies emphasize reducing greenhouse gas emissions by reducing energy use and switching to energy sources that are less carbon intensive than fossil fuels. This new publication explores the scope, potential and implications for using woodfuels to replace fossil fuels and thereby contribute to climate change mitigation. The publication will be of interest to specialists and policy-makers in forestry, climate change and renewable energy, as well as to forest managers, students and general audiences interested in learning more about the role of forests in energy production and the resulting mitigation potential.
Posted: 2010-11-01 at 11:00
What woodfuels can do to mitigate climate change
Most climate change strategies emphasize reducing greenhouse gas emissions by reducing energy use and switching to energy sources that are less carbon intensive than fossil fuels. This new publication explores the scope, potential and implications for using woodfuels to replace fossil fuels and thereby contribute to climate change mitigation. The publication will be of interest to specialists and policy-makers in forestry, climate change and renewable energy, as well as to forest managers, students and general audiences interested in learning more about the role of forests in energy production and the resulting mitigation potential.
Posted: 2010-11-01 at 11:00
Argentina's forest industries: investing in a sustainable future
"The forthcoming Investment and Financing Forum aims to promote the new investment opportunities available to forest industries worldwide." Watch the interview with Tomás Schlicher, Agronomic engineer from Argentina's Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). The Forum will be held in Buenos Aires on 16 and 17 November in conjunction with a Bionergy Seminar which "will focus on the potential to develop bioenergy production from wood, exploring what Argentina could do to support such a development."
Posted: 2010-10-28 at 11:00
Argentina's forest industries: investing in a sustainable future
As the Forest Industries Investment and Financing Forum approaches, José Urtubey, Vice President / AFoA shows that Argentina holds a wealth of advantages for developing its forest-based sector. High potential for forest productivity comes with responsible management practices, supporting global efforts to sustainably manage and safeguard forests. The Forum will be held in Buenos Aires on 16 and 17 November in conjunction with a Bionergy Seminar.
Posted: 2010-10-28 at 11:00
Argentina's forest industries: investing in a sustainable future
As the Forest Industries Investment and Financing Forum approaches, José Urtubey, Vice President / AFoA shows that Argentina holds a wealth of advantages for developing its forest-based sector. High potential for forest productivity comes with responsible management practices, supporting global efforts to sustainably manage and safeguard forests. The Forum will be held in Buenos Aires on 16 and 17 November in conjunction with a Bionergy Seminar.
Posted: 2010-10-28 at 11:00
Argentina's forest industries: investing in a sustainable future
As the Forest Industries Investment and Financing Forum approaches, José Urtubey, Vice President / AFoA shows that Argentina holds a wealth of advantages for developing its forest-based sector. High potential for forest productivity comes with responsible management practices, supporting global efforts to sustainably manage and safeguard forests. The Forum will be held in Buenos Aires on 16 and 17 November in conjunction with a Bionergy Seminar.
Posted: 2010-10-28 at 11:00
Argentina's forest industries: investing in a sustainable future
As the Forest Industries Investment and Financing Forum approaches, José Urtubey, Vice President / AFoA shows that Argentina holds a wealth of advantages for developing its forest-based sector. High potential for forest productivity comes with responsible management practices, supporting global efforts to sustainably manage and safeguard forests. The Forum will be held in Buenos Aires on 16 and 17 November in conjunction with a Bionergy Seminar.
Posted: 2010-10-28 at 11:00
Unasylva 236: Forests, people and wildlife
Unasylva celebrates 2010, the International Year of Biodiversity, by examining strategies for the successful cohabitation of forests, people and wildlife. This issue addresses the challenges of balancing conservation and use of plant and animal biodiversity in forest settings, particularly where people's livelihoods or species survival are at stake.
Posted: 2010-10-27 at 11:00
Unasylva 236: Forests, people and wildlife
FAO's international journal of forestry, Unasylva, celebrates 2010, the International Year of Biodiversity, by examining strategies for the successful cohabitation of forests, people and wildlife. This issue addresses the challenges of balancing conservation and use of plant and animal biodiversity in forest settings, particularly where people's livelihoods or species survival are at stake. Also published in French and Spanish.
Posted: 2010-10-27 at 11:00
Unasylva 236: Forests, people and wildlife
FAO's international journal of forestry, Unasylva, celebrates 2010, the International Year of Biodiversity, by examining strategies for the successful cohabitation of forests, people and wildlife. This issue addresses the challenges of balancing conservation and use of plant and animal biodiversity in forest settings, particularly where people's livelihoods or species survival are at stake. Also published in French and Spanish.
Posted: 2010-10-27 at 11:00
Voluntary Redd+Database
A key database for understanding financial flows in the forest sector was presented in the recent Aichi-Nagoya Ministerial Meeting of the REDD+ Partnership on the 26th of October. The voluntary database contains information on REDD+ financing, actions and results, aimed to improve the transparency and coordination of REDD+ actions and support of the REDD+Partnership. FAO (represented by Natural resources and Forestry Departments) have played a key role in its development, together with REDD+Partnership partners.
Posted: 2010-10-26 at 11:00
Voluntary Redd+Database
A key database for understanding financial flows in the forest sector was presented in the recent Aichi-Nagoya Ministerial Meeting of the REDD+ Partnership on the 26th of October. The voluntary database contains information on REDD+ financing, actions and results, and aims to improve the transparency and coordination of REDD+ actions and support of the REDD+Partnership. FAO (represented by Natural Resources and Forestry Departments) have played a key role in its development, together with REDD+Partnership partners.
Posted: 2010-10-26 at 11:00
Committee on Forestry 2010: Get the facts on forest products
Do you ever wonder how much paper is produced each year? Where is it produced and where does it go?At the recent Committee on Forestry, Mr Felice Padovani from the FAO Forestry Statistics Team engaged participants in face-to-face dialogue, based on an "along-the-corridors", open-space approach aiming to give non-technical users a straight-forward understanding of the process of assembling the facts on forest products."The facts on forest products?," you may ask. Watch this video and find out.
Posted: 2010-10-26 at 11:00
Voluntary Redd+Database
A key database for understanding financial flows in the forest sector was presented in the recent Aichi-Nagoya Ministerial Meeting of the REDD+ Partnership on the 26th of October. The voluntary database contains information on REDD+ financing, actions and results, and aims to improve the transparency and coordination of REDD+ actions and support of the REDD+Partnership. FAO (represented by Natural Resources and Forestry Departments) have played a key role in its development, together with REDD+Partnership partners.
Posted: 2010-10-26 at 11:00
Committee on Forestry 2010: Get the facts on forest products
Do you ever wonder how much paper is produced each year? Where is it produced and where does it go?At the recent Committee on Forestry, Mr Felice Padovani from the FAO Forestry Statistics Team engaged participants in face-to-face dialogue, based on an "along-the-corridors", open-space approach aiming to give non-technical users a straight-forward understanding of the process of assembling the facts on forest products."The facts on forest products?," you may ask. Watch this video and find out.
Posted: 2010-10-26 at 11:00
Voluntary Redd+Database
A key database for understanding financial flows in the forest sector was presented in the recent Aichi-Nagoya Ministerial Meeting of the REDD+ Partnership on the 26th of October. The voluntary database contains information on REDD+ financing, actions and results, and aims to improve the transparency and coordination of REDD+ actions and support of the REDD+Partnership. FAO (represented by Natural Resources and Forestry Departments) have played a key role in its development, together with REDD+Partnership partners.
Posted: 2010-10-26 at 11:00
Voluntary Redd+Database
A key database for understanding financial flows in the forest sector was presented in the recent Aichi-Nagoya Ministerial Meeting of the REDD+ Partnership on the 26th of October. The voluntary database contains information on REDD+ financing, actions and results, and aims to improve the transparency and coordination of REDD+ actions and support of the REDD+Partnership. FAO (represented by Natural Resources and Forestry Departments) have played a key role in its development, together with REDD+Partnership partners.
Posted: 2010-10-26 at 11:00
News - More People, More Trees: International Film Launch in London
The documentary, which is co-sponsored by the Global Mechanism (GM), focuses on communities in Burkina Faso and Kenya over a period of 20 years, demonstrating the value participatory approaches have brought in stimulating successful agricultural change, food security and environmental recovery, with local people firmly in charge of their own destinies. Despite a growing population, tree cover and food production have both improved because of the tactics local people have adopted to manage their environment.
Director William Critchley shot More People, More Trees in 2009 in areas that he had filmed in the early 1990s to document new, participatory approaches that development agencies and farmers' groups had recently adopted.
Central to the approach employed by the communities were simple technologies based on improved traditions to conserve soil and water, local capacity building, tree-planting, work with women’s groups and sustained investment.
For More People, More Trees Critchley went back with award-winning producer Josephine Rodgers of Countrywise Communication, to the same communities and development workers, and documented progress that has been made over the last two decades.
The accompanying booklet describes the technologies filmed, provides hard data to support the testimonies in the film, and looks at the current challenges of sustainable land management in light of growing global concerns such as climate change.
"Land degradation and desertification are not new phenomena in Africa, but historically, projects to combat these problems commonly failed," says Critchley. "Yet these areas of Kenya and Burkina Faso show that population pressures do not necessarily mean increased desertification. Instead there have been spectacular improvements to the local environment and incomes for farming communities there."
One key prerogative of the film is to show how just small investments can result in huge changes, if appropriate technologies are used and if comprehensive government-led approaches fully involve farmers in development processes.
"The heartening signs of progress have been driven largely driven by the land users themselves," he adds. "We can be confident that sustained positive initiatives are underway. It is crucial for governments and development agencies to believe in the possibilities and continue to invest in the greatest untapped resource in Africa: the people themselves".
The film and book are aimed at development policy makers, agricultural extension workers, NGO workers, students and the wider development community.
The DVD and book pack is published by Practical Action Publishing (ISBN 978-1-85339-717-2, £15.95) co-sponsored by CTA, International Institute for Environment and Development, International Fund for Agricultural Development, the Global Mechanism and the VU University (Amsterdam).
View a trailer of the film:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YX7zRp4fnIM
For more information:
Mr Alexander Asen, Communications Officer
Tel. +39 06 5459 2618
a.asen (at) global-mechanism.org
Mr Maurizio Navarra, Communications Coordinator
Tel. +39 06 5459 2512
m.navarra (at) global-mechanism.org
Posted: 2010-10-26 at 10:23
News - Training trainers: safeguarding the financing of sustainable land management
This was the underlying premise of the subregional Training-of-Trainers Workshop on Designing Integrated Financing Strategies (DIFS) for sustainable land management (SLM), held in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, between 25 September and 2 October 2010 in the context of the Multi-country Capacity Building Project (MCB) under the Central Asia Countries Initiative For Land Management (CACILM).
CACILM is a partnership between Central Asian countries and international donor community to combat land degradation, improve rural livelihoods and adapt to climate change in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. The Asian Development Bank (ADB), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the German Agency for Technical Cooperation (GTZ), and the Global Mechanism (GM), have been active partners of CACILM since its inception. This specific project supports the Central Asian Countries (CACs) efforts to halt land degradation by enhancing the capability of each nation to execute their National Programming Frameworks. The GM has been tasked with implementation of Component 2, which focuses on resource mobilization for SLM activities.
The five-day DIFS workshop that brought together the multi-country and national capacity building units (NCBUs), UNCCD Focal Points, CACILM National and Multi-country Secretariats, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Environment Officers and GTZ staff seconded to the NCBUs. It provided each country team with an in-depth examination of the various components of the IFS, and gave participants the opportunity to master the skills required to formulate an IFS and deliver a DIFS workshop.
Specific results validated by the participants were an increased understanding of how to analyse the national context as a means for grounding the IFS in national realities; how to define and prioritise investment needs at the local level; and how to mainstream SLM into strategic frameworks for economic and social development.
Participants learnt more about the decision-making processes involved in national resource allocation for activities to combat land degradation and poverty; the criteria to consider when preparing proposals for financing various bilateral and multilateral financial partners; and the innovative financing sources available, such as those relating to climate change, payment for environmental services and private sector corporate social responsibility.
The next steps will include the organization of 5 national DIFS workshops over the course of 2010 and early 2011 by the team that undertook the training, with the support of the GM, GTZ and UNDP.
For more information:
Mr Roshan Cooke, Programme Coordinator, Asia and Pacific
Tel. +39 06 5459 2156
ro.cooke (at) global-mechanism.org
Posted: 2010-10-25 at 08:06
Developing effective forest policy - A guide
Just published, this guide aims to support countries in planning and conducting forest policy development processes. Based on a review of practical experiences, it outlines the rationale and purpose of a national forest policy and the different elements of the forest policy development process. This publication will help senior officials in government administrations and other stakeholder representatives, including civil society organizations and the private sector, in developing or revising national forest policy. Through this publication and related capacity-building support, FAO hopes to contribute to the development of forest policies that, based on emerging trends and broad agreement among stakeholders, can affirm and enhance the value and sustainable contributions of forests to society. Also published in Spanish and French.
Posted: 2010-10-24 at 11:00
Developing effective forest policy - A guide
Just published, this guide aims to support countries in planning and conducting forest policy development processes. Based on a review of practical experiences, it outlines the rationale and purpose of a national forest policy and the different elements of the forest policy development process. This publication will help senior officials in government administrations and other stakeholder representatives, including civil society organizations and the private sector, in developing or revising national forest policy. Through this publication and related capacity-building support, FAO hopes to contribute to the development of forest policies that, based on emerging trends and broad agreement among stakeholders, can affirm and enhance the value and sustainable contributions of forests to society. Also published in Spanish and French.
Posted: 2010-10-24 at 11:00
Developing effective forest policy - A guide
Just published, this guide aims to support countries in planning and conducting forest policy development processes. Based on a review of practical experiences, it outlines the rationale and purpose of a national forest policy and the different elements of the forest policy development process. This publication will help senior officials in government administrations and other stakeholder representatives, including civil society organizations and the private sector, in developing or revising national forest policy. Through this publication and related capacity-building support, FAO hopes to contribute to the development of forest policies that, based on emerging trends and broad agreement among stakeholders, can affirm and enhance the value and sustainable contributions of forests to society. Also published in Spanish and French.
Posted: 2010-10-24 at 11:00
Developing effective forest policy - A guide
Just published, this guide aims to support countries in planning and conducting forest policy development processes. Based on a review of practical experiences, it outlines the rationale and purpose of a national forest policy and the different elements of the forest policy development process. This publication will help senior officials in government administrations and other stakeholder representatives, including civil society organizations and the private sector, in developing or revising national forest policy. Through this publication and related capacity-building support, FAO hopes to contribute to the development of forest policies that, based on emerging trends and broad agreement among stakeholders, can affirm and enhance the value and sustainable contributions of forests to society. Also published in Spanish and French.
Posted: 2010-10-24 at 11:00
Committee on Forestry 2010: Mexico and Indonesia on forests in a market economy
Posted: 2010-10-22 at 11:00
Committee on Forestry 2010: Mexico and Indonesia on forests in a market economy
Posted: 2010-10-22 at 11:00
Committee on Forestry 2010: Mexico and Indonesia on forests in a market economy
Posted: 2010-10-22 at 11:00
New publication: Moving forward
One of the strategic goals of FAO is the sustainable management of the world’s forests and trees. FAO Forestry works to balance social, economic and environmental objectives so that present generations can reap the benefits of the Earth’s forest resources while preserving them to meet the needs of future generations. A new publication “Moving forward” high-light some of the activities carried out by FAO in this respect during the last biennium.
Posted: 2010-10-20 at 11:00
New publication: Moving forward
One of the strategic goals of FAO is the sustainable management of the world’s forests and trees. FAO Forestry works to balance social, economic and environmental objectives so that present generations can reap the benefits of the Earth’s forest resources while preserving them to meet the needs of future generations. A new publication “Moving forward” highlights some of the activities carried out by FAO in this respect during the last biennium.
Posted: 2010-10-20 at 11:00
New publication: Moving forward
One of the strategic goals of FAO is the sustainable management of the world’s forests and trees. FAO Forestry works to balance social, economic and environmental objectives so that present generations can reap the benefits of the Earth’s forest resources while preserving them to meet the needs of future generations. A new publication “Moving forward” highlights some of the activities carried out by FAO in this respect during the last biennium.
Posted: 2010-10-20 at 11:00
New publication: Moving forward
One of the strategic goals of FAO is the sustainable management of the world’s forests and trees. FAO Forestry works to balance social, economic and environmental objectives so that present generations can reap the benefits of the Earth’s forest resources while preserving them to meet the needs of future generations. A new publication “Moving forward” highlights some of the activities carried out by FAO in this respect during the last biennium.
Posted: 2010-10-20 at 11:00
News - Promoting coordination in the Republic of Congo to curb land degradation
In particular, land and natural resource management are not considered main concerns, despite the high levels of deforestation and unsustainable urbanization practices, resulting in severe soil erosion and land degradation, especially in areas surrounding the cities.
Although the country has ratified the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) in 1999 and adopted its National Action Programme (NAP) in 2006, their low-standing on the country’s development agenda has hampered implementation efforts.
The Global Mechanism (GM) recently started its engagement in Congo, with the clear intention of supporting the country to analyze and assess financing challenges and opportunities to revive the UNCCD process. One vital task will be to identify possible entry points in the country for the development of a resource mobilization process for Sustainable Land Management (SLM), whilst integrating land into key development processes and policies.
National policies and strategies - as well as potential entry points for resource mobilization - were debated on 7 and 8 October during a workshop on “Integrated Financing Strategies for the implementation of the CCD in Congo”, organized and funded by the Ministry of Sustainable Development, Forest Economy and Environment.
During the event, a number of potential opportunities were identified for mainstreaming SLM, including the national forestry law, which is currently undergoing a revision phase, along with a new land management policy (Plan d’aménagement du térritoire) and the preparation of the country’s Forestry and Environment Sectoral Programme). (PSFE).
Furthermore, the recently launched National Plan for Investments in Agriculture (PNIA), was identified as another possible entry point for putting land firmly on the agenda, with a national coordination team currently being prepared with the support of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) and the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS).
National actors recognized that processes to support the mobilization of resources for SLM certainly do exist, yet are acutely aware that in order to activate such processes, it is becoming increasingly vital to revive dialogue and strengthen coordination and cooperation between national level ministries, including for instance Trade, Finance, Infrastructure, and Mining. Indeed, integrated approaches to financing SLM, based on the cross-cutting value of land to other sectors, is crucial in broadening the potential for greater budgetary allocation. The development of an Integrated Investment Framework for SLM, in this context, is crucial for Congo to understand how to tap into a diverse mix of financial resources – be they from international or domestic sources – to fight land degradation and mainstream SLM into national development processes.
Congo is also in the process of establishing a National Coordination Body to Fight Desertification and Land Degradation. It is expected that such a coordination body will strengthen ties within Government and among stakeholders, whilst providing a new impetus for UNCCD implementation.
It is anticipated that the current processes underway will lead to a clearer understanding of the value of curbing land degradation, in a country where the word “desertification” is often mistakenly considered a remote phenomenon.
For more information:
Mr Sven Walter, Programme Officer, West and Central Africa
Tel. +39 06 5459 2150
s.walter (at) global-mechanism.org
Mr Maurizio Navarra, Communications Coordinator
Tel. +39 06 5459 2512
m.navarra (at) global-mechanism.org
Posted: 2010-10-20 at 02:31
Scientific Summary No. 75, 2010
Posted: 2010-10-20 at 09:13
News - Young Professionals of the Future: Masters Course held in China
This year’s course took place in Lanzhou, China between 13 September and 12 October 2010 at the Cold and Arid Regions Environmental and Engineering Research Institute, which is part of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAREERI/CAS). Participants in the 2010-2011 programme included master’s students from China, Japan and Tunisia.
The overarching aim of the course is to enhance the capacity of developing countries to manage their dryland resources by providing young professionals with an international perspective on natural resource management approaches in drylands. The MSc has been jointly developed by a broad range of partner institutions with expertise in drylands: the United Nations University (UNU); l’Institut des Régions Arides (IRA); the Cold and Arid Regions Environmental and Engineering Research Institute (CAREERI); the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA); the Institut National Agronomique de Tunisie (INAT); the Tottori University (TU); and the GM.
As part of the overall programme, the GM held a three-day course on “Mobilising financial resources for Sustainable Land Management (SLM)”, to promote awareness and dialogue on the value of integrated approaches to increasing financing for SLM.
The course provided a comprehensive overview of the international context and the global problems of land degradation and the key challenges and responses to increasing budgetary allocations and international investments into countries’ land resources. In particular, SLM was highlighted as holding enormous potential in ensuring a sustainable balance between economic development, social benefits and environmental protection. Attention was also drawn to the increasing need to make the case for investments into SLM by providing solid economic arguments based on the real value of land, looking at financing from a broad range of sources and mechanisms while ensuring a conducive investment environment.
The GM looks forward to continuing its work within the context of the Masters Programme, given its firm conviction that the youth of today can make a vital contribution to ensuring that we rise to the considerable challenge of safeguarding livelihoods through the responsible management of our precious land resources.
For more information:
Mr Simone Quatrini, Coordinator, Policy & Investment Analysis
Tel. +39 06 5459 2154
s.quatrini (at) global-mechanism.org
Ms Siv Oystese, Financial and Private Sector Strategy Officer
Tel. +39 06 5459 2782
s.oystese (at) global-mechanism.org
Posted: 2010-10-19 at 01:39
News - Landmarks in integrated financial strategy development in Dominican Republic
The Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources gives high priority to fighting land degradation, desertification and drought, determined to overcome the barriers to implement SLM, one of which is the lack of financial resources. In this context, the Ministry is working closely with the GM to define ways to access national, international and innovative resources through the IFS. The GM’s support is part of a broader joint GM-FAO subregional project.
The main focus of the two events in Santo Domingo was to define how development cooperation agencies and civil society organizations (CSOs) could become fully involved in the resource mobilization process. The first - a workshop on engaging civil society organizations (CSOs) in combating desertification (1-2 September) - was designed to increase their awareness of land degradation and the UNCCD tools available to tackle it, with the aim of strengthening the CSO contribution to UNCCD National Action Programme (NAP) implementation, and developing an action plan to coordinate CSO efforts. The second - a consultation with development cooperation agencies on designing the country’s IFS (3 September) - discussed the strategies and mechanisms adopted by international development cooperation agencies to mitigate desertification.
The CSO meeting reached a common understanding on how CSOs will address SLM in Dominican Republic, particularly in vulnerable dryland zones and in the Haiti border area. They also agreed to develop an action plan for CSO engagement in the IFS process, which will focus on information sharing & communication, institution building and the development of key projects.
The main outcome of the development cooperation consultation was the agreement to revitalize its agriculture and environment sector working group to support SLM and the IFS initiatives in the country, along with some proposals for increased engagement in the UNCCD process in general. A second meeting with the development cooperation agencies will be held in December to present and validate the IFS and define specific roles for these agencies in its implementation.
Both meetings were very well attended: 30 CSOs from the capital and the affected regions participated in the CSO meeting and 39 participants from bilateral and multilateral development cooperation agencies, Ministries of Environment, Agriculture, Economics, Planning & Development, and CSOs, in the development cooperation consultation.
The National Authorities present expressed their satisfaction with the outcomes of the meetings and committed to following-up on the agreements reached at both meetings and to their actively engagement in the next phase.
For more information:
Mr Alan González Figueroa, Regional Advisor for Mesoamerica
a.figueroa (at) global-mechanism.org
Ms Paule Herodote, Civil Society and Innovative Finance Advisor
Tel. +39 06 5459 2760
p.herodote (at) global-mechanism.org
Posted: 2010-10-18 at 01:22
Making forest knowledge work
Publications are key in order to highlight the social values of forests - from their environmental services to poverty reduction. Two major pieces of work were launched during the Committee on Forestry 2010: the Global Forest Resources Assessment 2010 (also known as FRA) and the World Atlas of Mangroves. Follow Susy Tafuro and Valentina Delle Fratte as they give a short tour of the wealth of publications available from FAO's Forestry Department.
Posted: 2010-10-17 at 11:00
Making forest knowledge work
Publications are key to promoting the social values of forests - from their environmental services to poverty reduction. Two major pieces of work were launched during the recent Committee on Forestry 2010 meeting: the Global Forest Resources Assessment 2010 (also known as FRA) and the World Atlas of Mangroves. Follow Susy Tafuro and Valentina Delle Fratte as they give a short tour of the wealth of publications available from FAO's Forestry Department.
Posted: 2010-10-17 at 11:00
Making forest knowledge work
Publications are key to promoting the social values of forests - from their environmental services to poverty reduction. Two major pieces of work were launched during the recent Committee on Forestry 2010 meeting: the Global Forest Resources Assessment 2010 (also known as FRA) and the World Atlas of Mangroves. Follow Susy Tafuro and Valentina Delle Fratte as they give a short tour of the wealth of publications available from FAO's Forestry Department.
Posted: 2010-10-17 at 11:00
Making forest knowledge work
Publications are key to promoting the social values of forests - from their environmental services to poverty reduction. Two major pieces of work were launched during the recent Committee on Forestry 2010 meeting: the Global Forest Resources Assessment 2010 (also known as FRA) and the World Atlas of Mangroves. Follow Susy Tafuro and Valentina Delle Fratte as they give a short tour of the wealth of publications available from FAO's Forestry Department.
Posted: 2010-10-17 at 11:00
FAO, AFoA and INTA agree on the importance of carrying out an Industrial Forest Sector Investment and Financing Forum and Bioenergy seminar in Argentina
The Argentina Forest Association and INTA strongly believes that the Forest industrial Sector Investment and Financing Forum, followed by the Bioenergy seminar to be held in Buenos Aires on 16 and 17 November are a real opportunity to promote the potential of Argentina for forest investments and support the country in becoming a world leader in the forestry and forest industry sector.
Posted: 2010-10-14 at 11:00
FAO, AFoA and INTA agree on the importance of the forthcoming Industrial Forest Sector Investment and Financing Forum and Bioenergy seminar in Argentina
The Argentina Forest Association and INTA strongly believes that the Forest industrial Sector Investment and Financing Forum, followed by a Bioenergy seminar to be held in Buenos Aires on 16 and 17 November are a real opportunity to promote the potential of Argentina for forest investments and support the country in becoming a world leader in the forestry and forest industry sector.
Posted: 2010-10-14 at 11:00
FAO, AFoA and INTA agree on the importance of the forthcoming Forest Industries Investment and Financing Forum and Bioenergy seminar in Argentina
The Argentina Forest Association and INTA strongly believes that the Forest Industries Investment and Financing Forum, followed by a bioenergy seminar to be held in Buenos Aires 16-17 November, is a real opportunity to promote the potential of Argentina for forest investments and support the country in becoming a world leader in the forestry and forest industry sector.
Posted: 2010-10-14 at 11:00
FAO, AFoA and INTA agree on the importance of the forthcoming Forest Industries Investment and Financing Forum and Bioenergy seminar in Argentina
The Argentina Forest Association and INTA strongly believes that the Forest Industries Investment and Financing Forum, followed by a bioenergy seminar to be held in Buenos Aires 16-17 November, is a real opportunity to promote the potential of Argentina for forest investments and support the country in becoming a world leader in the forestry and forest industry sector.
Posted: 2010-10-14 at 11:00
FAO, AFoA and INTA agree on the importance of the forthcoming Forest Industries Investment and Financing Forum and Bioenergy seminar in Argentina
The Argentina Forest Association and INTA strongly believes that the Forest Industries Investment and Financing Forum, followed by a bioenergy seminar to be held in Buenos Aires 16-17 November, is a real opportunity to promote the potential of Argentina for forest investments and support the country in becoming a world leader in the forestry and forest industry sector.
Posted: 2010-10-14 at 11:00
ASIA: Unquantifiable damage caused by wildfires
IRIN humanitarian news and analysisa project of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
Posted: 2010-10-14 at 11:00
ASIA: Unquantifiable damage caused by wildfires
IRIN humanitarian news and analysisa project of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
Posted: 2010-10-14 at 11:00
Study tour and training on right to food, food security and non wood forest products
Mid-october 2010, FAO's Central African projects on non wood forest products and FAO's Right to Food Team organize a study tour and training with participants from 10 countries in the Congo Basin in order to sensitize decision makers how the legal and institutional framework governing the NWFP sector in Cameroon and Gabon influence livelihoods of local producers and traders. Participants will learn about the linkage between non wood forest products, food security and right to food and will discuss on a regional toolbox on how to implement the right to food in the Central African NWFP sector.
Posted: 2010-10-12 at 11:00
Study tour and training on right to food, food security and non wood forest products
In mid-October 2010, FAO's Central African projects on non wood forest products and FAO's Right to Food Team organized a study tour and training with participants from 10 countries in the Congo Basin in order to sensitize decision makers how the legal and institutional framework governing the NWFP sector in Cameroon and Gabon influence livelihoods of local producers and traders. Participants learnt about the linkage between non wood forest products, food security and right to food and discussed the use of regional toolboxes on how to implement the right to food in the Central African NWFP sector.
Posted: 2010-10-12 at 11:00
Study tour and training on right to food, food security and non wood forest products
In mid-October 2010, FAO's Central African projects on non wood forest products and FAO's Right to Food Team organized a study tour and training with participants from 10 countries in the Congo Basin in order to sensitize decision makers how the legal and institutional framework governing the NWFP sector in Cameroon and Gabon influence livelihoods of local producers and traders. Participants learnt about the linkage between non wood forest products, food security and right to food and discussed the use of regional toolboxes on how to implement the right to food in the Central African NWFP sector.
Posted: 2010-10-12 at 11:00
Study tour and training on right to food, food security and non wood forest products
In mid-October 2010, FAO's Central African projects on non wood forest products and FAO's Right to Food Team organized a study tour and training with participants from 10 countries in the Congo Basin in order to sensitize decision makers how the legal and institutional framework governing the NWFP sector in Cameroon and Gabon influence livelihoods of local producers and traders. Participants learnt about the linkage between non wood forest products, food security and right to food and discussed the use of regional toolboxes on how to implement the right to food in the Central African NWFP sector.
Posted: 2010-10-12 at 11:00
Job opening: System developer
FAO Forestry is looking for a skilled Java developer, who would like to join the department as a consultant. The work is related to the ongoing Foris development. Foris is a web based system developed for supporting the work of the department – world wide.
Posted: 2010-10-11 at 11:00
Job opening: System developer
FAO Forestry is looking for a skilled Java developer, who would like to join the department as a consultant. The work is related to the ongoing Foris development. Foris is a web based system developed for supporting the work of the department – world wide.
Posted: 2010-10-11 at 11:00
Job opening: System developer
FAO Forestry is looking for a skilled Java developer, who would like to join the department as a consultant. The work is related to the ongoing Foris development. Foris is a web based system developed for supporting the work of the department – world wide.
Posted: 2010-10-11 at 11:00
Job opening: System developer
FAO Forestry is looking for a skilled Java developer, who would like to join the department as a consultant. The work is related to the ongoing Foris development. Foris is a web based system developed for supporting the work of the department – world wide.
Posted: 2010-10-11 at 11:00
You are the key! Ключ к решению! Vous êtes la clé! 您的参与 至关重要! Usted es la llave! أنت العامل الرئيسى
“The future of forests is in your hands. You are the key!” Eduardo Rojas Briales, Assistant Director-General at FAO’s Forestry Department, opened the 20th session of the Committee on Forestry/World Forest Week 2 highlighting the importance of realizing that “forests are primarily about people.” In fact, “You are the key” is the slogan of this year’s COFO. Click to watch the video and listen to COFO delegates explaining why.
Posted: 2010-10-05 at 11:00
You are the key! Ключ к решению! Vous êtes la clé! 您的参与 至关重要! Usted es la llave! أنت العامل الرئيسى
“The future of forests is in your hands. You are the key!” Eduardo Rojas Briales, Assistant Director-General at FAO’s Forestry Department, opened the 20th session of the Committee on Forestry/World Forest Week 2 highlighting the importance of realizing that “forests are primarily about people.” In fact, “You are the key” is the slogan of this year’s COFO. Click to watch the video and listen to COFO delegates explaining why.
Posted: 2010-10-05 at 11:00
You are the key! Ключ к решению! Vous êtes la clé! 您的参与 至关重要! Usted es la llave! أنت العامل الرئيسى
“The future of forests is in your hands. You are the key!” Eduardo Rojas Briales, Assistant Director-General at FAO’s Forestry Department, opened the 20th session of the Committee on Forestry/World Forest Week 2 highlighting the importance of realizing that “forests are primarily about people.” In fact, “You are the key” is the slogan of this year’s COFO. Click to watch the video and listen to COFO delegates explaining why.
Posted: 2010-10-05 at 11:00
GFEP Editorial Team meets at United Nations to draft policy brief on international forest governance
Posted: 2010-10-04 at 11:29
FAO releases Global Forest Resources Assessment 2010: forest biodiversity at risk but conservation efforts are growing
The world's forest biodiversity is threatened by a high global rate of deforestation and forest degradation as well as a decline in primary forest area. In many countries, however, there is a continued positive trend towards the conservation of forest biological diversity via dedicated conservation areas.These are some of the key findings of the final report of FAO's Global Forest Resources Assessment 2010 (FRA 2010), the most comprehensive assessment of the state of the world's forests ever undertaken. The final report of FRA 2010 was published today at the start of the latest biennial meeting of the FAO' Committee on Forestry and World Forest Week, in Rome.
Posted: 2010-10-03 at 11:00
FAO releases Global Forest Resources Assessment 2010: forest biodiversity at risk but conservation efforts are growing
The world's forest biodiversity is threatened by a high global rate of deforestation and forest degradation as well as a decline in primary forest area. In many countries, however, there is a continued positive trend towards the conservation of forest biological diversity via dedicated conservation areas.These are some of the key findings of the final report of FAO's Global Forest Resources Assessment 2010 (FRA 2010), the most comprehensive assessment of the state of the world's forests ever undertaken. The final report of FRA 2010 was published today at the start of the latest biennial meeting of the FAO' Committee on Forestry and World Forest Week, in Rome.
Posted: 2010-10-03 at 11:00
FAO releases Global Forest Resources Assessment 2010: forest biodiversity at risk but conservation efforts are growing
The world's forest biodiversity is threatened by a high global rate of deforestation and forest degradation as well as a decline in primary forest area. In many countries, however, there is a continued positive trend towards the conservation of forest biological diversity via dedicated conservation areas.These are some of the key findings of the final report of FAO's Global Forest Resources Assessment 2010 (FRA 2010), the most comprehensive assessment of the state of the world's forests ever undertaken. The final report of FRA 2010 was published today at the start of the latest biennial meeting of the FAO' Committee on Forestry and World Forest Week, in Rome.
Posted: 2010-10-03 at 11:00
Forest biodiversity at risk
Posted: 2010-10-03 at 11:00
Forest biodiversity at risk
Posted: 2010-10-03 at 11:00
COFO 2010: REDD+, a great opportunity
“Real forest policies seeking to have impact in the future need to be discussed not with the Ministries of Agriculture downwards, but with the Ministries of Finance, of Planning and with the President of the Republic: from those Ministries up.” The picture is clear for Hans Thiel, ex Vice-Minister for the Environment in Ecuador now working for all Latin America as Forestry Officer based at the Investment Centre of FAO. It is no coincidence that REDD+, Financing for the forest sector, Communicating the importance of forests to the finance sector will be key topics for discussion at this year’s Committee on Forestry. Hans Thiel goes on to explain that the global dialogue on reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation, also known as REDD, poses an enormous challenge and opportunity to the forestry community. “It is now time to position forests and forestry on the highest political agenda of the countries,” says Thiel. See why “You are the key”.
Posted: 2010-10-01 at 11:00
COFO 2010: REDD+, a great opportunity
“Real forest policies seeking to have impact in the future need to be discussed not with the Ministries of Agriculture downwards, but with the Ministries of Finance, of Planning and with the President of the Republic: from those Ministries up.” The picture is clear for Hans Thiel, ex Vice-Minister for the Environment in Ecuador now working for all Latin America as Forestry Officer based at the Investment Centre of FAO. It is no coincidence that REDD+, Financing for the forest sector, Communicating the importance of forests to the finance sector will be key topics for discussion at this year’s Committee on Forestry. Hans Thiel goes on to explain that the global dialogue on reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation, also known as REDD, poses an enormous challenge and opportunity to the forestry community. “It is now time to position forests and forestry on the highest political agenda of the countries,” says Thiel. See why “You are the key”.
Posted: 2010-10-01 at 11:00
News - Investing in Africa's Future: MoU signed between GM and NEPAD
At the forefront of Africa’s efforts to eliminate hunger and alleviate poverty, as underlined at the recent Millennium Development Goals summit in New York, is the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP), the continent’s primary channel for investments into agriculture growth. Sustainable land and water management, as well as market access and trade form two of CAADP’s four major pillars of action in rising to this lofty challenge. Increased investments are seen as central, not only in maintaining the integrity of ecosystems, but more crucially, in addressing the most urgent development needs of the continent; food security and sovereignty, economic growth and climate resilience foremost amongst them.
Creating an environment that promotes investment into land is the major challenge. More robust evidence is needed that elicits land’s intrinsic value, matched with dialogue and interaction between key institutions at national and international levels.
As part of these efforts, the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) and the Global Mechanism (GM) recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in support of CAADP, promising a harmonised response to promoting finance for sustainable land management (SLM).
The MoU commits the institutions to supporting the improvement of enabling conditions for resource mobilisation in core areas of cooperation. One such area is the integration of SLM into national development and budgetary frameworks, a crucial measure in ensuring that land productivity becomes a national priority area. This will significantly boost the potential for increased financial allocations from domestic budgets, as well as the international community who are aligning to priorities as set by countries themselves, under CAADP.
Assessing the gaps that exist in financing SLM and measuring the economic value of land is another prerogative of the partnership, and will be based on cutting-edge tools and methodologies the GM has already successful employed.
In addition, the two institutions will seek to broaden the scope of investments into SLM, by building financing alliances and platforms that involve key institutions such as multilateral development banks, specialised institutions such as the Global Environment Facility, the private sector and agri-business, as well as farmer associations.
For more information:
Dr Christian Mersmann, Managing Director
Tel. +39 06 5459 2155
c.mersmann (at) global-mechanism.org
Posted: 2010-09-30 at 02:10
COFO 2010: Forestry must come out of the bushes and start playing in the big leagues
This year, the Committee on Forestry will urge the forestry community to come out of the bushes. “Real forest policies seeking to have impact in the future need to be discussed not with the Ministries of Agriculture downwards, but with the Ministries of Finance, of Planning and with the President of the Republic: from those Ministries up.” The picture is clear for Hans Thiel, ex Vice-Minister for the Environment in Ecuador now working for all Latin America as Forestry Officer based at the Investment Centre of FAO. It is no coincidence that “REDD”, “Financing for the Forestry Sector”, “Communicating the importance of Forests to the Finance sector” will be key topics for discussion at this year’s Committee on Forestry. Hans Thiel goes on to explain that the global dialogue on reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation, also known as REDD, poses an enormous challenge and opportunity to the forestry community. “It is now time to position forests and forestry on the highest political agenda of the countries,” says Thiel. See why "You are the key".
Posted: 2010-09-29 at 11:00
Human-nature harmony: it can be done!
Improving livelihoods, increasing employment, improving nutrition at the same time as cutting carbon emissions and hanging on to the forests: it can be done! Watch the interview with Tony Juniper, Editor-in-Chief of National Geographic's Green magazine and current adviser for the Prince of Wales' Rainforests Project.
Posted: 2010-09-24 at 11:00
Human-nature harmony: it can be done!
Improving livelihoods, increasing employment, improving nutrition at the same time as cutting carbon emissions and hanging on to the forests: it can be done! Watch the interview with Tony Juniper, Editor-in-Chief of National Geographic's Green magazine and current adviser for the Prince of Wales' Rainforests Project.
Posted: 2010-09-24 at 11:00
Criteria and indicators for sustainable woodfuels
In many developing countries, woodfuels are still commonly used for household cooking and heating and are also important for local processing industries. In many developed countries, wood-processing industries often use their wood by-products for energy production. In some countries, notably the Nordic countries, forest residues are increasingly used for industrial-scale electricity generation and heating. Several developing countries have enormous potential to produce energy from forests and trees outside forests, for both domestic use and export. However this potential is not often properly reflected in national energy-development strategies. This publication sets out principles, criteria and indicators to guide the sustainable use of woodfuel resources and the sustainable production of charcoal. It is designed to help policy- and decision-makers in forestry, energy and environment agencies, non-governmental and other civil-society organizations and the private sector ensure that the woodfuel sector reaches its full potential as an agent of sustainable development.
Posted: 2010-09-20 at 11:00
A sound climate for the forest industry: fixing holes in the knowledge needed
“The forest products and paper industries are part of the solution to climate change mitigation”, stated Michael Peter, member of FAO’s Advisory Committee on Paper and Wood Products (ACPWP) during the ACPWP’s 51th Session held in Tokyo earlier this year. Not only are forestry activities well placed for biodiversity conservation, but they are crucial in a future scenario in which fossil fuels will become a constraint. National and international climate change policies relevant to the forest industry is one of the key issues that ACPWP members will be discussing at FAO headquarters during the upcoming Committee on Forestry (COFO), from 4 to 8 October 2010.
Posted: 2010-09-19 at 11:00
FAO, AFoA, INTA develop roadmap for forest industries in Argentina
FAO Forest Products and Industries Team, Asociación Forestal Argentina (AfOA) and Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA) will organize the first Argentina Forest Sector Investment and Financing Forum in Palacio San Miguel, Buenos Aires 16 November 2010. The one-day meeting is followed by half-a-day Bioenergy Seminar on 17 November. The Forum will bring together the most influential players of the Argentinean forestry and industry, government and financial community members, and international investors and experts. The purpose is to stimulate the investment climate and international collaboration in the forestry sector of Argentina. The bioenergy seminar will explore the feasibility and potential for bioenergy development in the forestry sector.
Posted: 2010-09-16 at 11:00
FAO, AFoA, INTA develop roadmap for forest industries in Argentina
FAO Forest Products and Industries Team, Asociación Forestal Argentina (AFoA) and Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA) will organize the first Argentina Forest Sector Investment and Financing Forum in Palacio San Miguel, Buenos Aires 16 November 2010. The one-day meeting is followed by half day bioenergy seminar on 17 November. The Forum will bring together the most influential players of the Argentinean forestry and industry, government and financial community members, and international investors and experts. The purpose is to stimulate the investment climate and international collaboration in the forestry sector of Argentina. The bioenergy seminar will explore the feasibility and potential for bioenergy development in the forestry sector. Further information: Mr. Jukka Tissari (Jukka.Tissari@fao.org)
Posted: 2010-09-16 at 11:00
XXIII IUFRO World Congress: The Seoul Resolution
Posted: 2010-09-15 at 11:00
News - Ecological efficiency: the key to sustainable well-being
Within two days of its launch, the first HPI report was downloaded and read in 185 countries worldwide - its message resonating with hundreds of thousands of people around the world. Three years on, HPI 2.0 has been calculated with new improved data sets for 143 countries, covering 99 per cent of the world’s population. Scores range from 0 to 100 – with high scores only achievable by meeting all three targets embodied in the index – high life expectancy, high life satisfaction, and a low ecological footprint.
The results turn the conventional idea of progress on its head. Whilst the HPI confirms that the countries where people enjoy the happiest and healthiest lives are mostly developed countries, it shows the unsustainable ecological price they pay. It also reveals some notable exceptions – less wealthy countries, with significantly smaller per capita ecological footprints that have relatively high levels of life expectancy and life satisfaction - such as Dominican Republic and Viet Nam.
The Happy Planet Charter provides clear targets for all nations, including lobbying governments to measure people’s well-being and environmental impact in a consistent and regular way, and developing a framework of national accounts that considers the interaction between the two, so as to guide us towards sustainable well-being.
Readers may immediately recognise similarities between the HPI approach and the UN definition of sustainable development as: “…meet[ing] the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” It brings home once again the importance of restoring and safeguarding the productivity of natural resources – in particular land – as a political priority. As the UN Convention to Combat Desertification consistently underscores – land degradation is far more than a simple environmental concern – it ranks among the greatest development challenges of our times because of its impact on production in agriculture and forests, on sustainable livelihoods, food security, economic growth and social stability.
Adapted from “The Happy Planet Index 2.0”, by The New Economics Foundation (NEF), an independent think-and-do tank that aims to improve quality of life by promoting innovative solutions that challenge mainstream thinking on economic, environment and social issues.
Download the full report
www.happyplanetindex.org/public-data/files/happy-planet-index-2-0.pdf
For more information:
www.happyplanetindex.org/
Posted: 2010-09-14 at 03:52
Towards a strategy to promote forest industries in the Congo Basin
The International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO), the Interafrican Forest Industries Association (IFIA), FAO and the National Forest Programme Facility (NFP Facility) are organizing a meeting “Towards a strategy to promote the forest industry development in the Congo Basin” on 21 and 22 September 2010 in Yaoundé.
The meeting, which will be attended by the main stakeholders coming from the forest and timber industry, public administration, international cooperation, NGOs and research institutes, aims to explore how to strengthen (i) local investment in wood processing as well as (ii) national markets of wood products. Two specific objectives have been set, namely, to identify priorities for national and sub-regional strategies aiming to promote the development of forest industries in the Congo Basin and to establish a roadmap for their implementation.
Posted: 2010-09-13 at 11:00
IUFRO Seeks New Executive Director
Posted: 2010-09-13 at 04:48
GFIS has launched an upgraded gateway to improve forest information sharing
Posted: 2010-09-08 at 11:41
IUFRO Seeks New Executive Director
Posted: 2010-09-06 at 04:48
Where “food security”, “health” and “income” grow on trees: opportunities for forest-dependant entrepreneurs in Central Africa
Logging has been, for many, considered the only possible source of income from forests. Trees, however, provide much more than timber. For example, they play a variety of roles in Central Africa. In the arid Sudano-Sahelian zones, trees serve as dune stabilizers and supply a wide number of resources to the poorest communities. In or around the Congo Basin rain forest, more than 100 million people depend on non-wood forest products for food.
Posted: 2010-09-05 at 11:00
Event - Foro con la mesa de cooperantes en el marco del diseño de la estrategia financiera integrada(EFI) en República Dominicana
Los países de la región, entre los cuales siempre ha estado presente y activa la República Dominicana, han propuesto diferentes esquemas y mecanismos para fomentar la cooperación y el financiamiento internacional en esta materia.
Para el desarrollo de estas actividades el país ha contado con el apoyo de diversas organizaciones internacionales, tanto bilaterales como multilaterales, entre las cuales destacan el Mecanismo Mundial (MM) la FAO y el PNUD.
El MM viene desarrollando estrategias y mecanismos para articular los recursos nacionales con la cooperación internacional, y de esa forma inducir un flujo financiero que contribuya de manera efectiva a la aplicación de la Convención al nivel nacional. Uno de esos mecanismos lo constituyen las Estrategias Financieras Integradas (EFI). La elaboración de la EFI de República Dominicana fue iniciada en Octubre de 2009.
La realización de este Foro con la Mesa de Donantes (agencias bilaterales y multilaterales) es parte de los esfuerzos conjunto entre el MM y el Ministerio de Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales de la República Dominicana y tiene como propósito discutir las estrategias y mecanismos que la cooperación internacional puede utilizar en conjunto con las Autoridades y el pueblo Dominicano, para combatir en mejor medida el proceso de desertificación en el territorio de la isla Hispaniola.
De igual modo, se esperan obtener los insumos de los representantes de las agencias bilaterales y multilaterales sobre los planteamientos y enfoques para el diseño de la EFI, en línea con las prioridades definidas por el gobierno de la República Dominicana, y bajo el marco también del Proyecto Regional de cooperación técnica de la FAO “Fortalecimiento Institucional en Gestión Financiera para el MST”(FIGEF-MST)
También se prevé que dentro de las áreas de actuación de las agencias bilaterales y multilaterales, se establezca un acuerdo para asegurar su participación y apoyo, tanto en el proceso de diseño como en la posterior implementación de la EFI en el país.
Para más información:
Alan González Figueroa, Consultor Regional para Mesoamérica
a.figueroa (at) global-mechanism.org
Posted: 2010-08-31 at 01:43
News - President of Guatemala offers personal backing to IFS
“The Guatemalan State,’’, as expressed in the decree, “recognises the need to implement the National Integrated Financing Strategy… as a means of securing funding for implementing the country’s National Action Programme, thereby contributing towards the maintenance of ecological balance and the improvement of the quality of life of the country’s population”.
The President’s personal interest to pass this decree is a clear indication of just how seriously the country is taking the issue of land degradation, recognizing the value of land in meeting a host of development challenges and in boosting macroeconomic growth. Furthermore, it is a reflection of the success of the country’s Ministry of Environment in mainstreaming land at the highest political level. One clear implication of the decree is the recognition that greater financial resources must be allocated to SLM from Guatemala’s own domestic budget.
Coming less than a year after Guatemala suffered its worst drought in more than three decades, the President’s support to the IFS process is a huge political boost to the country’s fight to preserve and restore the productivity of its natural resources. It also reasserts Guatemala’s burgeoning role as a leader in the Mesoamerican region in implementing the UNCCD.
Download the Presedential Decree (Pdf,Spanish,450kb)
Mr Alejandro Kilpatrick,
Programme Coordinator, Latin America and the Caribbean and the Climate Change Finance Programme
Tel. +39 06 5459 2524
a.kilpatrick (at) global-mechanism.org
Posted: 2010-08-31 at 09:52
Good forest governance will decrease deforestation
The quality of forest governance is known to have effects on deforestation, together with other factors. However, assessing its impact is challenging due to the diverse mechanisms leading to deforestation, and data availability. In a new paper Umemiya, Rametsteiner and Kraxner analyse interrelations between governance quality and deforestation rates using governance quality indicator data of the World Bank and deforestation rate data of the FAO Forest Resources Assessment 2005. Results show that an increase in governance quality tends to be associated with a decrease in deforestation rates.
Posted: 2010-08-29 at 11:00
And the winner is...
Posted: 2010-08-28 at 12:28
IUFRO Seeks New Executive Director
Posted: 2010-08-27 at 04:48
New FORNIS website shares information on African forests
Posted: 2010-08-26 at 10:41
IUFRO Seeks New Executive Director
Posted: 2010-08-24 at 04:48
Event - Seminar and workshop on engaging civil society organizations in combating desertification
This is why the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) calls for the systematic involvement of civil society organizations (CSOs) in Convention implementation.
In the Dominican Republic, CSOs have played an increasing role in the UNCCD process, ever since the country became a Party to the Convention in 1997.
The elaboration and implementation of the country’s NAP has been a catalyst for their participation and this momentum must be maintained as the country embarks in developing its national integrated financing strategy (IFS), since CSOs mobilize both private and public resources and have an important role as financial partners contributing to a coordinated national response to the land degradation threat.
In this context, the GM is supporting a national workshop on CSO engagement in combating desertification that is being organized back-to-back with a development cooperation round table on the design of IFS for UNCCD implementation.
The objectives of the workshop are to:
increase CSO awareness of land degradation and UNCCD instruments
consider CSO capacity to contribute to the implementation of the 2006-2016 National Action Programme (NAP) and the Bi-annual Plans to Combat Desertification; and
elaborate an action plan to coordinate CSO actions for UNCCD implementation and engagement in resource mobilization.
CSOs from the priority areas for combating desertification will participate together with members of the Inter-institutional Technical Group (GTI) and the GM regional and civil society experts. Given the significance of the border zone between the Dominican Republic and Haiti for combating desertification, participants from Haiti will also take part.
For more information:
Ms Paule Herodote
Civil Society Investments Advisor
Tel. +39 06 5459 2760
p.herodote (at) global-mechanism.org
Posted: 2010-08-24 at 02:10
Eduardo Rojas-Briales key note speaker at the XXIII IUFRO Worl Congress opening ceremony in Seoul
Eduardo Rojas-Briales, Assistant Director-General, FAO, discussed forest trends including heightened financial constraints within the sector, growing demands for the economic, ecological and social values of forests, and the central importance of forests in climate mitigation and adaptation.
Posted: 2010-08-23 at 11:00
Integrated fire management needed to tame fires - Australia Bushfires report in accord with FAO guidelines
FAO is stressing the importance of integrated fire management following the release of the report on the causes of Australia's 2009 Black Saturday fires. The Select Committee on Agricultural and Related Industries that investigated the incidence of bushfires noted that the fire management voluntary guidelines coordinated by FAO would be a good basis for a common approach to a national bushfire policy.
Posted: 2010-08-23 at 11:00
Integrated fire management needed to tame fires - Australia Bushfires report in accord with FAO guidelines
Posted: 2010-08-23 at 11:00
Integrated fire management needed to tame fires - Australia Bushfires report in accord with FAO guidelines
Posted: 2010-08-23 at 11:00
Emerging economic mechanisms: implications for forest-related policies
"The first condition is that, the governmental policies should be based on bottom-up participation."
Professor Gerard Buttoud (University of Tuscia, Italy) presents an event that will be held within the upcoming Committee on Forestry (COFO) 2010 meeting at FAO headquarters, Rome. Click to watch the video.
Posted: 2010-08-19 at 11:00
News - GM Financial Strategy Officers appointed to Regional Cooprdination Units
Mrs Wafa Essahli (Tunisia) has taken up her functions at the African RCU, hosted by the African Development Bank, in Tunis. Ms Essahli, whose background is remote sensing and information systems, has 26 years’ experience in desertification and land degradation-related issues. For the last ten years, she has worked at the international and sub-regional levels for the Sahara and Sahel Observatory (OSS, Tunisia) and the Regional Economic Community (CEN-SAD, Libya).
Mr Alejandro Jacques (Mexico) has taken up his functions at the RCU for Latin America and the Caribbean, in Mexico City. Mr Jacques has 15 years’ experience in public administration, the past six with the International Affairs Office of the National Forestry Commission of Mexico (CONAFOR) - the UNCCD Focal Point institution. During this period he was responsible for relations with the UNCCD, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF) and other international agreements and worked closely with international donor agencies to develop cooperation projects for the forestry sector in Mexico.
The Financial Strategy Officers’ duties will include:
identifying key donors, initiatives and financing opportunities in their respective regions;
backstopping the financial reporting process by managing the GM helpdesk for the region;
establishing a communications strategy for the region jointly with the UNCCD Secretariat; and
fully engaging in preparation for sessions of the Committee on Science and Technology (CST), the Committee for the Review of the Implementation of the Convention (CRIC) and the Conference of the Parties (COP), and sharing information and analytical findings with UNCCD community.
The GM warmly welcomes Ms Essahli and Mr Jacques to the team and looks forward to working closely with them through the RCUs.
For more information:
Ms Wafa Essahli
Email w.essahli (at) global-mechanism.org
Mr Alejandro Jacques
Email a.jacques(at) global-mechanism.org
Posted: 2010-08-17 at 09:39
FAO launches NASA-developed fire monitoring system
Posted: 2010-08-11 at 11:00
FAO launches NASA-developed fire monitoring system
Posted: 2010-08-11 at 11:00
FAO launches NASA-developed fire monitoring system
Posted: 2010-08-11 at 08:00
FAO launches NASA-developed fire monitoring system
Posted: 2010-08-11 at 08:00
ACP-FLEGT Support Programme: Third call for proposals
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations announces the third call for proposals for pilot projects and technical assistance through the Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade Support Programme for African, Caribbean and Pacific Countries (ACP-FLEGT Support Programme).The four-year initiative has two main components: providing assistance to ACP countries in putting the European Union FLEGT Action Plan into practice, and supporting the collection, analysis and dissemination of FLEGT-related information and lessons learned among stakeholder groups in ACP countries. To learn more please visit our website at:http://www.fao.org/forestry/acp-flegt/en
Posted: 2010-08-10 at 11:00
ACP-FLEGT Support Programme: Third call for proposals
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations announces the third call for proposals for pilot projects and technical assistance through the Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade Support Programme for African, Caribbean and Pacific Countries (ACP-FLEGT Support Programme).
The four-year initiative has two main components: providing assistance to ACP countries in putting the European Union FLEGT Action Plan into practice, and supporting the collection, analysis and dissemination of FLEGT-related information and lessons learned among stakeholder groups in ACP countries.
Posted: 2010-08-10 at 11:00
FAO launches NASA-developed fire monitoring system
Posted: 2010-08-10 at 11:00
FAO launches NASA-developed fire monitoring system
Posted: 2010-08-10 at 11:00
IUFRO Seeks New Executive Director
Posted: 2010-08-10 at 04:48
News - Guinea Bissau commits to action on land degradation
Slash and burn agriculture, logging for timber and land degradation amongst other environmental threats have, to date, undermined efforts to fully exploit this rich potential.
Years of political instability, moreover, threaten to jeopardise commitment from development partners to invest in the country and to support measures for the rehabilitation of degraded areas.
Despite the complications of this financing backdrop, Guinea Bissau’s Ministry of Agriculture is making real strides to ensure that land and forests receive increased attention. A crucial step was taken recently with the validation of Guinea Bissau’s revised National Action Programme (NAP) to Combat Desertification and to promote sustainable land management (SLM), which sets out a clear path for addressing land degradation within the country.
The country has committed to strengthen the NAP, by developing a complementary component on a resource mobilization strategy for SLM, which will include an Integrated Financing Strategy (IFS) and an integrated investment framework (IIF) for SLM.
The design phase of Guinea Bissau’s IFS and IIF is now underway, recently launched by the country’s Ministry of Agriculture at an event in the capital Bissau, on the elaboration of a road map for a national strategy for resource mobilization for SLM. This 3 day event was held in the context of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)/Global Environmental Facility (GEF) Least Developed Countries (LDC) and Small Island Developing States (SIDS) Programme, with technical support provided by the Global Mechanism (GM).
During the mission, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Permanent Inter-state Committee for Drought Control in the Sahel (CILSS) and the GM all agreed to harmonize their support to the country.
The major outcome of the workshop is a clear commitment by Government and key partners for the future development of the IFS/IIF, with a roadmap for action already developed. At last, it seems that real momentum is gathering behind Guinea Bissau’s push for investments, which will be instrumental in safeguarding the country’s precious but imperilled lands and forests.
Mr Sven Walter, Programme Officer, West and Central Africa
Tel. +39 06 5459 2150
s.walter (at) global-mechanism.org
Mr Alejandro Kilpatrick, Programme Coordinator, Latin America and the Caribbean and the Climate Change Finance Programme
Tel. +39 06 5459 2524
a.kilpatrick (at) global-mechanism.org
Posted: 2010-08-10 at 02:04
Scientific Summary No. 74, 2010
Posted: 2010-08-05 at 01:40
Growing poplars for food security
Posted: 2010-08-03 at 11:00
Growing poplars for food security
Posted: 2010-08-03 at 11:00
Custodians of the Earth: forests as cradle of biodiversity and humans alike
Preparations unfold for the 20th session of COFO (Committee on Forestry, FAO's highest forestry statutory body) and World Forest Week 2. Both events will be held in conjunction from 4 to 8 October 2010 at FAO headquarters, Rome. Why do forests embody strong cultural values, even after millennia? Listen to the interview with Hosny El Lakany, former Assistant Director-General at the FAO Forestry Department. Discover forests in ancient Egypt and today.
Posted: 2010-07-31 at 11:00
Third call for propsals
The ACP-FLEGT Support Programme announces the third call for proposals for pilot projects
Posted: 2010-07-31 at 11:00
Third call for propsals
The ACP-FLEGT Support Programme announces the third call for proposals for pilot projects
Posted: 2010-07-31 at 11:00
Planted Teak Forests – a Globally Emerging Forest Resource - conference - first announcement
Guanacaste, Costa Rica, 2-6 of May 2011. CATIE in cooperation with FAO and TEAKNET will organise in 2011 an international forestry conference that will focus on planted teak forests as a globally emerging forest resource. The conference will offer the opportunity to..
Posted: 2010-07-28 at 11:00
Forest Day registration is now open
The Collaborative Partnership on Forests and the Government of Mexico, through the National Forestry Commission, are pleased to announce that registration for Forest Day 4 is now open.
Posted: 2010-07-22 at 11:00
News - Challenges to mobilizing forest finance in Uganda
Yet despite these efforts that clearly demonstrate Uganda’s recognition of the socioeconomic and environmental value of forests, forestry is still not a priority in terms of budget allocations for development programmes. An examination of planning, budgeting and fiscal resource allocation in Uganda quickly reveals the challenge posed in bridging the gap between the global discussion on forest finance and what is realistically achievable within the current national frameworks.
Insufficient financial allocations to forestry can be attributed in part to the sector’s weak institutional visibility, to the scanty political support for a sector that is not an immediate ‘vote magnet’, and to the difficulty in demonstrating in the short term the role forestry plays in supporting other sectors of the economy. However, it is above all the country’s budget ceilings that are the main culprit.
The current global debate on forest finance revolves around whether increased, new and additional financial resources from all sources should be provided through a global forest fund or a facilitative mechanism. Yet in the case of Uganda, this somehow misses the point: even if such a fund or mechanism existed today, how could Uganda access such resources for forestry, given its budget ceilings? And Uganda is not alone - there are around 40 heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC) facing a similar dilemma. The issue of budget ceilings is clearly a burning one.
Adapted from “Challenges in mobilizing forest finance in a heavily indebted poor country: case study of Uganda”, by Jones Kamugisha-Ruhombe, Coordinator of the Forest Finance Programme of the Global Mechanism of the UNCCD, entitled recently published in the international journal on forestry, Unasylva (Vol. 61, 2010)
Click here to read the full article
For more information:
Mr J. Kamugisha-Ruhombe, Coordinator, Forest Finance Programme
j.ruhombe (at) global-mechanism.org
Posted: 2010-07-20 at 09:30
News - Empowering grassroots organizations to promote SLM policy
TerrAfrica is responding to the challenge of engaging CSOs to a greater degree, by building their capacity in SLM advocacy and practice. The development of the USD 5 million project, “Improving Policy and Practice Interaction through Civil Society Capacity”, in the context of the sub-Saharan Africa initiative, is part of this process. Approved in May 2009, co-financed by GEF and recently capitalized in an amount of USD 1 million from the TerrAfrica Leveraging Fund, the project will provide resources and entry points to empower local grassroots organizations to participate effectively in TerrAfrica at sub-Saharan level and to engage in strategic investment frameworks in sub-Saharan Africa at the country level (CSIFs). Project activities include regional level advocacy, sharing of best practices and national level coordination. Through such activities is it expected that international SLM dialogue and policy processes will be effectively informed by community opinion and knowledge, that community innovation in SLM will be recognized, rewarded and up-scaled and that CSO capacity will be increased in 4 pilot countries, one in each sub-region.
The GM’s support for CSO participation under the UNCCD’s 2008-2018 Strategy includes facilitating their engagement in financing strategies leading to integrated investment frameworks (IIFs) for SLM and UNCCD implementation. In this context and as a TerrAfrica partner, the GM participated in a two-day meeting convened by UNDP and IUCN to facilitate the consultative process among interested TerrAfrica partners with a view to finalizing the project document (25 & 26 May, Nairobi, Kenya). The meeting provided an opportunity for the GM to share the lessons it has learned from its own experiences of facilitating CSO engagement in Burkina Faso, Ethiopia and Mali with government and CSO partners.
Through its involvement and by promoting the synergies between the project and the GM’s work at country level to mobilize public and private development stakeholders, the GM hopes to bring home the importance of CSO engagement for direct resource mobilization, leveraging more and better resources through advocacy. The GM believes that the project will also increase CSO visibility at the continental level and increase aid effectiveness through better coordination among development stakeholders.
The project is expected to be reviewed by the GEF Council in November 2010, for approval under the 4th GEF replenishment, and implemented in 2011
For more information:
Ms Paule Herodote, Civil Society Investments Advisor
Tel. +39 06 5459 2760
p.herodote (at) global-mechanism.org
Posted: 2010-07-20 at 09:25
Coping with raiding elephants and hippos
A toolkit produced by FAO is designed to help resolve, prevent and mitigate the growing problem of conflict between humans and wild animals. With the world’s population growing at some 75 million a year, humans and wildlife are having to squeeze ever more tightly together, thereby increasing the risk of conflict between them.
Posted: 2010-07-19 at 11:00
IUFRO-SPDC Pre-Congress Training has started!
Posted: 2010-07-15 at 02:02
A Girl in the Gardens of Green Hope
Posted: 2010-07-14 at 11:00
A Girl in the Gardens of Green Hope
Posted: 2010-07-14 at 11:00
Planted forests in sustainable forest management - A statement of principles
Posted: 2010-07-08 at 11:00
Italy-China Partnership: Poplar-based Agroforestry Benefits Millions
Posted: 2010-07-07 at 11:00
Scientific Summary No. 71, 2010
Posted: 2010-06-30 at 09:23
News - Strategic Investment Framework for SLM: Mali makes headway
Natural resource degradation poses a real threat in human terms: communities are becoming increasingly vulnerable because of land scarcity, insecure land tenure and inadequate technical know-how that would enable them to counterbalance increased agricultural output. Even in purely economic terms, land degradation has a major impact: an annual loss of around 6% of GDP is attributed to soil erosion and deforestation.
While successive governments and local stakeholders have had certain pockets of success from which lessons can be drawn and good practices replicated, these efforts are just a drop in the ocean given the scale of the problem. Besides, most efforts were undertaken through ad hoc projects that lacked a cross-cutting approach with limited resources (around 4% of the national budget).
The Government of Mali, with the support of its partners, has put sustainable land management (SLM) firmly on the political agenda and set itself the primary objective of formulating a Strategic Investment Framework for Sustainable Land Management (SIF-SLM).
A joint initiative involving the World Environment Fund/World Bank, UNDP, FAO, GTZ, and the Global Mechanism of the UNCCD is supporting the government in the formulation of the SIF by financing analytical studies and supporting the coordination of the SIF development process, following the programme model promoted by the TerrAfrica platform. For its part, Mali has established a Technical Team under the Permanent Technical Secretariat for the Institutional Framework for the Management of Environmental Issues to guide SLM activities on a programmatic basis.
First steps have included an assessment of the costs of land degradation and an institutional analysis to support the inter-ministerial coordination process. Interviews, studies, workshops and missions have culminated in the adoption of political institutional technical and financial matrices that have permitted the main bottlenecks and priority actions for upscaling SLM in Mali, to be identified. The outcomes of these studies will form the basis for the elaboration of the SIF-SLM that is expected to be validated by all stakeholders in mid-July 2010.
As part of its SLM efforts, Mali is delighted to announce the launch of a SLM information system to methodically collect data on SLM at the national level from the different national agro-ecological zones and to disseminate information to stakeholders. This system incorporates a monitoring and evaluation system that will facilitate the coordination and follow up of priority projects and activities identified under the SIF-SLM.
A dedicated website, designed to be a central tool for enhancing knowledge on SLM (www.gdtmali.org) will become operational in July 2010. It gives access to all these resources, plus information on the current status of SLM, the national SLM coalition and the SIF.
For more information:
Mr François Tapsoba, Regional Financial Advisor for Francophone Africa
f.tapsoba (at) global-mechanism.org
Posted: 2010-06-30 at 09:14
Eggs‐traordinary Eco‐Proteins: Eating Insects To Spread By Word Of Mouth?
Posted: 2010-06-23 at 11:00
Eggs-traordinary eco-proteins: eating insects to spread by word of mouth?
Could insects be the healthy and nutritious answer to the world's growing food shortages? According to FAO, the commercialization and marketing of edible insects could create money-making opportunities and add key nutrients to the diets of vulnerable populations. In Laos, this innovative project could have a significant impact, chronic malnutrition being a major development challenge. “When we sell, on average, we can earn 1 million kip (115 US dollars) a month,” says Ms Vankham, a cricket farmer for the past five years. She’s now receiving support from FAO in the form of expert advice and equipment to try and recreate that success with grasshoppers.
Posted: 2010-06-23 at 11:00
News - Harnessing the financing potential of the UNCCD and CBD
The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) recently took promising steps to harness the joint financing potential of the CBD and UNCCD. It is certainly clear that many of the innovative incentive mechanisms for both land and biodiversity investments are the same. These include payment for environmental services, biodiversity and carbon offsets, fiscal reform, and markets for green products, to name just a few.
Moreover, both the Conventions share the drive to demonstrate that investing in natural resources is overwhelmingly an economic and not environmental imperative. Indeed, the forthcoming Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity – dubbed the “Stern Report for Nature” – warns that neglect of our natural services threatens to drive us into an economic catastrophe far greater than we currently face.
The CBD recently invited the GM to share its ongoing work on Economic Valuations of Land during its Third Meeting of the Ad Hoc Working Group to Review the Implementation of the Convention (WGRI-3), held in Nairobi, Kenya. The Valuations are key instruments in creating compelling arguments for investment, heightening governments’ appreciation of the costs, benefits and trade-offs of alternative policy options. Their comprehensive approach encompasses the value of all natural resources and ecosystem functions related to land, including biodiversity. In Zambia for example, this work is translating into the inclusion of a five-year programme for the systematic Economic Valuation of Land in the country’s 6th National Development Plan.
The GM looks very much forward to stepping-up its collaboration with the CBD, so as to test its strategic and operational instruments of better governance in financial resource mobilisation in the context of the CBD, as the GM is currently doing in the context of the UN Forum on Forests in close cooperation with the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and other international partners.
For more information:
Mr Simone Quatrini, Coordinator, Policy & Investment Analysis
Tel. +39 06 5459 2154
s.quatrini (at) global-mechanism.org
Ms Paule Herodote, Civil Society Investments Advisor
Tel. +39 06 5459 2760
p.herodote (at) global-mechanism.org
Posted: 2010-06-22 at 08:08
Impact of the global forest industry on atmospheric greenhouse gases
Posted: 2010-06-21 at 11:00
Reminder to Poster Presenters at the IUFRO World Congress
Posted: 2010-06-18 at 08:39
Human-wildlife conflct in Africa
Posted: 2010-06-16 at 11:00
Fighting sand encroachment – lessons from Mauritania
Posted: 2010-06-16 at 11:00
Holding back the sand
Posted: 2010-06-16 at 11:00
Holding back the sand
Posted: 2010-06-16 at 11:00
News - Milestone in NAP alignment in Central and Eastern Europe
The Workshop on NAP alignment and UNCCD financing in Central and Eastern Europe (Prague, Czech Republic, 7- 10 June) was a milestone as the first meeting specifically geared to knowledge exchange and practical skills enhancement in NAP development/alignment, including the financing options available for UNCCD implementation.
The countries of Central and Eastern Europe (Annex V of the UNCCD) are in a phase of current NAP revision or are drafting their first NAPs. The Czech Republic’s initiative of organizing this workshop in cooperation with the UNCCD secretariat and Global Mechanism (GM) was therefore greatly welcomed. The workshop addressed practical aspects of successfully designing and financing a NAP, such as: the importance of raising the political profile of SLM at the country level,, key elements to be included in an aligned NAP including an integrated financing strategy (IFS) and concrete actions for successfully engaging with donors. The European Commission, the GEF secretariat and the Czech Development Agency provided invaluable insight into their strategic priorities for the region and offered tips on how to write successful proposals.
Belarus made a substantial contribution by sharing its draft NAP with the countries so that discussions could centre on a real-life example of a strategic programme document. This proved instrumental for the development of the action plans outlining the next steps in NAP development / alignment that each of the eleven countries achieved by the end of the workshop.
Commitment by the countries to aligning at least 2 NAPs in the biennium 2010 – 2011 figured amongst the important outcomes of the workshop. Importantly, the countries also formally recognized the importance of the Integrated Investment Framework (IIF) to operationalize the NAP and welcomed and encouraged cooperation between the UNCCD secretariat and the GM in this process.
It was agreed to organize a follow up meeting to monitor the progress in implementing the country action plans at the margins of the Tenth Conference of the Parties of the UNCCD, (COP 10) to be held in 2011 in the Republic of Korea.
Download the statement of Ms Elisabeth Barsk-Rundquist of the GM (PDF, English, 56 Kb)
Download the workshop agenda (PDF, English, 212 Kb)
Download the list of participants (PDF, English, 108 Kb)
For more information:
Ms Camilla Nordheim-Larsen, Financial Strategy Officer
Tel. +39 06 5459 2061
c.nordheim-larsen (at) global-mechanism.org
Posted: 2010-06-16 at 08:32
Bio-paper and forest industries – a great complement to food security
Posted: 2010-06-15 at 11:00
News - Spearheading regional natural resource sovereignty: Banco del Sur
Founded in December 2007, Banco del Sur fosters the economic and social development of countries belonging to the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR) - Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Bolivia, Ecuador, Uruguay and Venezuela by promoting South American integration in the framework of a new regional financial architecture that will enjoy a stable, regional monetary system and its own currency and will no longer be dependent on international finance. Its anticipated portfolio for the first 10 years is around USD 20 billion. These funds will come exclusively from the region and will be utilized in the region. Non-lending mechanisms will be the Bank’s ‘quality stamp’.
The GM’s partnership with Banco del Sur has its origins in the international workshop “Environment and the New Regional Financing Architecture” held in Quito, Ecuador in August 2009, at which the GM brought home the urgent need for investment in sustainable land management (SLM) as a prerequisite for regional development. As a result, the Technical Presidential Ecuadorian Commission of Banco del Sur decided to give greater prominence to land degradation and desertification and asked to provide technical assistance on financial instruments and mechanisms for increasing investments in combating land degradation and on South-to-South cooperation.
As part of its support, the GM co-organized a dedicated SLM workshop to share its experiences of promoting and spearheading regional financial platforms and initiatives in other regions of the world, with a view to supporting the Presidential Ecuadorian Commission of the Banco del Sur in structuring a regional platform for investments and co-finance to reverse land degradation. The workshop held in Quito in May 2010 was an excellent opportunity for the GM to share its experiences deriving from the Investment Platform for Sustainable Land Management in Mesoamerica (PIMAST), the Central Asian Countries Initiative for Land Management (CACILM), and similar initiatives with representatives from the Ministries of Finance, Agriculture, and Environment of Ecuador, local financial institutions, members of the Bank, academics and civil society.
The Bank and the GM are currently working together to identify a flagship initiative in affected areas of Peru and Ecuador where Banco del Sur will galvanize financial support for SLM through trust fund instruments to make the case for increased investments in SLM, before the Bank going fully operational.
As Banco del Sur moves into its operational phase, the GM will be supporting the Technical Commission in identifying criteria for selecting the most appropriate sources of finance and ways of managing funds.
This is the first time the GM has had the opportunity to impact on a new bank’s operations and advise on its SLM portfolio – an exciting and important responsibility.
For more information:
Mr Alejandro Kilpatrick, Programme Coordinator, Latin America and the Caribbean and the Climate Change Finance Programme
Tel. +39 06 5459 2524
a.kilpatrick (at) global-mechanism.org
Ms Ines Chaâlala, Junior Advisor, North Africa & South-to-South Cooperation
Tel. +39 06 5459 2548
i.chaalala (at) global-mechanism.org
Posted: 2010-06-14 at 08:21
News - Strategic partnership to design Côte d'Ivoire's National Action Programme (NAP)
A GM mission to Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, therefore took place from 4 to 12 May 2010, hosted by the UNCCD focal point ministry – the Ministry of Environment, Water and Forests (MINEEF) – with the objective of formalizing the understanding reached between the Government and its development partners for the elaboration of development of the country’s NAP.
The partners agreed to the general road map for the NAP, the terms of reference for the various thematic studies to be undertaken and outlined the responsibilities for NAP implementation:
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has agreed to meet the costs of the analysis of the current in-country technical, ecological, political and institutional status of SLM
The United Nations Development Programme will provide financial and logistical support local workshops;
The World Bank has been requested to undertake a public expenditure review and to perform a cost-benefit analysis for SLM;
The GM will have an important role to play in this process in terms of quality control, to ensure that the NAP is aligned with the UNCCD 10-year Strategy, which includes the development of a national integrated investment framework for SLM.
The mission was an excellent opportunity to assess progress made in mainstreaming SLM into the national agricultural investment programme (PNIA) - the national interpretation of the Comprehensive African Agricultural Development Programme (CAADP/NEPAD). The investment programme associated with the NAP will also be the first pillar of the PNIA.
For more information:
Mr François Tapsoba, Regional Financial Advisor for Francophone Africa
f.tapsoba (at) global-mechanism.org
Mr Évariste Nicolétis, Programme Officer, West and Central Africa and South-to-South Cooperation
Tel. +39 06 5459 2647
e.nicoletis (at) global-mechanism.org
Posted: 2010-06-10 at 12:42
Japan vows action on climate change
“Our government has become a world leader with initiatives to mitigate climate change”, stated Director-General Taisuke Shimada, Japan’s Forestry Agency, on the occasion of the recent 51st meeting of the Advisory Committee on Paper and Wood Products (ACPWP) and International Council of Forest and Paper Associations (ICFPA), held in Tokyo, Japan (27-28 May 2010). The evidence is clear: less energy is used in manufacturing and using wood building assemblies; green house gas emissions are lower and far more carbon is sequestered for the lifetime of the buildings. Click to watch the video containing the speech delivered by Mr Shimada at the 51st meeting of the ACPWP-ICFPA.
Posted: 2010-06-09 at 11:00
News - CSOs establish SLM network in Burkina Faso
Barriers to the sustainable management of land and implementation of the UNCCD have been identified in Burkina Faso as part of national efforts to generate more and better investments in land in the context of TerrAfrica. They include insufficient human and institutional capacity, fragmented and inconsistent policies, and lack of coordination across sectors and among public and private development actors.
As per UNCCD principles and TerrAfrica guidelines, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) working on land management from a rural development and environment perspective can make an important contribution to overcoming these barriers. CSOs have an important role channelling resources, providing technical support to land users, and advocating for more and better investments in SLM on the basis of their experiences and links to affected communities.
A consultative process on CSO engagement was started in Burkina Faso in 2008. In May this year and pursuant to the launch of the Country Pilot Partnership for SLM, a group of CSOs organised a meeting to discuss the state of policy and planning in Burkina Faso related to land management and agriculture in which they could engage.
The meeting was organized by an ad-hoc committee of CSOs working on desertification and SLM, in collaboration with Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Agriculture, Water Resources & Fisheries. It was financed by the GM as part of its support to Burkina Faso as a TerrAfrica partner, with a view to promote CSO engagement and implement the UNCCD 2008-2018 Strategy.
The GEF/UNDP CSO capacity building programme currently under development will provide a real opportunity for CSOs to get engaged in TerrAfrica at regional and national level. The GM is excited to contribute to this effort and encourages more public and private partners to get involved.
For more information:
Ms Paule Herodote, Civil Society Investments Advisor
Tel. +39 06 5459 2760
p.herodote (at) global-mechanism.org
Posted: 2010-06-08 at 09:39
News - Win-win for climate and business
This annual event on the carbon market calendar– a key global forum that brings together public and private players to ramp up action on climate change mitigation – presented a timely opportunity to consider the fundamental role played by the AFOLU in the climate challenge.
The GM was active as a pannelist at an EcoSecurities side event, making a presentation on the Climate and Land Investment Facility (CLIF) which is intended as a financial and technical facilitation mechanism that uses underlying investments and existing climate change funds to promote synergistic mitigation and adaptation activities in the AFOLU sectors. The facility will in particular play a proactive role in screening opportunities for climate related projects at the country level, and facilitating interaction between project developers and investors for specific AFOLU initiatives supporting UNCCD implementation. The CLIF is one of the main global level activities under the European Commission project "Integrating Climate Change Finance into Sustainable Land Management Investment Strategies".
One of the key challenges faced is how to make the currently peripheral AFOLU sector more attractive to investors, in particular the private sector. In addition, it will be crucial to determine which projects and geographical areas show significant promise, and what investors would have to gain by putting their capital into AFOLU.
As a 'broker’ between investors and project developers, the GM is in a position to assist the private sector in choosing suitable projects for individual business needs, whilst facilitating the bundling of projects, thereby mitigating the risk of investing in single small scale projects.
Ms Saveis Sadeghian, Junior Advisor,
Climate Change Investments
Tel. +39 06 5459 2625
s.sadeghian (at) global-mechanism.org
Posted: 2010-06-07 at 02:22
Forest Networks, Green Partnerships: the 51st ACPWP-ICFPA meeting in Tokyo
Posted: 2010-06-03 at 11:00
News - Community of Portuguese Speaking Countries: partnership confirmed
The meeting, held in Maputo, Mozambique, from 27 to 29 April, brought together all the CPLP countries, the CPLP secretariat and its partners notably the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO). This crucial meeting culminated in the validation of the Cooperation Programme and its various components.
The GM and the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), have provided technical, financial and strategic advisory services to the CPLP partnership since its creation in 2005. The strategic partnership between the GM and FAO has been instrumental in positioning the CPLP Initiative as an excellent way of harnessing knowledge and promoting the exchange of experiences between different countries, with a view to strengthening country capacities to mobilize resources for sustainable land management (SLM).
The GM’s proposals for future support to the CPLP announced at the meeting included playing a leadership role in supporting the development of IFSs within the context of this programme. The GM has already successfully co-organized a knowledge exchange workshop on developing integrated financing strategy (DIFS), in Lisbon, in June 2009. GM-supported initiatives such as the Financial Information Engine on Land Degradation (FIELD); the South-to-South co-operation programme SolArid (North and West Africa); and the Observatory on Sustainable Land Management Investments currently under development provide vehicles through which to share lessons and experiences on finance and issues that bear on broader implementation of the UNCCD. The CPLP programme can tap opportunities though such initiatives.
Following this successful meeting, the GM is looking forward to building stronger linkages between the CPLP programme and the GM’s strategic initiatives, particularly country level programmes.
For more information:
Ms Elsie Attafuah, Programme Officer, East and Southern Africa
Tel. +39 06 5459 2577
e.attafuah (at) global-mechanism.org
Download the full statement by the Managing Director of the GM (pdf, English, 69kb)
Posted: 2010-06-01 at 10:25
Scientific Summary No. 70, 2010
Posted: 2010-06-01 at 07:35
Unasylva 234/235: XIII World Forestry Congress
Posted: 2010-05-31 at 11:00
Unasylva 234/235: XIII World Forestry Congress
Posted: 2010-05-31 at 11:00
Unasylva 234/235: XIII World Forestry Congress
Posted: 2010-05-31 at 11:00
“Innovating for the future: the forest and paper industry towards a low carbon economy”
Industry executives, gathered at the ACPWP-ICFPA meeting in Tokyo (Japan) on 27 and 28 May 2010, agreed that a green future is not just a major concern of non-governmental organizations and environmentalists; it is also a priority on the agenda of the forest products and paper industry.
Posted: 2010-05-28 at 11:00
Eucalyptus Grandis Genome
Posted: 2010-05-25 at 12:51
Forests and private sector: from know-how to show-how
Posted: 2010-05-24 at 11:00
Non-wood forest products in Central Africa
The new web site of the German funded FAO project “Enhancing the Contribution of Non-Wood Forest Products to Poverty Alleviation and Food Security in Central African Countries” (GCP/RAF/441/GER) is launched. The website is integrated in the NWFP homepage from FAO’s Forestry Department and provides information on the project, its objectives and activities in Congo, Gabon and Central African Republic in English and French. We present the team, partners like COMIFAC and topics related to the project.
We understand the website as an instrument for disseminating information within and outside of Central Africa and as a platform to spread and organize project activities like meetings or scholarships.
Posted: 2010-05-23 at 11:00
Event - Workshop on NAP Alignment and UNCCD Financing in Central and Eastern Europe
As part of the regional initiative for Central & Eastern European (CEE) countries, the Global Mechanism (GM) and the secretariat of the UNCCD and the Czech Republic are convening a joint capacity building and knowledge exchange workshop on NAP alignment and UNCCD financing in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE).
This workshop builds on the Financial Resource Mobilization for Strengthening Regional Cooperation in Central and Eastern Europe workshop, held in September 2008 that focused on developing integrated financing strategies (DIFS), and will bring together stakeholders from eleven of CEE countries, including all the National Focal Points and representatives from the Ministries of Finance and Planning.
The workshop will be opened by the Minister of Environment of the Czech Republic, Ms. Rut Bizkova, and sessions will address crucial aspects of NAP alignment and financing such as making the case for SLM investments by putting a real value on land resources, and mainstreaming it into the national development agenda.
The draft NAP prepared by Belarus will be analysed in light of the 10 year strategy and this will be showcased during the event as a concrete example of a strategic programme document. The GM will explain how to approach mainstreaming, illustrating the practical tools that exist to support such actions and will also lead a session on economic valuation – how to make the case for investments by putting a real value on land. Development partners are expected to contribute to a session on project proposal writing, with a view to assisting countries in accessing their funding windows.
By the end of the workshop, participants should have acquired the skills required to align their countries’ NAPs to the 10 Year Strategy and have a better understanding of the financing options available to them for financing UNCCD implementation. It is hoped that the workshop will culminate in the development of country action plans that outline the next steps in NAP development and/or alignment.
For more information:
Ms Camilla Nordheim-Larsen, Financial Strategy Officer
Tel. +39 06 5459 2061
c.nordheim-larsen (at) global-mechanism.org
Posted: 2010-05-21 at 03:14
Event - CSOs discuss their engagement in sustainable land management and UNCCD implementation in Burkina Faso
As development partners recognized by the UNCCD, CSOs mobilize and channel resources. They also have a role to play at policy level, by sharing their experiences and advocating public and private investments that benefit low-income and marginalized farmers, pastoralists, and other land users. Effective coordination is essential for their engagement in national development processes.
The national consultation is being organized by the ad-hoc committee for SLM and UNCCD implementation, established by CSOs during a consultative workshop in 2008 and tasked with monitoring the national processes with regards to UNCCD and SLM. The committee includes the Centre Ecologique Albert Schweitzer - Burkina Faso (CEAS-BF), Amicale des Forestières du Burkina (AMIFOB), and Association des Volontaires pour le Développement (AVD).
The CSOs will discuss the current status of SLM relevant policy processes in Burkina Faso, including efforts to define and harmonise rural development, agriculture, climate change and food security actions, as well as the recently launched Country Pilot Programme for SLM (CPP-SLM) linked to CAADP, TerrAfrica and UNCCD. In response, CSOs’ will consider establishing a network for SLM and UNCCD implementation, through which they identify priorities and key actions, and coordinate engagement.
The Global Mechanism (GM) is supporting the consultation as part of the Burkina Faso country programme which aims to develop an enabling environment for mobilising resources for UNCCD implementation and an investment framework which includes a range of development actors. The action contributes towards achieving objectives 1, 2, and 5 of the UNCCD 2008-2018 Strategy which relate to CSO engagement, policy context and CSOs as financing partners.
Information on the outcomes of this meeting will be published here.
For more information:
Ms Paule Herodote, Civil Society Investments Advisor
Tel. +39 06 5459 2760
p.herodote (at) global-mechanism.org
Posted: 2010-05-19 at 02:50
Event - Preparing trainers to support the 4th UNCCD reporting and review process
This capacity building session that will be held at The Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in Rome, Italy, is part of a comprehensive capacity development programme called for at COP9 to assist country Parties to the Convention during the 4th UNCCD reporting cycle.
During this cycle, countries will be providing information on achievements and barriers in he implementation of the UNCCD against agreed performance indicators for the five operational objectives of the 10 Year Strategy of the Convention. Secondly, the Financial Annex of the national reports will contain financial information on public expenditure for SLM, contributions of the international community and other investments. The analysis of best practices in sustainable land management (SLM) technologies, including adaptation is one of the most interesting aspects of this reporting cycle.
To support this process, the GM will be providing the templates, tools and guidelines to ensure that financial reporting by countries will take place according to a harmonized methodology, criteria and formats. This will facilitate the analysis of financial flows that will inform the periodic review and assessment of progress in the implementation of the UNCCD 10-year Strategy that will start in 2011.
It is also anticipated that the workshop will strengthen relations and networking between the trainees, so that they can work closely together, sharing lessons learned and providing the highest standards of support to NFPs during the reporting process.
For more information:
Mr Simone Quatrini, Coordinator, Policy & Investment Analysis
Tel. +39 06 5459 2154
s.quatrini (at) global-mechanism.org
Posted: 2010-05-19 at 02:44
News - The GM's support to Regional Coordination Mechanisms
GM staff are co-located with staff deployed by the UNCCD Secretariat within the same host institution and will play a key role in providing services at the regional level with regard to promoting financing for the UNCCD, as set out in the GM’s mandate and fully in line with the decisions taken by the Conference of Parties (COP).
A specific GM work programme for RCMs will be established within the GM’s overall work programme and budget for each biennium as approved by the respective COPs and in close cooperation with the region and Presidencies of the Regional Annexes. ToRs for GM staff in the RCMs have been elaborated and submitted to UNCCD focal points.
The Regional Financial Expert deployed by the GM in the RCMs will contribute to the following:
1. sharpening the focus and improving delivery at the regional and sub-regional levels with regard to the effective mobilization of financial resources for sustainable land management (SLM), inter alia through regional financing platforms as outlined in the UNCCD Ten-Year Strategy,
2. strengthening the GM’s role as an effective regional partner and in appropriate regional processes and institutions, including cooperation with the donor community and international organizations represented at the regional level and CCD stakeholders at large; and
3. supporting regional synergies of regional and sub-regional processes and institutional cooperation relevant to UNCCD implementation such as climate change, agriculture, food security etc. to substantially increase finance for UNCCD implementation
For more information:
Mr Kwame Awere-Gyekye, Programme Coordinator, East & Southern Africa
Tel. +39 065459 2199
k.awere (at) global-mechanism.org
Posted: 2010-05-18 at 09:30
Event - Meeting on advanced scientific tools for desertification policy
The conference aims to “set up a discussion on the scientific research tools and results, recently achieved at the European and international levels addressing desertification assessment and mitigation.”
The conference will be an occasion to improve exchanges among scientists, policy makers and relevant international stakeholders about the role of scientific research in combating desertification, raising awareness and exchanging knowledge among stakeholders. Reports from new procedures that have already been scientifically and technically developed and implemented in specific areas will be particularly welcome and opportunities provided for their presentation and demonstration. Contributions to specific problems and methods, even those at not yet at the operational stage, are being solicited.
Contributions should focus on the following topics:
1. Assessment and Monitoring desertification, land degradation and drought (status and forecasting)
2. Mitigation of desertification threats
3. Knowledge and information management and exchange. Requirements for implementing surveillance and mitigation programs. Capacity building (knowledge management, training, institutional roles)
The deadline for submitting abstracts is 31 May 2010 to be emailed to: desurvey@enea.it
For more information:
Mr Simone Quatrini, Coordinator, Policy & Investment Analysis
Tel. +39 06 5459 2154
s.quatrini (at) global-mechanism.org
Posted: 2010-05-14 at 12:58
Eucalyptus Grandis Genome
Posted: 2010-05-12 at 12:51
Event - Training and Information Events on Innovative Financing
These events aim to update country Parties to the CBD and their partner organizations on current and potential innovative financial mechanisms, provide information on how to tap the funding windows and illustrate success stories through case studies. They are the outcome of a decision of COP9 in 2008 that entrusted the CBD Secretariat with the task of conducting an in-depth review of the availability of financial resources for the convention, including the status and trends in biodiversity finance, for presentation to COP10 in Japan in October 2010.
In this context, the CBD has already organized a number of events including the International Workshop on Innovative Financial Mechanisms (Bonn, Germany 27-29 January 2010) that explored the entry points for potential collaboration between the Global Mechanism (GM) and the Secretariat of the Convention on biodiversity (CBD). On this occasion, the GM chaired a discussion on environmental fiscal reform and presented its experience with innovative sources of finance at country level to facilitate its support to governments on options best suited to a given country.
The events that will take place at the WGRI-3 conference will be articulated into five sessions on:
• Biodiversity Offsets
• A Green Development Mechanism and International Innovative Financing
• Payment for Ecosystem services
• Services and Climate Change Funding and
• Economic Valuation of Land Resources
The GM is very pleased to have been invited as one of the co-organizers of these training sessions, together with the Business and Biodiversity Offsets Program (BBOP), the GDM 2010 Initiative, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the Government of the Netherlands, the Government of Germany, and the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity.
The GM will be leading the session on economic assessment that will draw on its experiences and its consortium of partners that are looking at valuation methodologies in the context of the Rio Conventions. This will be an opportunity for the GM to showcase some of the lessons learned in applying its guidelines at the national level to the CBD community, as a way of illustrating how certain funding windows can be of benefit to more than just one of the environmental conventions and where addressing issues facing one convention has direct benefits for another. One such mechanism that bridges the UNCCD and the UNCBD is payment for ecosystems services (PES), whereby communities are rewarded for safeguarding the value of their ecosystems. PES has great potential because of the fast emerging notion that we are responsible for compensating for our negative consumption patterns we generate by utilizing non-renewable sources. The GM is looking forward to participating in these events as part of the ongoing collaboration between the UNCCD and the CBD.
WGRI-3 participants interested in attending these events should contact: financialservices@cbd.int before 7 May 2010.
For more information:
Mr Simone Quatrini, Coordinator, Policy & Investment Analysis
Tel. +39 06 5459 2154
s.quatrini (at) global-mechanism.org
Posted: 2010-05-11 at 09:05
Sign the petition to end world hunger
Posted: 2010-05-10 at 11:00
FAO launches anti-hunger petitioin
Posted: 2010-05-10 at 11:00
News - LAC Environment Ministers adopt UNCCD regional proposal for IFS
This is a landmark decision that makes explicit the pressing need to unite efforts in a synergistic, region-wide approach to combating the degradation of lands and drought that compromises productivity and quality of life, to varying degrees, across the region. Moreover, it is tangible recognition of the indisputable role of UNCCD in promoting and supporting region-wide efforts to improve rural livelihoods through sustainable land management (SLM).
The development of the RIFS stems from Decision 16 on SLM of the Sixteenth meeting of the Forum of the Ministers of the Environment in LAC (January 2008) that requested the ITC, the Secretariat of the Forum and the GM to draft a proposal of regional scope indicating current financing trends and the actions needed to increase the flow of financial resources for UNCCD implementation at the national, subregional, and regional levels, and to increase interaction with other international cooperation agencies, particularly multilateral development banks and international funds.
Presenting the proposal, “Towards the Design of a Regional Strategy: Patterns and Actions to increase the flow of Financial Resources Aimed at its implementation in Latin America and the Caribbean”, to the Preparatory Meeting of High-Level Experts, on 27 April, Alejandro Kilpatrick of the GM stated that, “We are confident that regional Strategy will help affected countries to overcome the bottlenecks they face when attempting to access financial resources, including those from the GEF”.
This positive outcome could not have been achieved without such excellent collaboration between the GM, the Secretariat and the LAC Regional Coordination Unit (RCU) of the UNCCD and the crucial role of Panama, the host country of the Forum with the support of other delegations including Antigua and Barbuda, Dominican Republic, Mexico, Peru, Uruguay, and civil society representatives from Caribbean SIDS in ensuring that SLM was prominent on the Forum agenda and proposing a decision on the topic for the Minister’s consideration.
The next steps will be for the GM together with the LAC RCU, and in consultation with the Parties through the Regional Executive Committee of the UNCCD, and with the support of the Secretariat of the Forum and the ITC, to draft a proposal for the operationalization of the RIFS, in line with the 10-Year Strategy of the UNCCD. This proposal will define the financial mechanisms of the RIFS, including the possibility of specific financing from the GEF in the context of its fifth replenishment cycle, and will propose operational modalities, actions required and institutional responsibilities that must be assumed. The proposal will be submitted to next meeting of the Forum in 2012.
For more information:
Mr Alejandro Kilpatrick, Programme Coordinator, Latin America and the Caribbean and the Climate Change Finance Programme
Tel. +39 06 5459 2524
a.kilpatrick (at) global-mechanism.org
Posted: 2010-05-10 at 03:02
Biodiversity indicators need greater investment
The world could be doing better at tracking change in biodiversity and what it means for people. That is the conclusion of a UNEP-WCMC report and a paper in the journal Science, both published today.
The Convention on Biological Diversity has adopted a suite of indicators to measure progress towards its 2010 biodiversity target, and support to the delivery of these indicators is being provided by the 2010 Biodiversity Indicators Partnership (2010 BIP), a group of 40+ international agencies co-ordinated by UNEP-WCMC, But in a review of progress. the partners found that whilst major advances have been made there were still significant gaps in the development of the indicators and the content of the indicator framework at national, regional and global scales.
Lessons learned from the 2010 indicators process were considered by a group of 70 international experts at a workshop convened by UNEP-WCMC and the Secretariat of the CBD and hosted by the British Government in Reading, UK in July this year. The group identified a range of measures to improve indicator development and use that will help governments as they agree a new post 2010 biodiversity target and indicator framework next year.
Posted: 2010-05-10 at 11:40
Event - Tanzania National DIFS Workshop
The workshop, which brings together a variety of UNCCD stakeholders in an interactive forum, aims to define an optimum pathway to develop and implement an integrated financing strategy (IFS) for SLM, thereby boosting UNCCD implementation.
The IFS is a tool developed by the GM which guides the process towards the establishment of an SLM Integrated Investment Framework (IIF): a package of bankable projects and programmes for restoring degraded lands. The development of the IFS is taking place under the leadership of the Government, represented by the Office of the Vice President (Department of Environment) with the support of the GM.
The strategy provides the know-how to help navigate the hurdles, whilst capitalizing on the opportunities to mobilize SLM resources from internal, external and innovative financing sources. Representatives from the UNCCD focal point ministry, the ministry of finance, civil society organizations and the private sector will all be in attendance at the workshop in Arusha.
A parliamentary session, to be held on 8 March, will precede the workshop to increase awareness amongst key policy and decision makers of the critical role of SLM in the country’s wider development efforts, in particular with regard to food security and poverty alleviation.
Agriculture continues to be the main driving force behind Tanzania’s economy with a large majority of Tanzanians earning their livelihood on the utilization of natural resources, including land. Despite this, land degradation - which undermines agricultural productivity - remains somewhat a marginal issue in national planning and budgeting processes. Securing political buy-in therefore is essential to increase momentum behind the IFS process and its ultimate aim, the establishment of an IIF.
Furthermore, for UNCCD implementation to effectively contribute to national development, it must be recognized as a national development priority and undertaken within the framework of Tanzania’s National Strategy for Growth and Reduction of Poverty (NSGRP, also known as MKUKUTA under its Kiswahili acronym).
For more information:
Mr Kwame Awere-Gyekye, Programme Coordinator, East & Southern Africa
Tel. +39 065459 2199
k.awere (at) global-mechanism.org
Posted: 2010-05-10 at 11:18
United Nations Environment Programme''s World Conservation Monitoring Centre Invites Safe Software into Proteus Partnership
Posted: 2010-05-10 at 11:10
United Nations Environment Programmes World Conservation Monitoring Centre Invites Safe Software into Proteus Partnership
September 28 2009 Cambridge United Kingdom. The United Nations Environment Programmes World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC) today announced that they have invited Safe Software into their Proteus Partnership a collaboration of progressive corporate business leaders and the UNEP-WCMC.
Posted: 2010-05-09 at 11:40
Scientific Summary No. 69, 2010
Posted: 2010-04-29 at 01:00
Scientific Summary No. 68, 2010
Posted: 2010-04-29 at 12:51
Event - Regional Steering Committee Meeting of the Community of Portuguese Speaking Countries' Technical Cooperation Project
The Global Mechanism (GM) attaches great importance to such partnerships because of their potential to enhance sustainable development in general, and the implementation of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), in particular.
This is the rationale behind the GM’s support for the Community of Portuguese Speaking Countries’ (CPLP) partnership platform since its creation in 2005 and why it will be attending the Regional Steering Committee Meeting of the CPLP Technical Cooperation Project (TCP/INT/3201) to be held in Maputo, Mozambique from 27 to 29 April 2010.
The TCP is designed precisely to support CPLP countries in formulating a South-to-South/North-to-South Cooperation Programme for the promotion of SLM in the framework of the implementation of the UNCCD. This specific meeting will enable the countries and partners to discuss and finalize the CPLP Cooperation Programme and validate its various components.
The scope of the platform includes the exchange of experiences on financing strategies and the GM’s support to date has included co-organizing a knowledge exchange workshop on developing integrated financing strategy (DIFS), in Lisbon, in June 2009. It is anticipated that the lessons learned in the CPLP context will feed into the broader context of the GM’s South-to-South cooperation programme, SolArid.
The GM’s participation in the Maputo meeting has the four-fold objective of:
reiterating our political commitment to the CPLP initiative as a whole and to the Affected countries in addressing UNCCD issues related to finance;
clearly defining our strategic role in the future implementation of the programme;
ensuring effective coordination and alignment between the CPLP framework as a whole and our support in terms of developing integrated financial strategies at country level; and
building stronger linkages between the CPLP Initiative and our strategic initiatives -including those on climate change and land, the Financial Information Engine on Land Degradation (FIELD), and GM’s observatory on SLM.
Information on the outcomes of the meeting will be published here.
For more information:
Ms Elsie Attafuah, Programme Officer, East and Southern Africa
Tel. +39 06 5459 2577
e.attafuah (at) global-mechanism.org
Posted: 2010-04-26 at 07:56
News - Discussing the GM approach to South-to-South cooperation with the Fondation Chirac
Jacques Chirac, President of the Fondation Chirac for Sustainable Development and Cultural Dialogue
The Fondation Chirac was created in 2008 with the aim of achieving lasting peace through sustainable development. Its first efforts have been directed towards five vital axes: conflict prevention; access to clean water and sanitation; access to quality medication and healthcare; fighting deforestation and desertification; and safeguarding cultural diversity. Through the projects it supports, the Foundation seeks to encourage the exchange of ideas, techniques and values and to contribute to weaving an ever-broader web of knowledge and practices that will foster sustainable development.
The Foundation’s support for specific initiatives to counter deforestation and desertification are part of its efforts to promote sustainable natural resource management and to create income for local populations. The common objective of strengthening the role and the capacity of local stakeholders in sustainable natural resource management was the motivation for the GM’s visit to the Foundation on 6 April 2010 to discuss the GM’s work and its South-to-South cooperation initiative, SolArid.
The Foundation’s representatives expressed keen interest in SolArid, with its specific focus on bringing together a broad range of stakeholders at different levels (e.g. Ministries, local communities and civil society organizations) and its cross-cutting, ‘landscape’ approach that draws upon a wealth of experiences to address strategic sustainable development issues that bridge regions.
The Foundation’s representatives have agreed to present the SolArid approach to their Board of Directors, as a first step towards potential support for the GM in such forms as lobbying for potential donors, awareness raising through the Foundation’s multiple outreach channels, and establishing links with the private sector.
For more information:
Mr Youssef Brahimi, Programme Coordinator, North Africa & South-to-South Cooperation
Tel. +39 06 5459 2584
y.brahimi (at) global-mechanism.org
Posted: 2010-04-22 at 12:42
Event - Innovative financial mechanisms on the agenda of CATIE's Annual Meeting
On 28 April CATIE will hold its Annual Donors’ Meeting, where it will report on progress and discuss ongoing and potential support with most of the major donors in the region. As every year, the GM will attend and make a presentation on its joint activities with CATIE over the past 12 months that include exploring innovative financing mechanisms in Peru and Ecuador and Integrated Financing Strategy (IFS) development in Bolivia.
This year CATIE and the GM will formally launch the working paper entitled “Incentive and Market-based Mechanisms to Prevent Land Degradation: framework and methodology for applicability” - one output of the two partners’ recent work to examine land users’ land management choices, identify mechanisms which provide incentives for investing in SLM practices, and to develop a tool to assess the applicability of such mechanisms to a range of contexts in which land users operate.
It is hoped that the paper and the framework it proposes will be useful for identifying and exploring innovative finance for UNCCD implementation. The presentation at CATIE’s Annual Meeting will certainly generate an interesting discussion and will stimulate governmental and donor interest in providing increased finance to foster market-based mechanisms and private sector engagement in SLM in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Mr Alejandro Kilpatrick,
Programme Coordinator, Latin America and the Caribbean and the Climate Change Finance Programme
Tel. +39 06 5459 2524
a.kilpatrick (at) global-mechanism.org
Posted: 2010-04-20 at 09:41
News - Economic valuation is key to environment mainstreaming, says PEP15
Yet in many developing countries the context is evolving promisingly. Many donors now insist on having E/CC issues addressed in the Poverty Reduction Strategy Programmes (PRSPs) under development, while in countries such as Ghana and Zambia sector-wide approaches to the environment have been adopted successfully.
The current efforts of donors and development practitioners and how collaboration can be strengthened in the context of the Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness, was the focus of the 15th meeting of the Poverty Environment Partnership (PEP 15), held in Lilongwe, Malawi (1-5 March 2010), entitled “Climate and Environment Mainstreaming and the Green Economy to Achieve the Millennium Development Goals”. Both the Global Mechanism and its host agency, the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) participated because of the deep relevance of the issues discussed to their mandates.
Development assistance can certainly play a more instrumental role in facilitating E/CC mainstreaming, participants said, highlighting the importance of developing specific evidence (e.g. through case studies and economic valuation studies), to make the case for environmentally sustainable investments, such as sustainable land management (SLM). The need to integrate environment-related benchmarks into performance indicators and link climate/biophysical projections to socio-economic analyses was also underlined. At the political level, it was suggested that champions be identified and that political and institutional mapping be undertaken to maximise convening power.
In terms of the role that donors can play and the approaches and tools they can use for mainstreaming, there was strong support for shifting away from the assessment of negative environmental externalities, which has been the prevailing focus of most development agencies to date - towards strengthening national capacities to demonstrate the real economic rates of return on investment in environmentally responsible growth, based on cost-benefit analyses that include a positive assessment of the direct and indirect ecosystem values that are linked to of the attainment of national development priorities.
The PEP is seen as having a key advocacy role in advancing the green economy agenda at national and international level: not only does it bring the main stakeholders to one table - it is also able to raise awareness on issues that require a coordinated international response. Participants suggested that it could consolidate and disseminate information to facilitate the understanding of the importance of environmental sustainability and the modalities to access relevant funding sources and mechanisms.
The next PEP meeting, tentatively scheduled for mid-February 2011, will provide an opportunity to make a collective input into the PrepCom meeting for Rio+20, scheduled for February 28th-1st March in Washington, DC. The Austrian Development Agency has offered to host PEP 16 in Vienna with a strong involvement of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), as well as IFAD and the GM that have offered to consider funding some developing country participants.
For more information:
Mr Simone Quatrini, Coordinator, Policy & Investment Analysis
Tel. +39 06 5459 2154
s.quatrini (at) global-mechanism.org
Posted: 2010-04-20 at 09:16
Enlisting communities in wildfire prevention
Posted: 2010-04-18 at 11:00
Enlisting communities in wildfire prevention
Posted: 2010-04-18 at 11:00
Enlisting communities in wildfire prevention
Posted: 2010-04-18 at 11:00
New handbook on fire management
Posted: 2010-04-18 at 11:00
Enlisting communities in wildfire prevention
Posted: 2010-04-18 at 11:00
New handbook on fire management
Posted: 2010-04-18 at 11:00
Enlisting communities in wildfire prevention
Posted: 2010-04-18 at 11:00
Event - 17th Forum of the Environment Ministers of Latin America and the Caribbean
The 16th Forum of the Ministers of Environment held in the Dominican Republic in January 2008 acknowledged the need to adopt a synergistic and systemic, region-wide approach in the struggle against desertification and the effects of the drought. This was a landmark decision as it raised the importance of DLDD on the international political arena and positioned the UNCCD as a major player in region-wide efforts to improve rural livelihoods through sustainable land management (SLM).
Through Decision 16 - specifically on sustainable lend management - the Ministers of Environment requested that the Interagency Technical Committee (ITC) comprising the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Inter-American Development Bank (IADB) The World Bank and the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) as the Secretariat of the Forum of Environment Ministers), in coordination with the Global Mechanism (GM), [...] “prepare a regional proposal, including specific actions and modalities to facilitate and increase the flow of financial resources for UNCCD implementation at national, subregional and regional levels, consistent with the UNCCD’s 10-year Strategy”.
On this basis, the GM has prepared a draft regional integrated financing strategy (RIFS) that has been reviewed together with the ITC and will now be presented to the 17th Forum of Ministers to be held in Panama City from 26-30 April, for its approval.
For more information:
Mr Alejandro Kilpatrick, Programme Coordinator, Latin America and the Caribbean and the Climate Change Finance Programme
Tel. +39 06 5459 2524
a.kilpatrick (at) global-mechanism.org
Posted: 2010-04-16 at 09:48
News - First snapshot: Central Africa's state of SLM financing
The early indication is that despite the plethora of land related processes in the sub-region, many of these have not yet been adequately integrated with UNCCD concerns. What’s more, in most countries many institutions are involved in UNCCD related issues without proper coordination with no one agency taking the lead to push for increased investments. The report also touches on the issue of the limited experience and capacity countries have with tapping into potentially fruitful emerging financing mechanisms. Currently, most financing comes from the national budget and development partners.
The report makes some clear recommendations. Mainstreaming UNCCD issues into ongoing policy processes and the establishment of incentives to promote sustainable land management practices (SLM) must now be a major focus. In addition, additional resources for SLM should be mobilized through increased national budget provisions, with more involvement from municipalities and civil society organizations. Increasing the capacity of stakeholders to tap into innovative sources of finance such as climate change related financing mechanisms will also be a vital. This recommendation is particularly timely considering that the GM will be launching a subregional capacity building initiative later this year to support Central African countries in tapping into climate change financing opportunities.
The report is a synthesis of work originally undertaken by nine Central African countries during the past year, based on questionnaires originally developed by the GM. Coming swiftly on the heels of last year’s Designing Integrated Financing Strategies initiative discussed in Libreville, Gabon, countries organized national level meetings to discuss and validate these questionnaires.
The impact has been that countries are now taking the issue of SLM finance firmly into their own hands, sparking renewed dialogue amongst various key stakeholders at national level on the way ahead. This bodes well for the future, since the involvement of a diverse group of players in a comprehensive approach will be central to the development of countries’ Integrated Financing Strategies and investment frameworks for SLM.
As countries move ahead with these financing strategies, the GM stands ready to assist countries to implement the recommendations of the report within the context of its support programme to COMIFAC and the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS).
For more information:
Mr Sven Walter, Programme Officer, West and Central Africa
Tel. +39 06 5459 2150
s.walter (at) global-mechanism.org
Posted: 2010-04-15 at 10:12
News - Exchanging views on Cameroon's nascent integrated financing strategy
The IFS is seen as a welcome development because its framework is one opportunity to enhance coordination for increased investments between the various institutions and organizations that are engaged in UNCCD-related initiatives in Cameroon, including national ministries and research institutes, the private sector and development partners such as the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the Netherlands Development Organization (SNV) and German development organizations.
In this context, on 10 and 11 March 2010, MINEP called a workshop to discuss the IFS that had been drafted following capacity-building of some 50 representatives of governmental ministries and institutions, civil society organizations, the private sector and development partners in developing IFS, held in September 2009, with the technical and financial support of UNDP and the GM.
This workshop to review the IFS of Cameroon was purposely held in Maroua, Northern Cameroon, so that stakeholders from the three regions in Cameroon most affected by desertification and land degradation could have easy access to share their views and provide their input to this process that will shape the financing of the SLM for years ahead.
The workshop was also an opportunity for the GM to hold bilateral meetings with key stakeholders to discuss, inter alia, opportunities for and constraints in resource mobilization for SLM in Northern Cameroon.
The draft strategy was discussed focusing on the legal, institutional and policy context; internal resources; external and private sector resources; and innovative resources.
General comments on the strategy included the need to ensure that outputs are realistic and reachable; to strengthen collaboration between MINEP and other SLM key Ministries such as those in charge of Finance, Planning and Agriculture; to review of the legal framework to make it more conducive to SLM practices; and to link IFS implementation to the operationalization of Cameroon’s Rural Development Strategy.
The draft IFS document was endorsed by the workshop participants. Their comments will now be incorporated into the revised IFS document. It is hoped that the IFS will receive national validation within the coming months.
For more information:
Mr Sven Walter, Programme Officer, West and Central Africa
Tel. +39 06 5459 2150
s.walter (at) global-mechanism.org
Mr Évariste Nicolétis, Programme Officer, West and Central Africa and South-to-South Cooperation
Tel. +39 06 5459 2647
e.nicoletis (at) global-mechanism.org
Posted: 2010-04-08 at 02:11
Scientific Summary No. 67, 2010
Posted: 2010-03-31 at 10:22
News - ToRs for Consultancy Vacancy to support COP 9 Bureau
In its most recent meeting, the Bureau decided to engage external expertise so as to assist the Bureau in conducting this evaluation. The terms of reference for this work are now completed and are posted on the UNCCD secretariat website.
The terms of reference give all details to the evaluation and list 39 specific outputs expected to be delivered by the consultants over a seven month period (1 April – 4 November 2010). The GM would like to encourage you to circulate the terms of reference to qualified experts who may have an interest in undertaking this assignment. Qualifications and other requirements are listed in the attached terms of reference.
For more information:
Ms Elisabeth Barsk-Rundquist, Director, Strategic Programmes
Tel. +39 06 5459 2471
e.barsk (at) global-mechanism.org
Posted: 2010-03-31 at 10:11
News - Green growth: what is in it for developing countries?
Yet not only does ‘the green economy’ mean different things to different people, there is also continued debate on how much is really ‘new’ in the sustainable development ideas it encapsulates. The most forward-looking ingredient is perhaps that the green economy is ‘an idea whose time has come’ given the opportunities for real change in response to the twin crisis of economic decline and of climate change.
“Climate and Environment Mainstreaming and the Green Economy to Achieve the Millennium Development Goals”, was the theme of the 15th meeting of the Poverty Environment Partnership (PEP 15), co-organized by UK Department for International Development, Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the United Nations (UN) and the World Bank, in partnership with the Government of Malawi, that took place in Lilongwe, Malawi, from 1-5 March 2010. The meeting’s objectives were to review informally the latest debate on these key themes and identify areas for future collaboration consistent with the Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness.
The PEP’s diverse members (development agencies, NGOs, think tanks and developing country stakeholders) have a cumulative wealth of knowledge and experience in promoting the green development agenda through harmonized interventions targeting national and international policy processes. The specific value added of their engagement in the green economy discourse is to broaden the debate from an opportunistic perspective of “greening the economy” to focus more on poverty reduction and the consistent pursuit of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
The PEP meeting in Malawi emphasized the pro-poor dimensions of a green economy by focusing on issues and opportunities for least developing economies, the potential risks and advantages with the green economy becoming another aid conditionality, the importance of the informal sector, and the role of local organizations in securing the needed social mobilization.
The meeting also highlighted the need to shift the focus of a green economy beyond the current emphasis on a ‘low carbon economy’. “There is more to it than just reducing carbon dioxide” as one delegate put it. It requires taking an ecosystem perspective, attaching real values to natural resources and adopting a ‘landscape’ approach in environmental assessments.
PEP members agreed to scale up their actions to include more rigorous analytical work, broader dialogue with developing country stakeholders and increased advocacy to promote implementation at country level and to influence international processes in the run up to MDG+10 (during 2010), UNFCC COP 16 (2010) and Rio+20 (2012).
Mr Simone Quatrini, Coordinator, Policy & Investment Analysis
Tel. +39 06 5459 2154
s.quatrini (at) global-mechanism.org
Posted: 2010-03-30 at 12:38
News - Reporting on ODA against desertification
The Rio Markers have assumed major significance following the recent UNCCD decision to adopt these indicators among the innovative reporting features to be included in the new generation of national reports that will be prepared by developing and developed countries, UN agencies and intergovernmental organizations (Decision 13, COP 9) from 2010 onwards.
In this context, the GM has been invited to take part in the OECD/DAC’s Joint Task Team (JTT) that is elaborating proposals for improving the Rio Markers. At the latest JTT meeting, held in Paris on 22 February, 2010, the GM suggested various options to improve the desertification markers that hinged on its work with partners at country level on a broad range of enabling activities for UNCCD implementation - including the mobilization of innovative financing and technology transfer. The GM highlighted the cross-cutting nature of SLM and encouraged a broader definition of desertification that includes all relevant enabling activities, reflecting the spirit of the10-Year Strategic Plan and Framework to enhance the implementation of the Convention (2008–2018), which indicates that the focus of the UNCCD is not uniquely the rehabilitation or reclamation of desertified lands, but rather on the prevention, control and reversal of land degradation processes.
The meeting welcomed the GM’s proposals to improve the Rio markers and invited the OECD/DAC Secretariat to work hand-in-hand with the GM to refine the definitions for consideration at the next JTT meeting scheduled for June 2010.
For more information:
Mr Simone Quatrini, Coordinator, Policy & Investment Analysis
Tel. +39 06 5459 2154
s.quatrini (at) global-mechanism.org
Posted: 2010-03-29 at 03:12
News - GM makes resources available to the regional coordination mechanisms of the UNCCD
Regional coordination - led by the regional annexes under the guidance of their Presidencies - is designed, inter alia, to facilitate the implementation of regional and subregional action programmes, provide technical assistance to national action programmes, support the regional consultations and the implementation of the joint work programme of the Secretariat and the GM.
The role of the GM is to support actions defined by the countries that fall within the GM’s mandate as defined in the Convention and subsequent COP decisions - in other words, activities that are firmly focused on finance and investments for UNCCD implementation.
Following the COP Bureau Meeting in February 2010, during which members reiterated their desire to establish RCMs as soon as possible, the GM has initiated a process to make human resources available to the Africa, Latin America and Asia Annexes. Draft Terms of Reference (ToRs) for a GM-funded ‘regional financial strategy expert’ have been shared with the Presidents of each annex and the regions’ National Focal Points. The next step is the elaboration of regional work programmes for financing UNCCD implementation that will serve as the foundation for finalizing the ToRs.
The GM eagerly awaits the responses on how best it can service the regions through the RCMs and looks forward to the enhanced collaboration that will result from the establishment of the RCMs.
For more information:
Dr Christian Mersmann, Managing Director
Tel. +39 06 5459 2155
c.mersmann (at) global-mechanism.org
Posted: 2010-03-26 at 01:40
World deforestation decreases, but remains alarming in many countries
Posted: 2010-03-24 at 11:00
World deforestation decreases, but remains alarming in many countries
Posted: 2010-03-24 at 11:00
World deforestation decreases, but remains alarming in many countries
Posted: 2010-03-24 at 11:00
World deforestation decreases, but remains alarming in many countries
Posted: 2010-03-24 at 11:00
Assessment report on international forest regime takes shape
Posted: 2010-03-17 at 10:41
News - Lebanon and Jordan: Financing SLM at the local level
The objective of the GM project, developed in cooperation with IFAD’s Near East and North Africa Division, is to build the capacity of communities in SLM planning and implementation as a means to attract additional flows of finance. The project will work with selected pilot local communities in Lebanon and Jordan to prepare local development plans, using a participatory approach, which will complement IFAD projects respectively in Lebanon and Jordan titled, Hilly Areas Sustainable Agriculture Development Project (HASAD), and Agricultural Resources Management Project – Phase II (ARMP II). This pilot initiative is launched with the clear possibility of upscaling nationally in both countries. In addition, it provides an opportunity for Jordan and Lebanon to exchange experiences on SLM.
“One of the main highlights of this project is the translation of the IFS approach at the local level, with a view to capacitating rural communities to mobilize financing to undertake SLM practices as a means for broadening their livelihood options,” said Walid Nasr, GM’s Programme Officer for Asia and Pacific. “The project will promote the development of a comprehensive local-level action plan replete with financial mechanisms to fund it. This will provide the two selected communities in Lebanon and Jordan with the tools and knowledge they need to scale-up SLM activities to the landscape level”, he added.
IFAD’s portfolio and its expertise in financing projects and programmes have proven to be an enormous asset for the implementation of the UNCCD and the impact of the GM. The grant is a valuable example of the increasingly strong bond between the GM and its host institution, working together to help rural communities increase their agricultural productivity and promote sustainable livelihoods.
For more information:
Mr Walid Nasr, Programme Officer, Asia & Pacific
Tel. +39 06 5459 2605
w.nasr (at) global-mechanism.org
Mr. Abdelaziz Merzouk, IFAD Country Programme Manager, Lebanon
Tel. +39 06 5459 2634
a.merzouk (at) ifad.org
Mr.Tawfiq El-Zabri, IFAD Country Programme Manager, Jordan
Tel. +39 06 5459 2242
t.elzabri (at) ifad.org
Posted: 2010-03-16 at 09:11
ACP-FLEGT Support Programme: Second call for proposals
Posted: 2010-03-15 at 11:00
ACP-FLEGT Support Programme: Second call for proposals
Posted: 2010-03-15 at 11:00
ACP-FLEGT Support Programme: Second call for proposals
Posted: 2010-03-15 at 11:00
Taking Forestry "Uptown"
Posted: 2010-03-15 at 10:38
Diouf kicks-off spring planting season in Haiti
Posted: 2010-03-14 at 11:00
Diouf kicks-off spring planting season in Haiti
Posted: 2010-03-14 at 11:00
News - New era for forest finance in UNFF
The UNFF is leading this “facilitative process” and has established an Ad-Hoc Expert Group (AHEG) to propose strategies for channelling investments into forestry and achieve wider development objectives such as poverty reduction and sustainable livelihoods.
During a recent meeting in Rome of the Collaborative Partnership on Forests (CPF) – a 15 member partnership of forest related organizations – agreed to form an advisory group on forest finance to support the AHEG and the “facilitative process”.
The GM has committed to be involved as an active member of this group, given its long-standing experience with assisting countries to increase investments in sustainable land management – exactly the same challenge facing UNFF albeit with forestry.
Furthermore, the GM has been active for some time in examining both agriculture and forest finance flows in Low Forest Cover Countries (LFCC) and Small Island Developing States (SIDS), two of the major areas to be explored by UNFF. The GM’s knowledge exchange workshops, “Designing Integrated Financing Strategies”, have targeted LFCC and SIDS with interesting results leading to active inter-ministerial cooperation and CSO involvement for increased finance for natural resource management, certainly including forests.
The GM and its multi-lateral and bilateral partners, in particular UNDP offer its instruments and experiences to the UNFF process in what promises to be a new era for forest finance, with renewed momentum to revitalize forest landscapes and transform rural community livelihoods.
For more information:
Ms Elisabeth Barsk-Rundquist, Director, Strategic Programmes
Tel. +39 06 5459 2471
e.barsk (at) global-mechanism.org
Posted: 2010-03-11 at 12:38
News - CAADP's first pillar: land and water management
On 9 & 10 February at the invitation of the Government of Mali and under the coordination of the NEPAD Secretariat, 60 subregional institutions and international organizations, farmers’ and community-based organizations met in Bamako, Mali to validate the framework document for first pillar of CAADP - land and water management. This was the culmination of a 12-month process that has involved extensive consultation with African states, the regional economic communities and development partners.
The framework, developed by the lead technical agencies for pillar one – the Permanent Inter-State Committee for Drought Control in the (CILSS) and the University of Zambia is acknowledged by all stakeholders not only as a technical tool for the identification and designing best practice-based programmes but also as a tool for political and policy alignment, institutional transformation and coalition building.
The Global Mechanism (GM) participated in the context of its ongoing cooperation with the NEPAD Secretariat and provided input to the document from the perspective of upscaling finance for sustainable land management (SLM) as part of ongoing in-country processes.
Three recommendations for the quantitative and qualitative improvements of the framework document and its effective use by counties were agreed upon:
to capitalize on the programmatic approach tools for SLM promoted by TerrAfrica and the success stories of countries including Ethiopia, Ghana, Mali, Mauritania and Uganda in applying such tools;
to set priorities and action lines on the basis of current scenarios that can be supported by scientific evidence; and
to strengthen the links between the content of the framework document and the three environmental conventions – the UNFCCC the UNCBD and the UNCCD.
For more information:
Mr François Tapsoba, Regional Financial Advisor for Francophone Africa
f.tapsoba (at) global-mechanism.org
Posted: 2010-03-02 at 10:08
Event - Poverty Environment Partnership on Climate and the Green Economy
Members of the Poverty Environment Partnership (PEP) such as Mr Quatrini of the Global Mechanism maintain that many current environmental degradation patterns are the result of scanty acknowledgement of the economic role ecosystems play in transactions.
This is why Day 3 of the 15th meeting of the PEP on the theme of climate and environmental mainstreaming is devoted to the Green Economy as a way of accelerating progress in achieving the Millennium development Goals (MDGs).
Participants will discus what a green economy really is, how different countries and stakeholders can approach it, how progress can be measured and what the implications for development assistance are. In this context, the GM will speak on the value of land and the cost of land degradation, based on work it is spearheading in conjunction with a consortium of research institutions including the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI), the Overseas Development Institute (ODI) and CAB International, and research organizations from the South, and will present its methodological approach and preliminary findings from its country level analyses.
The Poverty Environment Partnership (PEP) is an informal forum of non-governmental organizations, international organizations, bilateral institutions, and developing country representatives who work on the poverty-environment nexus and who come together every year to share experiences and showcase progress. PEP 15 is being jointly organized by the UK’s Department for International Development (DFID), the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD); the United Nations and the World Bank, in partnership with the Government of Malawi.
More information on the outcomes of the meeting will be posted here.
For more information:
Mr Simone Quatrini, Coordinator, Policy & Investment Analysis
Tel. +39 06 5459 2154
s.quatrini (at) global-mechanism.org
Posted: 2010-03-02 at 08:40
News - New publication: Incentive and Market-based Mechanisms to Prevent Land Degradation
The paper is part of the GM’s response to the UNCCD Ten-year Strategy (2008-2018) in which country Parties request the GM to identify and explore innovative finance, including market-based mechanisms. The framework and guidelines serve to increase awareness of the range of financing mechanisms, strengthen the capacity of stakeholders to identify opportunities for deploying schemes, and facilitate partnerships between relevant public and private actors.
The paper is articulated in two sections: Part one identifies fourteen incentive and market-based mechanisms that encourage land user to adopt SLM practices. Such mechanisms include public payment schemes for environmental stewardship, trading in emissions reductions, direct payments for environmental services and eco-labeling of products and services.
Part two describes the factors that influence the applicability of each of the mechanisms in a country context and provides a methodology to assist countries in identifying the most appropriate mechanisms. The conditions that are needed for successful design and implementation of projects and programmes include institutional capacity, governance, and supply and demand for environmental services.
The methodology has been successfully piloted in Cameroon in collaboration with the national Institute of Agricultural Research for Development (IRAD) and will be further refined and tested in African and Latin American countries in 2010. Results will be showcased at UNCCD COP10 in South Korea in 2011.
Download the publication (PDF, English, 780 Kb)
For more information:
Ms Siv Oystese, Associate Financial and Private Sector Strategy Officer
Tel. +39 06 5459 2782
s.oystese (at) global-mechanism.org
Ms Paule Herodote, Civil Society Investments Advisor
Tel. +39 06 5459 2760
p.herodote (at) global-mechanism.org
Posted: 2010-02-25 at 11:09
News - Guatemala takes lead in positioning UNCCD
The Government of Guatemala has already undertaken commendable work to tackle land degradation and drought through effective measures which promote and implement the National Action Programme (NAP) in the country’s ‘dry corridor’, where some 1.3 million people live in poverty. Moreover, Guatemala was the first country in the region to adopt the Integrated Financing Strategy (IFS) and is one of the most advanced countries in its implementation. The IFS is a process developed by the GM, which leads to the identification and mobilization of financial resources for SLM. The IFS has now been endorsed at the highest political level and government financial resources have been dedicated as a result of the IFS both at the institutional level and for on the ground SLM related activities.
At the official request of Guatemala during COP 9, both the UNCCD Executive Secretary and the GM Managing Director will visit the country from 23-26 March 2010 to exchange views on how to further step-up efforts in UNCCD implementation in Guatemala. It is noticed with the highest appreciation that the President of Guatemala has made himself personally available for the visit, which will undoubtedly increase the spotlight on land rehabilitation as vital to national and regional development objectives.
During the visit the Executive Secretary and the GM Managing Director will engage in discussions with the Central American Commission for Environment and Development, the Commission for Sustainable Development (CSD) – currently chaired by Guatemala – and experience first-hand the considerable progress made in UNCCD implementation by way of a field visit to the Petén Basin region.
Finance, as ever, will be a critical issue up for discussion during the three days of meetings. Following the successful implementation of the country’s IFS, the Government – with the support of the GM – is now in the process of implementing the Integrated Investment Framework (IIF), a package containing bankable SLM projects and programmes.
The considerable progress made in Guatemala is a shining example for other countries of the Mesoamerican region to build on and promote increased visibility of the UNCCD in the wider region. Guatemala has been an active player in subregional efforts to support UNCCD implementation through the Agro-Environment Help Strategy and the Investment Platform for SLM (PIMAST).
Guatemala’s spearheading role in positioning the UNCCD at the highest political level in Mesoamerica is absolutely crucial, since it is only with political momentum that investments for SLM will be up-scaled, thereby contributing to vital regional development objectives.
For more information:
Mr Alejandro Kilpatrick, Programme Coordinator, Latin America and the Caribbean and the Climate Change Finance Programme
Tel. +39 06 5459 2524
a.kilpatrick (at) global-mechanism.org
Posted: 2010-02-25 at 08:41
Scientific Summary No. 66, 2010
Posted: 2010-02-24 at 11:54
Scientific Summary No. 66, 2010
Posted: 2010-02-24 at 11:54
Scientific Summary No. 66, 2010
Posted: 2010-02-24 at 11:54
News - IFS process launched in Eritrea
Eritrea is keen to move ahead with the formulation of an IFS following participation in a Global Mechanism (GM)/United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) subregional workshop held in Johannesburg in April 2009. It is against this backdrop that the Ministry of Agriculture and the GM co-organized a consultative meeting “Towards the Development of an Integrated Financing Strategy (IFS) for Sustainable Land Management (SLM) in Eritrea”.
The consultations brought together senior Government officials including the Minister of Agriculture, Director Generals from the Ministries of Finance, Agriculture, Land, Water and Environment, civil society organizations (CSOs), the Heads of Delegations of UN country teams. This high-level government-wide participation was a major achievement since deepening in-country partnerships in support of Eritrea is essential for the success of the process. The IFS will be developed in cooperation with key development partners, including UNDP, the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).
The next step will be a stocktaking exercise to get a clearer overview of the financial flows into SLM activities, identify additional and innovative financing opportunities and document best SLM practices in Eritrea with a view to attracting finance to upscale such practices. This will be done in consultation with all key stakeholders nationwide. In the context of supporting Eritrea in mobilizing resources, the GM assisted Eritrea in the writing of two full proposals to be submitted to the European Commission. The GM is also proposing engaging Eritrea in knowledge exchange and capacity enhancement programmes with other countries facing similar SLM challenges, through its South-to-South cooperation programme, SolArid.
For more information:
Ms Elsie Attafuah, Programme Officer, East and Southern Africa
Tel. +39 06 5459 2577
e.attafuah (at) global-mechanism.org
Ms Siv Oystese, Associate Financial and Private Sector Strategy Officer
Tel. +39 06 5459 2782
s.oystese (at) global-mechanism.org
Posted: 2010-02-24 at 08:49
Event - 7th Forum of the World Alliance of Cities Against Poverty (WACAP)
The Alliance, a worldwide network of cities set up by UNDP in 1996 to help municipalities face up to the challenge of poverty on the spot, encourages municipalities to seek together ways and means of achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) at the local level.
Taking the European Year to Combat Poverty and Social Exclusion 2010 as inspiration, the Rotterdam forum will bring together municipalities and national governments from all continents, representatives of European and global institutions, civil society organizations and private partners, around the theme of "Confronting the Crisis Collectively". The Forum will discuss how to improve partnerships amongst cities, regions and governments in the fight against poverty and will look specifically at urbanization in relation to climate change; access to basic services, education and health care and access food, water and sanitation. These themes of will provide the content for regional and local/regional agreements between the various stakeholders, which the forum aims to broker.
The GM will be at WACAP to present and promote its South-to-South cooperation initiative SolArid-FLEUVE, as a contribution to The Great Green Wall Initiative, conceived as an ‘integrated development belt’ aimed at catalyzing sustainable development and poverty reduction in the desert margins north and south of the Sahara. FLEUVE– Front Local Environnemental pour une Union VertE (Local Environmental Coalition for a Green Union) is based on the conviction that local African communities must become the real protagonists in decision-making processes and be able to influence the contents and the shape of the Great Green Wall Initiative at local level. FLEUVE aims to strengthen the role and the capacity of local stakeholders in sustainable natural resource management, which in this region is synonymous with development.
Considering the obvious links between rural and urban poverty in developing countries the GM sees the Rotterdam Forum as a unique opportunity to exchange views with potential partners in order to build international momentum to the benefit of local populations in Africa’s drylands.
News on the outcomes of the Forum will be published here.
For more information:
Mr Youssef Brahimi,
Programme Coordinator, North Africa & South-to-South Cooperation
Tel. +39 06 5459 2584
y.brahimi (at) global-mechanism.org
Read more about the event at: http://www.wacap2010-rotterdam.nl
Posted: 2010-02-22 at 01:17
News - Major breakthrough to initiate dialogue on Aid for Trade and Agriculture
As trade development is increasingly embedded in agriculture sector strategies, the trade and rural development agendas must be streamlined. Agriculture provides the expertise to optimize production and productivity and therefore to determine the quality of the supply side; trade provides the market access expertise and the linkages with the demand side. The two sectors are complementary. After all, they involve the same beneficiary countries and usually the same donors and strive to reach similar ultimate objectives: economic growth, sustainable development and poverty reduction.
A recent session on Aid for Trade and Agriculture and Rural Development held at the Annual General Assembly (AGA) of the Global Donor Platform for Rural Development (GDPRD) - hosted by the GM and IFAD on 26-27 January - has provided a breakthrough in terms of initiating a dialogue between the GDPRD members and the AfT community. The AfT session was successful in highlighting that there really is no difference between the objectives of trade-related aid and agriculture-related aid, as both serve the same wider objective of economic development and growth of the economies of the developing countries. In fact, preliminary figures from the OECD suggest that ODA offered in the categories covered by AfT to the agriculture sector averaged USD 3.4 billion between 2002 – 2005 and USD 5.4 billion in 2007. The difference is perhaps more in the differing processes; namely the GDPRD, AfT, the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP),the Enhanced Integrated Framework for Least Developed Countries (EIF) and the Standards and Trade Development Facility (STDF).
A major highlight of the AGA was its success in identifying opportunities to bridge the gaps between the ARD and AfT development agendas. It will be crucial now to build on the momentum generated by continuing the policy dialogue on how to increase the convergence of the sectors’ agendas, and by building increased evidence on how to operationalise these linkages at the country level.
In fact, this dialogue looks set to be continued shortly at the global level, with the World Trade Organization (WTO) Secretariat having invited the Platform members to a forthcoming event on Aid for Trade and Agriculture it is organizing in Geneva in March 2010.
At the country level, cooperation between ARD and AfT will centre on building synergies between the country structures of CAADP and of the EIF, as well as strengthening the engagement of the ARD stakeholders in the implementation of the AfT structures at the country level. It is hoped that joint collaborative endeavours such as these will form the basis from which to develop country cases
-
Without doubt, country level initiatives like these are fundamental to substantiate the policy dialogue and to share lessons learned with the wider donor community, thereby increasing donor communication and cross-sectoral value addition
Equally, it will be crucial for donors to dedicate specific efforts and resources to support actions and initiatives that facilitate cross-sectoral coordination within existing governmental structures at country level, whilst aligning to existing coordination mechanisms such as poverty reduction strategies.
For more information:
Ms Eleonora Canigiani, Trade & Market Access Officer
Tel. +39 06 5459 2734
e.canigiani (at) global-mechanism.org
Maria Soledad Marco, Trade & Market Access Programme Associate
Tel: +39 06 5459 2671
m.marco (at) global-mechanism.org
Posted: 2010-02-10 at 04:21
News - Promoting sustainable land management through the Great Green Wall for the Sahara and Sahel Initiative
The GGWSSI is a Priority Action of the African Union–European Union Partnership on Climate Change aimed at catalyzing sustainable development and poverty reduction in the desert margins north and south of the Sahara. The GM is partnering with United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in the implementation of a GGWSSI pilot programme promoted by the European Commission in the framework of this partnership. As such, the GM will be involved in establishing a South-to-South partnership platform at regional level that will provide information on the financial options available and capacity building on finance as the first step towards the creation a permanent space of solidarity on financial partnership building at regional level.
In this context, the GM participated in a regional workshop organized by FAO and the Senegalese Agency for the Great Green Wall Initiative, on “Guidelines on Practices for Sustainable Forest Management in Drylands of Sub-Saharan Africa”, held from 20-22 January in Dakar (Senegal).
The workshop’s three objectives were:
to analyze and validate the draft guidelines with partners and stakeholders active in forest management in the arid zones of the Sub-Saharan Africa; for submission to the 17th Session of the FAO African Forestry and Wildlife Commission to be held on 22-26 February 2010 in Brazzaville ( Republic of Congo);
to promote the implementation of the guidelines by partners and stakeholders active in forest management and related socio-economic and environmental initiatives, such as the GGWSSI and TerrAfrica; and through programmes developed and implemented by regional and international bodies, governmental and non Governmental organizations, research institutes and forestry centres and networks; and
to secure support for implementation from funding and cooperation organizations - including European Commission, bilateral and multilateral cooperation agencies, UN Agencies and the World Bank.
While day one of the workshop took a comprehensive look at the current opportunities and challenges facing sustainable dryland forest management including their role in biodiversity conservation, in contrasting climate change and their socio-economic importance, day two was devoted to the GGWSSI, including a presentation and rich discussion of the Senegalese experience. The GM’s discussions with Senegal hinged on promoting decentralized cooperation in the context of The Green Wall and the key role that local communities can play in the initiative.
It is hoped that the guidelines that will now be finalized will be a useful tool for the implementation of the GGWSSI and will be a catalyst in bringing about change in how people manage and secure their livelihoods in the drylands.
For more information:
Mr Youssef Brahimi, Programme Coordinator, North Africa & South-to-South Cooperation
Tel. +39 06 5459 2584
y.brahimi (at) global-mechanism.org
Posted: 2010-02-10 at 08:08
News - Innovative financing mechanisms: exploring synergies with the CBD
The CBD Secretariat has acted quickly by convening an international workshop on innovative financing mechanisms in Bonn, Germany, on 27–29 January, in cooperation with The Economics of the Ecosystems and Biodiversity (TEEB), an international initiative studying the economics of biodiversity loss at the global level. The workshop witnessed widespread participation by experts in the areas of resource mobilization and innovative finance and the GM was invited in its capacity as a financial mechanism of the UNCCD, dealing with similar issues.
As per the CBD resource mobilization strategy, participants explored options related to the following financial mechanisms:
payment for ecosystems services (PES);
biodiversity offset mechanisms;
environmental fiscal reform;
innovative financing mechanisms such as markets for green products, business-biodiversity partnerships and new forms of charity;
climate change funding and biodiversity; and
new and innovative sources of international development finance, including a proposal for a Green Development Mechanism.
The UNCCD - like its sister convention, the CBD - requests for innovative financing sources and mechanisms to be explored, with its 10-Year Strategy (2010-2018) calling on the GM to play a lead role in this regard. Accordingly, the GM promotes similar initiatives in the context of broader country based resource mobilization strategies, and develops tools and methodologies at the international level.
In a recent initiative, the GM and the Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Center (CATIE) jointly identified 14 financing mechanisms that provide incentives to land users to invest in sustainable land management (SLM) practices. A methodology – currently being piloted in Africa and Latin America - has also been developed to determine the applicability of these financing mechanisms according to country context.
In addition, work by the GM on the valuation of land could be taken into account in developing a comprehensive methodology that values not only land, but also other ecosystems, natural resources and, in particular, biodiversity. Common models could be developed and applied to the different issues involved in environmental degradation.
The GM shared its knowledge and experience in the area of innovative finance during the workshop and Mr Simone Quatrini, GM’s Coordinator for the Policy and Investment Analysis Programme, chaired the discussion on environmental fiscal reform. Participants agreed that synergies and joint work between the Rio Conventions in the area of innovative finance is critical given the close relationship between biological diversity conservation, climate change mitigation and adaptation and combating desertification.
The three Rio Conventions (Biodiversity, Climate Change and Desertification) deal with closely interlinked issues, which are intertwined with each other in multiple causal chains.
Maximizing synergies among these policy processes is therefore essential, in order to lay the foundations for a broad financial debate during the early phases of the world’s economic recovery, in the aftermath of the Copenhagen negotiations and in the lead up to the CBD COP in Japan.
For more information:
Mr Simone Quatrini, Coordinator, Policy & Investment Analysis
Tel. +39 06 5459 2154
s.quatrini (at) global-mechanism.org
Ms Camilla Nordheim-Larsen, Financial Strategy Officer
Tel. +39 06 5459 2061
c.nordheim-larsen (at) global-mechanism.org
Ms Paule Herodote, Civil Society Investments Advisor
Tel. +39 06 5459 2760
p.herodote (at) global-mechanism.org
Posted: 2010-02-08 at 02:38
Event - Mission to Peru to boos the IFS Process
The Vice Minister for the UNCCD in the newly-formed Ministry of the Environment, Mrs Rosario Gomez, who made a substantial contribution to the design of the IFS concept before taking up her new functions, will be instrumental in the successful implementation of the IFS.
In addition to meetings at the Ministry, the GM will take this opportunity to hold further discussions with the other stakeholders in the IFS process. These include the UNCCD national coordinating body, the United Nations Development Programme, and civil society organizations including members of the RIOD network.
Information on the outcomes of the mission will be posted here.
For more information:
Alejandro Kilpatrick, Programme Coordinator, Latin America and the Caribbean and the Climate Change Finance Programme
Tel. +39 06 5459 2524
a.kilpatrick (at) global-mechanism.org
Posted: 2010-02-08 at 09:26
UNECE/FAO Workshop on Emerging Trade measures in Timber markets
Posted: 2010-02-07 at 11:00
UNECE/FAO Workshop on Emerging Trade measures in Timber markets
Posted: 2010-02-07 at 11:00
New Web site on Assisted Natural Regeneration of Forests (ANR)
Posted: 2010-02-02 at 11:00
New Web site on Assisted Natural Regeneration of Forests (ANR)
Posted: 2010-02-02 at 11:00
Event - Zambia National IFS Workshop
An inception workshop to begin work on the IFS is scheduled for 8-12 March 2010 in Lusaka, Zambia. This workshop is being co-organized by the Government of Zambia and the Global Mechanism (GM) and will bring together key Government Ministries including environment, agriculture, finance, water and energy; the private sector and business community; civil society; research institutions; and bilateral and multilateral development partners.
The objectives of the IFS workshop are:
• to secure commitment for IFS development by all partners; and
• to agree on a roadmap for the development and implementation of the IFS, including identifying opportunities for resource mobilization from private, public and innovative financing sources to fund UNCCD-related programmes and projects
Ultimately, it is envisaged that Zambia’s IFS will contribute to:
• increased mainstreaming of land rehabilitation, forestry and agricultural production into national planning, budgetary and development frameworks, particularly into the Sixth National Development Plan;
• increased investments through internal, external and innovative sources of financing including public-private-partnerships, finance from “Aid for Trade” for improved trade and market access; climate change financing mechanisms; and
• increased advocacy and awareness in support of UNCCD implementation, notably, through an assessment of the economic value of SLM and the costs of land degradation in Zambia
More information on the outcomes of the workshop and the next steps will be posted here after the event.
For more information:
Elsie Attafuah
Programme Officer, East and Southern Africa
Tel. +39 06 5459 257
e.attafuah (at) global-mechanism.org
Posted: 2010-02-02 at 12:46
Event - Tanzania National DIFS Workshop
The workshop, which brings together a variety of UNCCD stakeholders in an interactive forum, aims to define an optimum pathway to develop and implement an integrated financing strategy (IFS) for SLM, thereby boosting UNCCD implementation.
The IFS is a tool developed by the GM which guides the process towards the establishment of an SLM Integrated Investment Framework (IIF): a package of bankable projects and programmes for restoring degraded lands. The development of the IFS is taking place under the leadership of the Government, represented by the Office of the Vice President (Department of Environment) with the support of the GM.
The strategy provides the know-how to help navigate the hurdles, whilst capitalizing on the opportunities to mobilize SLM resources from internal, external and innovative financing sources. Representatives from the UNCCD focal point ministry, the ministry of finance, civil society organizations and the private sector will all be in attendance at the workshop in Arusha.
A parliamentary session, to be held on 8 March, will precede the workshop to increase awareness amongst key policy and decision makers of the critical role of SLM in the country’s wider development efforts, in particular with regard to food security and poverty alleviation.
Agriculture continues to be the main driving force behind Tanzania’s economy with a large majority of Tanzanians earning their livelihood on the utilization of natural resources, including land. Despite this, land degradation - which undermines agricultural productivity - remains somewhat a marginal issue in national planning and budgeting processes. Securing political buy-in therefore is essential to increase momentum behind the IFS process and its ultimate aim, the establishment of an IIF.
Furthermore, for UNCCD implementation to effectively contribute to national development, it must be recognized as a national development priority and undertaken within the framework of Tanzania’s National Strategy for Growth and Reduction of Poverty (NSGRP, also known as MKUKUTA under its Kiswahili acronym).
For more information:
Mr Kwame Awere-Gyekye, Programme Coordinator, East & Southern Africa
Tel. +39 065459 2199
k.awere (at) global-mechanism.org
Posted: 2010-01-29 at 10:58
Scientific Summary No. 65, 2010
Posted: 2010-01-26 at 10:33
Scientific Summary No. 65, 2010
Posted: 2010-01-26 at 10:33
Full-Service Forests: Food, Pharmaceuticals & Fibre
Posted: 2010-01-25 at 07:35
Full-Service Forests: Food, Pharmaceuticals & Fibre
Posted: 2010-01-25 at 07:35
Event - International Workshop on Innovative Financial Mechanisms
The issues considered will include:
- promotion of payment for ecosystem services (PES) schemes that are consistent and in harmony with the CBD and other relevant international obligations;
- biodiversity-offset mechanisms;
- the opportunities arising from environmental fiscal reforms, including innovative taxation models and fiscal incentives for achieving CBD objectives;
- the opportunities presented by innovative financial mechanisms, such as markets for green products, business-biodiversity partnerships and new forms of charity.
In recent years, the Global Mechanism (GM) has gained considerable knowledge and expertise in identifying innovative financing mechanisms, including PES and other instruments that would help address biodiversity, climate change and sustainable land management objectives at the same time.
At the workshop, Mr Simone Quatrini, the GM’s Policy and Investment Analysis Coordinator, will chair the discussion on environmental fiscal reform.
Entry points for potential collaboration between the GM and the CBD Secretariat can be identified in areas of shared interest for achieving common resource mobilization objectives. These include Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation Plus (REDD+) and the GM’s work on cost-benefit analysis, which is instrumental in quantifying the total economic value of ecosystems and appreciating the real benefits – or returns on investments – of preventive and corrective measures.
For more information:
Mr Simone Quatrini, Coordinator, Policy & Investment Analysis
Tel. +39 06 5459 2154
s.quatrini (at) global-mechanism.org
Ms Camilla Nordheim-Larsen, Financial Strategy Officer
Tel. +39 06 5459 2061
c.nordheim-larsen (at) global-mechanism.org
Ms Paule Herodote, Civil Society Investments Advisor
Tel. +39 06 5459 2760
p.herodote (at) global-mechanism.org
Posted: 2010-01-22 at 08:41
Event - Clinic on Designing Integrated Financing Strategies for African francophone countries
The DIFS clinic is being held as part of a four day workshop (25-28 January 2010) on the management, monitoring and evaluation of projects related to SLM. It is being organized by the United Nations Development Programme, with the support of the GM, in the context of the Least Developed Countries-Small Island Developing States programme.
The DIFS clinic is a follow up to three subregional DIFS workshops held last year for African Indian Ocean countries, Central Africa and West Africa, which helped set the stall out for increasing access to financial resources for SLM through the IFS process.
Aside from evaluating the advances made since last year’s subregional workshops, the clinic will also look at the lessons learnt, challenges and next steps.
Many of those who participated in last year’s subregional workshops - including representatives from UNCCD focal point ministries and LDC-SIDS coordinators, will be in attendance in Dakar, along with other interested francophone countries.
The GM looks forward to an interactive and dynamic session.
For more information:
Mr Sven Walter, Programme Officer, West and Central Africa
Tel. +39 06 5459 2150
s.walter (at) global-mechanism.org
Posted: 2010-01-21 at 03:55
News - The role of CSOs in Ethiopia's SLM Investment Framework
The Government of Ethiopia, in consultation with its development partners, has designed a country-wide programming framework for the sustainable management of land resources in the country, in line with the aid effectiveness agenda. As a result, the Ethiopian Strategic Investment Framework (ESIF) sets the key priorities for SLM investments in Ethiopia and provides the framework for national and development partner support in the sector.
The government recognized the importance of involving all partners in developing and implementing the ESIF during the workshop. Government also requested that CSOs acknowledge the ESIF and contribute to its implementation by aligning to the framework and filling the gaps that government and the private sector are not addressing.
Through a coordinated response in the land management sector, CSOs can improve their impact and be in a better position to channel resources for implementation of ESIF projects and programmes.
Workshop participants specifically recognized the role of CSOs for Ethiopia’s land management as pivotal for:
sharing best practices;
mobilizing resources;
lobbying and advocacy;
mainstreaming the ESIF in their own projects and programmes;
raising awareness of the ESIF at all levels; and
building capacity.
A committee was formed to study the ESIF and the opportunities for CSO engagement in the process and formulate a roadmap for this involvement. The committee includes two CSO networks, the Sustainable Land Use Forum (SLUF) and the Dryland Coordination Group (DCG), and the ESIF Secretariat in the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.
For more information:
Ms Paule Herodote, Civil Society Investments Advisor
Tel. +39 06 5459 2760
p.herodote (at) global-mechanism.org
Posted: 2010-01-21 at 11:25
Event - Global Donor Platform on Rural Development: Annual General Assembly
This year’s event seeks to advance and harmonize partners’ approaches on the agriculture and rural development (ARD) agenda through four working sessions on the following topical issues:
• Agriculture and Climate Change
• Land and Development
• The Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP): Delivering on country-led harmonization and alignment
• Aid for Trade (AfT) and Rural Development
Over 100 participants will be attending from major bilateral and multilateral donors, development agencies, international financial institutions, foundations, CSOs and farmer organizations.
The AfT session is being organized by the GM and aims to build awareness about the AfT process, explore cross sectoral linkages, and identify possibilities to close gaps between trade and ARD donors’ agendas. The session is being held in close partnership with trade-related Geneva-based organisations including the World Trade Organization Secretariat; the Executive Secretariat of the Enhanced Integrated Framework for Least Developed Countries and AfT donors, including the World Bank.
For more information:
Ms Siv Oystese, Associate Financial and Private Sector Strategy Officer
Tel. +39 06 5459 2782
s.oystese (at) global-mechanism.org
Posted: 2010-01-19 at 03:09
Experts lay foundation for first global scientific assessment on international forest regime
Posted: 2010-01-18 at 12:39
Climate Change Adds to Forest Threat (IUFRO World Congress 2010)
Posted: 2010-01-11 at 08:46
Climate Change Adds to Forest Threat (IUFRO World Congress 2010)
Posted: 2010-01-11 at 08:46
News - GM and ILC in global study to unveil commercial pressures on land
Investment in foreign farms is not new, but as The Economist pointed out on 21 May 2009, several things about current land transactions are. One is their scale. According to the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), “between 15m and 20m hectares of farmland in poor countries have been subject to transactions or talks involving foreigners since 2006”. Putting a conservative figure on the land’s value, IFPRI calculates that these deals are worth between USD 20 billion and USD 30 billion.
Moreover, unlike older transactions that were about cash crops, current translations focus mainly on staples or biofuels, such as wheat, maize, rice and jatropha. Furthermore, while in the past most foreign farming investments were private, most of the new deals are government-to-government. The majority of purchasers are either foreign governments or companies closely tied to them, such as sovereign-wealth funds.
In this context, the International Land Coalition (ILC) – a global alliance of civil society and intergovernmental organizations working together to promote secure and equitable access to land for the poor – launched an initiative to examine the key forces, drivers and impacts behind the current wave of large scale land acquisitions.
This initiative, called Commercial Pressures on Land (CPL), responds to the rising competition for land in rural areas by domestic and foreign investors to meet an increasing global demand for food, fibre, fuel and animal feed stocks. One of the objectives of the initiative is to explore possible solutions to enable poor land users to benefit from possible opportunities provided by the increased commercial value of land.
Given the strong linkages between the issues of land tenure, land value and resource mobilization for sustainable land management (SLM) investments, the GM has agreed to contribute to the CPL initiative by sharing information resulting from its country-level work related to the development of integrated financing strategies (IFSs) and, in particular, from the assessments of the value of land resources and ecosystems and the impacts of land degradation. The recently launched economic SLM valuation in Cambodia will be amongst the first GM studies to generate inputs for the CPL Initiative.
For more information:
Mr Simone Quatrini, Coordinator, Policy & Investment Analysis
Tel. +39 06 5459 2154
s.quatrini (at) global-mechanism.org
Download the CPL Initiative (pdf, English, 293kb)
Posted: 2009-12-31 at 09:07
WFC - strong message to the UN Conference on Climate Change in Copenhagen
Posted: 2009-12-30 at 03:46
News - OECD examines proposals to improve the Rio Markers
In response, the OECD Development Assistance Committee (DAC) developed the ‘Rio Markers’ which allow the tracking of official development assistance (ODA) activities that target the objectives of the three conventions. The methodology was developed in close consultation with the Convention Secretariats and the Global Mechanism (GM).
In 2008, after a three-year trial period, the DAC decided to incorporate the Rio Markers as a permanent reporting obligation by DAC member countries. The UNCCD was the first of the conventions to embed the Rio Markers as a distinct feature in the new reporting formats adopted at the 9th session of the Conference of the Parties (Decision 13/COP9).
At the same time, the OECD established a Joint Task Team (JTT) including representatives of DAC member countries, the Convention Secretariats and the GM, to examine the definitions and identify options to improve Rio Marker data quality. The JTT will meet for the third time in February 2010 to discuss proposals to modify the Rio Markers on the basis of inputs provided by its members.
For more information:
Mr Simone Quatrini, Coordinator, Policy & Investment Analysis
Tel. +39 06 5459 2154
s.quatrini (at) global-mechanism.org
Download the OECD/DAC Report 'Measuring Aid Targeting the Objectives of the Rio Conventions' (pdf, English, 447kb)
Download OECD/DAC document on the Rio Markers (pdf, Enhglish, 84kb)
Download Decision 13/COP9 (pdf, English, 146kb)
Posted: 2009-12-30 at 08:44
News - GM contributes to the UNCCD global capacity building initiative on reporting
For the 4th UNCCD reporting cycle that starts on 1 January 2010, this initiative will focus on assisting countries in complying with the first set of the new reporting requirements that will be applied to the reports to be submitted to the ninth session of the Committee for the Review of the Convention (CRIC9), scheduled to take place in the fall of 2010.
During 2010, in collaboration with 15 sub-regional institutions, the initiative aims to strengthen national reporting capacities of eligible country Parties through the provision of:
guidelines, glossaries, and new reporting templates;
training sessions on the new reporting template and use of the Performance Review and Assessment of Implementation System (PRAIS) portal; the compilation of the Standard Financial Annex (SFA) and Programme and Project Sheet (PPS); and
training and technical support in the use of web-based reporting tools.
In addition to contributing directly to the above project objectives and activities, the GM will continue to assist countries in the donor/project mapping exercises undertaken in the framework of developing integrated financing strategies (IFSs) and in the establishment of observatories on SLM-related funding opportunities and investment flows. These and other ongoing actions will support the elaboration of the financial annexes to the national reports.
For more information:
Mr Simone Quatrini
Coordinator, Policy & Investment Analysis
Tel. +39 06 5459 2154
s.quatrini (at) global-mechanism.org
Download Decision 13/COP9 (pdf, English, 149kb)
Posted: 2009-12-28 at 10:28
Trees: A Low-Cost Climate Mitigation Tool
Posted: 2009-12-21 at 10:22
Trees: A Low-Cost Climate Mitigation Tool
Posted: 2009-12-21 at 10:22
News - Rwanda validates UNCCD National Action Programme
The recent validation of the country’s UNCCD National Action Programme (NAP) in Kigali on 24 November is a vital step towards achieving these lofty aims and comes at a time when agriculture is high on the national agenda. Sustainable land management (SLM) - the NAP’s major technical implementing tool - can play a vital role in supporting agricultural transformation, a central aim of Rwanda’s Vision 2020, which outlines the country’s long-term development priorities.
More than 100 participants from government ministries, civil society and research institutions and development partners - including the GM - validated the draft NAP during the workshop on 24 November 2009 in Kigali and have now outlined the way forward for its finalization. The GM has been closely involved in this process, since a cooperation agreement was signed in July 2008 with the Rwandan Government to support the elaboration of the NAP.
The NAP outlines clear priorities to promote SLM and regenerate degraded lands. Financing these priorities, however, is as always a major challenge.
A financing strategy is currently being elaborated by ministries with the assistance of UNDP GEF, and the technical and financial support of the GM.
In 2010, the GM will be fully engaged in Rwanda under the integrated financing strategy (IFS) process which seeks to navigate the hurdles and capitalize on the opportunities leading to bankable SLM projects and programmes under an Integrated Investment Framework.
For more information:
Sven Walter, Programme Officer, West and Central Africa
Tel. +39 06 5459 2150
s.walter (at) global-mechanism.org
Posted: 2009-12-18 at 01:45
Event - CSOs engage with Ethiopia's Strategic Investment Framework for sustainable land management
In line with TerrAfrica principles, the ESIF calls for cooperation among stakeholders, including civil society organizations (CSOs) because of their expertise, investments and community links. To date, there has been no formal consultation with the broader CSO community working on SLM in Ethiopia and few opportunities for CSOs to engage in the national process.
In order to address the issue of CSO engagement, the Dryland Coordination Group (DCG), a network of Ethiopian and international CSOs, in partnership with the GM, is organizing a workshop on 28 December in Addis Ababa. Various institutions and especially CSOs will come together to discuss the ESIF, identify entry points for CSO participation, and plan for future action and collaboration.
For more information:
Ms Paule Herodote, Civil Society Investments Advisor
Tel. +39 06 5459 2760
p.herodote (at) global-mechanism.org
Vsit the Drylands Cooordination Group’s Website
Posted: 2009-12-18 at 10:27
News - Cost of inaction estimated at 137% of Latin America and the Caribbean's current GDP
The study predicts that unless mitigation actions are taken at the international level, the region will suffer major losses in the agricultural sector and in terms of biodiversity. Infrastructure will be put under pressure and extreme climatic events will increase dramatically.
For instance, it is estimated that at the current rate of degradation, by 2100 between 22% and 62% of the land area of Bolivia, Chile, Ecuador, Paraguay and Peru will be degraded and that fresh water will be scarce across the continent. A 3ºC temperature rise would result in decreased rainfall in the Amazon, leading to the destruction of the tropical rainforest which continues the largest reserve of biodiversity on our planet. At the same time, rising sea levels would provoke displacement of entire communities and the mangroves of the small island states in the Caribbean- and their unique ecosystems - will disappear forever.
The cost of inaction has been estimated at 137% of the region’s current gross domestic product (GDP)
The study was undertaken by ECLAC with the support of the Governments of Germany, Denmark, Spain and the United Kingdom, the European Union, the Inter-American Development Bank the Global Mechanism, research institutions and think-tanks. The Global Mechanism contributed with an analysis on the linkages between the economic assessment of land degradation and the economics of climate change and will continue to work with ECLAC in 2010 as part of its corporate approach to the economic assessment of the effects of climate change on land degradation.
The report concludes that a regional public policy is urgently needed to curb the negative impacts of climate change, by conserving biodiversity and natural resources for future generations; promoting technological innovation in support of sustainable development; taking a hard look at our consumer lifestyles and inducing cultural change including moving towards economies with lower carbon emissions.
For more information:
Alejandro Kilpatrick, Programme Coordinator, Latin America and the Caribbean and the Climate Change Finance Programme
Tel. +39 06 5459 2524
a.kilpatrick (at) global-mechanism.org
Download ECLAC’s press release on the report at COP.15 (pdf, Spanish, 160kb)
Download the summary of the report “The Economics of Climate Change in Latin America and the Caribbean" (pdf, English, 292kb)
Posted: 2009-12-17 at 02:03
Agreement on funding for deforestation
Posted: 2009-12-16 at 11:00
Agreement on funding for deforestation
Posted: 2009-12-16 at 11:00
Agreement on funding for deforestation
Posted: 2009-12-16 at 11:00
News - Protecting sustainable livelihoods from the impacts of climate change: the role of drylands acknowledged at the climate change conference
This was the theme of a UNFCCC COP15 side event organized by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) on 11 December, within the framework of the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED)’s Development and Climate Days. This event brought together panelists from IFAD, the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Global Mechanism (GM).
IFAD is already taking action to integrate climate change issues into their project portfolio from the formulation phase of its Country Strategic Opportunities Papers (COSOPs). This is already the case of the Viet Nam and Chad COSOPs. Work is also being done by the IFAD’s Policy Reference Group on Climate Change, which is developing a corporate strategy to support the mainstreaming of vulnerability to climatic variability into IFAD’s portfolio.
The aims of the side event were:
to highlight the relevance of drylands ecosystems for rural development;
to address the specific impacts of climate change on these particularly fragile environments; and
to illustrate how climate change resilience can be promoted in arid land ecosystems, for instance, through investments.
“More than one billion people depend on Arid Lands for their livelihoods” said Atiqur Rahman, Policy Coordinator for IFAD's Policy Division. “These lands are being threatened by increased salinity, prolonged droughts and desertification, causing hundreds of thousands of people to emigrate in search of better livelihoods. Technological options and know-how are available to reverse this trend. Our challenge is to make these options available to these people” he added.
Ced Hesse, Principal Researcher, Climate Change, IIED, gave an account of the crucial social and economic role played by pastoralists in Africa’s drylands, emphasizing their importance in ensuring economic development, sustainable land management and peace in a changing, increasingly unstable environment.
His position was echoed by Nadim Khouri, Director of IFAD’s Near East and North Africa Division, who also highlighted the need to build on vulnerable people’s own livelihood strategies in devising efficient investments in harsh climatic conditions. “Better models “need to be developed” he said, “in order to be able to predict the impact of climate change, specifically for arid areas, and for countries and rural communities to internalize such models in their development strategies”.
Alejandro Kilpatrick, the GM’s Programme Coordinator for Latin America and for Climate Change Finance highlighted the value of drylands, to be seen in their economic, social and financial dimensions. He gave a detailed overview of the current and predicted sources of funding for arid land ecosystems, and their relevance in addressing the adverse impact of climate change. Most of those living in drylands are amongst the poorest of the poor and therefore investing in drylands is crucial, aa is the recognition of the value of drylands ecosystems and traditional drylands activities such as pastoralism.
There are opportunities to harness financing for climate change in support of drylands, both from the carbon market and from adaptation funding. However, there is a need to better position the issues into the development agendas of donors and governments. The UNFCCC COP may identify other opportunities that are emerging, such as Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD) and REDD+, adaptation funding and others.
Download the Presentation by Atiqur Rahman, IFAD (PPTX, English, 1.5 Mb)
Download the Presentation by Nadim Khouri, IFAD (PPT, English, 13 Mb)
Download the Presentation by Alejandro Kilpatrick, GM (PPT, English, 1.5 Mb)
Download the Presentation by Ced Hesse, IIED (PPT, English, 6.1 Mb)
Download the Presentation by Peter Holmgren, FAO (PPT, English, 32 Kb)
For more information:
Mr Alejandro Kilpatrick, Programme Coordinator, Latin America and the Caribbean and the Climate Change Finance Programme
Tel. +39 06 5459 2524
a.kilpatrick (at) global-mechanism.org
Posted: 2009-12-16 at 02:46
Support China forest tenure reform project web site launched
Posted: 2009-12-15 at 11:00
From Buenos Aires to Copenhagen, agriculture, forest, and climate change
Posted: 2009-12-15 at 11:00
From Buenos Aires to Copenhagen: Agriculture, Forests, and Climate Change
"Forestry and agriculture need an integrated, holistic approach to combat carbon emissions and to fight hunger."
Find out about the link connecting Buenos Aires to Copenhagen in an interview with Olman Serrano (FAO), Associate Secretary General of the XIII World Forestry Congress (Buenos Aires, 18-23 October 2009).
Posted: 2009-12-15 at 11:00
Support China forest tenure reform project web site launched
Posted: 2009-12-15 at 11:00
From Buenos Aires to Copenhagen: Agriculture, Forests, and Climate Change
"Forestry and agriculture need an integrated, holistic approach to combat carbon emissions and to fight hunger."
Find out about the link connecting Buenos Aires to Copenhagen in an interview with Olman Serrano (FAO), Associate Secretary General of the XIII World Forestry Congress (Buenos Aires, 18-23 October 2009).
Posted: 2009-12-15 at 11:00
Supporting China forest tenure reform project web site launched
Posted: 2009-12-15 at 11:00
News - Synergies between land and climate find resonance at UNFCCC COP15
The valuation of the social and economic benefits of drylands influences how resources are allocated at the national and international levels. This was emphasized at a side-event on 10 December in Copenhagen, during the UN Climate Change Conference.
The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the International Federation of Agricultural Producers (IFAP), the UNCCD National Focal Point for Uganda, the Global Mechanism (GM) and the UN Office for Outer Space Affairs were keynote speakers at this side event, entitled “The role of land under the new climate change policy framework and UN-Land as one delivery tool”, organized by the UNCCD Secretariat.
Sergio Zelaya (UNCCD Secretariat) stressed the importance of working across the UN system and with other organizations to address land degradation that is intrinsically linked to climate change and other issues: “As we look at land as a potential carbon sink, attention needs to be drawn to the new value of drylands in terms of:
its ability to sequester carbon dioxide;
its adaptation potential through sustainable land management (SLM) practices (soils, water and forests); and
its potential to foster partnerships that can strengthen, empower and support local governance to target local farmers.”
In this regard, a call was made for soil carbon to be included in the COP 15 outcome and for the realization of the overall objectives of the UNCCD to prevent and reverse land degradation, desertification and mitigate the effects of drought mitigation. The role of traditional and innovative knowledge and technologies, such as social and economic innovation, spatial technologies for land degradation and drought mitigation, was highlighted.
Panellists agreed on the need for a focused approach to local adaptation and mitigation actions through partnerships, such as UN-Land that involves all UN agencies that have a mandate on land. The positive contribution SLM makes to the long-term shared vision for cooperation and sustainable investments in drylands, especially for small scale farmers, was also recognized.
Silvia Donato (IFAD), noted how smallholders can sustain steady increases in food production if water is managed effectively. An integrated approach to water management is therefore critical to climate change adaptation.
Alejandro Kilpatrick, the GM’s Programme Coordinator for Latin America & the Caribbean and for the Climate Change Strategic Programme, highlighted the importance of partnerships and engagement with the private sector for mobilizing resources from multiple sources of funding.
In terms of climate change financing for drylands, Mr Kilpatrick said that funding from the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) is limited and that more attention should be paid to REDD and REDD+ in low forest cover areas. In fact, the relationship between degraded lands and forests is not sufficiently recognized. In this context, the representative of the UN Forum on Forests highlightedt he importance of the funding received for countries with low forest cover (LFCC) and for Small Island Developing States (SIDS).
For more information:
Mr Alejandro Kilpatrick, Programme Coordinator, Latin America and the Caribbean and the Climate Change Finance Programme
Tel. +39 06 5459 2524
a.kilpatrick (at) global-mechanism.org
Posted: 2009-12-15 at 12:58
News - Promoting sustainable development through regional decentralized cooperation
One of the ways ARENE promotes sustainable development is through regional decentralized cooperation, under the authority of the French Development Cooperation Agency (AfD) and the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In this context, a study on the links between French communities’ experience of implementing Agenda 21 at the local level and their international cooperation activities was conducted - the results of which were the subject of the fourth meeting of stakeholders involved in decentralized cooperation sustainable development, held in Paris on 23 November 2009.
Mr Youssef Brahimi, the GM’s Coordinator for North Africa and South-to-South Cooperation, attended the meeting in the context of the GM’s South-to-South Cooperation Programme, SolArid. Discussions revolved around how the local communities’ experience of governance, and their tools and networks could be used to inform sustainable development actions in the context of international cooperation.
The meeting was an excellent opportunity for the GM to exchange information and experiences with the French local communities on their work on the ground and has fostered positive interactions that will be included in discussions with the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Delegation for Local Authorities’ External Action (AECL) and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) on 14 December on a potential triangular partnership to support the local communities through decentralized cooperation.
For more information:
Mr Youssef Brahimi, Programme Coordinator, North Africa & South-to-South Cooperation
Tel. +39 06 5459 2584
y.brahimi (at) global-mechanism.org
Posted: 2009-12-15 at 10:36
Will northern forests be able to stand the heat?
Posted: 2009-12-14 at 12:29
Scientific Summary No. 64, 2009
Posted: 2009-12-11 at 12:11
Google gets involved in forest monitoring
Posted: 2009-12-10 at 11:00
Google gets involved in forest monitoring
Posted: 2009-12-10 at 11:00
Google gets involved in forest monitoring
Posted: 2009-12-10 at 11:00
News - Tanzania and the GM - a joint call for more sustainability
The envisaged Integrated Financing Strategy for Tanzania was discussed strategically with the Minister of State for the Environment, the Principle Secretary for the Environment and the UNCCD National Focal Point and the GM team during COP.9 in Buenos Aires.
Going operational, Dr George R. Kafumu of the Vice President’s Office and UNCCD National Focal Point for Tanzania, has agreed with the GM team in Rome on the road map for cooperation. Following the national knowledge exchange event on “Designing the Integrated Financing Strategy (DIFS)” to be held at the end of February 2010, Tanzania’s IFS team will establish the IFS and implement it in close cooperation with a number of Ministries, in particular the Ministry of Finance and stakeholders of the private sector and the CNGO community.
The investment framework for increased finance for SLM will be firmly based on the work of UNDP under the TerrAfrica partnership, the current processes around the Comprehensive African Agricultural Development Programme (CAADP) and the contribution of the Government of Norway under UN_REDD (reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation).
The preparatory work for the DIFS and the analytic work to establish the IFS will commence in January 2010. This will be timely for informing the report of Tanzania to the UNCCD in terms of financial flows into SLM and other economic data to be delivered by June 2010.
For more information:
Mr Kwame Awere-Gyekye, Programme Coordinator, East & Southern Africa
Tel. +39 065459 2199
k.awere (at) global-mechanism.org
Posted: 2009-12-10 at 03:22
Event - Arid Land Ecosystems and Climate Change
Although efforts have been made to stabilize drylands ecosystems to address these problems, the scope, scale and impact of these efforts have been limited by unpredictable, scarce resources. The accelerating rate of climate change requires a much more coherent, comprehensive and coordinated response, often on a multi-country scale utilizing state-of-the-art technologies.
In this context the International Fund for Agricultural Development in collaboration with the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) are organizing a session on Arid Land Ecosystems and Climate Change on 11 December as part of the Climate and Development Days, running parallel to the 15th Session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Copenhagen, Denmark, from 7 to 18 December 2009.
Panellists will to respond to questions on key issues of mitigation and adaptation to climate change in arid land ecosystems and to engage in an interactive discussion on feasible solutions.
The Global Mechanism’s Alejandro Kilpatrick, Programme Coordinator for the GM’s Climate Change Financing Programme has been invited to speak as panellist for issue 4: “How projects, which are still the major mode of delivering benefits to isolated communities in arid zones, benefit from current and emerging financial mechanisms?” This session will also look at the role voluntary markets play and how they can be leveraged towards mitigation funding in developing countries with arid lands.
The outcomes of the event will be published here.
For more information:
Mr Alejandro Kilpatrick, Programme Coordinator, Latin America and the Caribbean and the Climate Change Finance Programme
Tel. +39 06 5459 2524
a.kilpatrick (at) global-mechanism.org
Posted: 2009-12-04 at 09:15
Event - Understanding the value of land and the costs of land degradation in Cambodia
Land resource management is the bedrock of the livelihoods of most of the world’s poor people and a key part of the national economy throughout the developing world. Yet the contribution the sustainable management of land resources makes to national development and to poverty reduction is often not recognized.
The Global Mechanism (GM) in collaboration with international research organisations including the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI), the Overseas Development Institute (ODI) and CAB International has launched a global initiative on the analysis of the value of land resources and the costs of land degradation. A comprehensive methodological approach for assessing the total economic value of land and the costs and benefits of SLM investments is currently being developed.
Next week, in the context of the country programme for the development of an integrated financing strategy (IFS), the GM and SEI will undertake a joint inception mission to Cambodia to launch an economic valuation study using this innovative methodology. The overall goal of the pilot is to identify opportunities to increase investments in SLM in Cambodia through demonstrating the economic benefits they yield as opposed to the costs of unsustainable business-as-usual land management practices. Particular attention will be paid to the poverty reduction potentials of SLM, the opportunity to reverse critical degradation processes in fragile ecosystems and the synergies between national development strategies and SLM-relevant policies.
News on the outcomes of the mission will be posted here.
For more information:
Ms Camilla Nordheim-Larsen, Financial Strategy Officer
Tel. +39 06 5459 2061
c.nordheim-larsen (at) global-mechanism.org
Mr Simone Quatrini, Coordinator, Policy & Investment Analysis
Tel. +39 06 5459 2154
s.quatrini (at) global-mechanism.org
Posted: 2009-12-03 at 04:26
News - Progress in EC-ACP MEA Capacity Building in African, Caribbean and Pacific countries
The specific objective of the scope | acp project is to strengthen capacities of participating ACP country stakeholders to build interregional bridges on key cross-cutting and horizontal thematic issues to support NAP implementation process. To this end the GM adopted a strategy for the 1st year built on:
reaching a common understanding on the integrated financing strategy (IFS);
starting activities at regional level in Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific;
forging strategic partnerships notably with UNEP and UNDP/LDC SIDS; and
building capacities: creating national multi stakeholder teams
The meeting was therefore an opportunity for the GM to present the outcomes of its three sub-regional capacity enhancement and knowledge exchange workshops on Designing Integrated Financing Strategies (DIFS) for sustainable land management held in the Pacific in conjunction with the South Pacific Regional Environmental Programme (SPREP), in the Caribbean with the support of the Caribbean Community Secretariat (CARICOM) and in Seychelles, where all countries of the Indian Ocean were involved. The workshops were held in partnership with UNDP LDC-SIDS.
These workshops are part of a global knowledge exchange and capacity enhancement that aims to promote an integrated approach to resource mobilization for UNCCD implementation and upscale investments in SLM through the development of IFSs, in full cooperation with Governments and international financial institutions that will lead to the setting up of integrated investment frameworks for SLM.
In Brussels, the regional hubs expressed their satisfaction with the outcomes to date, the efforts undertaken under the scope | acp project to engage countries in defining entry points and priority actions for future collaboration, and their appreciation with the groundwork done to prepare the next steps that include supporting specific countries in elaborating their integrated financing strategies (IFSs) for UNCCD implementation, and setting up regional and global platforms for the exchange of experiences in partnership building.
The discussions between the GM and the other stakeholders were extremely useful in prioritizing actions for phase two, which included identifying economic activities that generate income at the community level and at the same time promote sustainable land management (SLM).
The partners in the scope | acp project are: the ACP Secretariat; the European Commission; the United Nations Environment Programme; the Commission of the African Union; the Caribbean Community Secretariat ; the Secretariat of the South Pacific Regional Environment Programme; the Global Mechanism of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification; the UNEP Chemicals / SAICM Secretariat; the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations; the Basel Convention; the Convention on Biological Diversity; the Stockholm Convention; the Rotterdam Convention; and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
For more information:
Mr Youssef Brahimi, Programme Coordinator, North Africa & South-to-South Cooperation
Tel. +39 06 5459 2584
y.brahimi (at) global-mechanism.org
Ms Ines Chaâlala, Junior Advisor, North Africa & South-to-South Cooperation
Tel. +39 06 5459 2548
i.chaalala (at) global-mechanism.org
Posted: 2009-12-02 at 03:50
News - Caribbean countries on pathway to establish SLM investment packages
This positive development concluded a dynamic and interactive five-day Designing Integrated Financing Strategies (DIFS) knowledge exchange and capacity enhancement workshop held in Saint Lucia from 16-20 November 2009, which was organized by the GM together with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO). The workshop is particularly timely given that Caribbean small island developing states are increasingly grappling with diminished land productivity due to degradation processes and climate change.
The DIFS workshop provided an in-depth overview of the steps involved in both overcoming the constraints in mobilizing resources and seizing the various opportunities from domestic, external and innovative sources. The roadmaps developed by the 11 participating country teams, set a pathway to mobilize resources under an SLM Integrated Investment Framework (IIF) by pinpointing relevant actions, capacities and resources.
A major characteristic of the DIFS workshop was the cross-sectoral and multi-dimensional approach to resource mobilization at country level. Indeed, country delegations in the Caribbean workshop included key stakeholders from diverse backgrounds. The 35 participants included UNCCD Focal Points, representatives from ministries of finance and planning, civil society organizations and Project Managers of the GEF UNDP Sustainable Land Mangement Projects, as well as from the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat and the Caribbean Environmental Health Institute (CEHI). Such an approach promotes cooperation and coordination between the various stakeholders in preparing for the next step, namely the establishment and implementation of IFSs in their respective countries.
To complement the workshop, a dedicated half-day session was held by FAO on its Land Degradation Assessment in Drylands (LADA) project, providing participants with the knowledge and tools to strengthen land degradation assessments in the Caribbean region.
The Caribbean workshop completes the series of subregional DIFS workshops which have been a key instrument for the GM and its partners to better position the UNCCD at country level with a view to influencing decision-making on finance.
The GM’s attention now turns to supporting Caribbean countries in the elaboration of IFSs and the development of the subsequent IIFs, and looks forward to stepping up its cooperation in the subregion.
For more information:
Mr Alejandro Kilpatrick, Programme Coordinator, Latin America and the Caribbean and the Climate Change Finance Programme
Tel. +39 06 5459 2524
a.kilpatrick (at) global-mechanism.org
Posted: 2009-12-01 at 02:52
Will northern forests be able to stand the heat?
Posted: 2009-12-01 at 12:29
Event - Central Asian Countries Initiative for Land Management Meetings
The first, a workshop on CACILM Projects, will review project results from the first phase implementation 2006 - 2009. Participants will discuss and share their project experiences and ideas for improvements, including monitoring and evaluation, communication and awareness, and how to take advantage of being part of CACILM. The meeting will also plan future collaboration.
The project workshop will be followed by the 4th CACILM Steering Committee to launch the 2nd Phase of CACILM. An enhanced focus on adopting sustainable land management (SLM) practices as a means to address adaptation to climate change issues will define the 2nd Phase. The Steering Committee meeting will also provide participants with an opportunity to review CACILM implementation at subregional and country levels and discuss the orientation of the 2nd Phase, together with the Financing Strategy and Implementation Plan for 2010-2014.
Participants will include representatives of the National Coordinating Councils of the 5 countries, CACILM Project Coordinators, Heads of the National Secretariats and Multi-Country Secretariat, Asian Development Bank (ADB), the Global Mechanism, the International Fund for Agricultural Development, CCD Project of GTZ, Swiss Development Cooperation (SDC), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the International Centre for Agricultural Research in Dry Areas (ICARDA).
News on the outcomes of these meetings will be posted here.
For more information:
Mr Roshan Cooke, Programme Coordinator, Asia and Pacific
Tel. +39 06 5459 2156
ro.cooke (at) global-mechanism.org
Posted: 2009-11-26 at 10:34
News - Algeria-GM cooperation beyond COP9
In this context, Algeria has requested the GM’s support, and a mission was held from 1 to 8 November to Algiers to discuss the nature of the GM’s support, with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, within the context of the GM-Algeria Work Programme for 1010.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the GM agreed to provide support to South-to-South cooperation, particular on technology transfer, for example:
South-to-South cooperation between African countries – for instance Mali and Algeria - for the development of integrated rural development projects as a contribution to the Green Wall under SolArid, the GM’s South-to-South cooperation programme;
increasing the visibility of Algeria’s input to NEPAD programmes to combat desertification;
enhancing Algeria’s involvement in SolArid; and
promoting cooperation on technology transfer between Latin America and the Maghreb and between the Arab League and Africa.
The GM also agreed to provide technical backstopping for evaluating investments allocated by Algeria to combating desertification programmes with a view to supporting the setting-up of a monitoring and evaluation system of flows of investments allocated to combating desertification and will support a national study on technology transfer in the context of the North African Region and the UNCCD.
As a contribution to the updating of the Arab Maghreb Union (AMU)’s Subregional Action Programme (SRAP) and with a view to strengthening cooperation between the Maghreb countries, Algeria has proposed 4 trans-boundary projects, which the GM will submit to the AMU Secretary General of the Arab Maghreb Union (AMU) for their inclusion in the SRAP.
For more information:
Mr Youssef Brahimi, Programme Coordinator, North Africa & South-to-South Cooperation
Tel. +39 06 5459 2584
y.brahimi (at) global-mechanism.org
Posted: 2009-11-23 at 09:17
News - Sharing knowledge on financing integrated dryland management
The MSc has been jointly developed by a broad range of partner institutions with expertise in drylands: the United Nations University (UNU); l’Institut des Régions Arides (IRA); the Cold and Arid Regions Environmental and Engineering Research Institute (CAREERI); the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA); the Institut National Agronomique de Tunisie (INAT); the Tottori University (TU); and the Global Mechanism (GM).
As part of this year’s programme, the GM held on 11 November a one-day lecture on financing integrated dryland management at ICARDA headquarters in Aleppo, Syria,. Topics included developing integrated financing strategies, conducting economic assessments of land degradation and analyzing funding flows, making the case for financing, market based mechanisms and climate change funding opportunities.
Participants in the 2009-2010 programme, included scientists, government officials, and masters students from around the world. Once students have completed their coursework and their research proposals have been approved, they will be seconded to one of the partner organizations, where they will carry out applied research on related topics. The students will also complete a research project in their home countries, ranging from Palestine, Syria and Tunisia to Japan and Canada.
Download the brochure on on the MSc on integrated drylands management (pdf, English, 932 KB)
For more information:
Mr Simone Quatrini, Coordinator, Policy & Investment Analysis
Tel. +39 06 5459 2154
s.quatrini (at) global-mechanism.org
Ms Camilla Nordheim-Larsen, Financial Strategy Officer
Tel. +39 06 5459 2061
c.nordheim-larsen (at) global-mechanism.org
Ms Siv Oystese, Associate Financial and Private Sector Strategy Officer
Tel. +39 06 5459 2782
s.oystese (at) global-mechanism.org
Posted: 2009-11-20 at 12:30
News - Arab-Maghreb Union: Ministers of Agriculture endorse the AMU-GM Cooperation Programme for 2009-2010
On 29 October in Marrakech, the Arab Maghreb Union (AMU)'s Ministerial Committee on Food Security, which comprises the Ministers of Agriculture of the five member countries -Algeria, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco and Tunisia - endorsed the joint programme of work (2009-2010) of the Global Mechanism (GM) and the AMU's General Secretariat.
This programme, which implements the cooperation agreement between the GM and the AMU of 30 June 2008, centres on the promotion of technology transfer in the framework of South-to-South cooperation, the updating of the Subregional Action Programme to Combat Desertification and the definition of a subregional strategy for resource mobilization for UNCCD implementation.
Moreover, the Ministers recommmended extending the mandate and activities of the Maghrebian Permanent Committee of the on Desertification and Sustainable Development (which comprises the UNCCD Focal Points of all the Maghreb countries) to climate change-related issues and invited the committee in this context to liaise with the Executive Secretariat of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
For more information:
Mr Youssef Brahimi, Programme Coordinator, North Africa & South-to-South Cooperation
Tel. +39 06 5459 2584
y.brahimi (at) global-mechanism.org
Posted: 2009-11-17 at 11:24
News - Drynet partners build momentum
In this context, the Global Mechanism (GM) hosted the 3rd annual meeting of Drynet partners from 2 to 6 November in Rome. Thirteen civil society organisations (CSOs) from across the globe met to exchange experiences, views and brainstorm. The meeting included a day-and-a -half exchange with bilateral and multilateral organizations on Drynet, its achievements, and future plans.
During the meeting,the CSOs evaluated their strengths as a network and the challenges they face in promoting UNCCD issues at national and international level. Even though National Action Programmes to Combat Desertification (NAPs) are not strong politically and financially, concerted efforts to build nationally-based coalitions of CSOs and engage with government agencies have resulted in greater awareness, and in some cases, action on the part of governments to deliver on their UNCCD commitments.
The partners also reflected on Drynet’s added value at international level in terms of knowledge exchange on technical and strategic issues, participation in international policy processes, and partnership building with global institutions and organizations.
The CSOs put forward a proposal for a new phase of the project to consolidate and build on their achievements that will be shared with potential partners at regional and international levels in the coming months. Areas for future work presented and discussed include:
strengthening national CSO platforms through which CSOs engage with government and development organizations;
increasing Drynet’s participation in international policy processes, including the UNCCD; and
developing local knowledge hubs to bridge the gaps between communities and decision makers.
Participating organisations expressed their interest in and support for Drynet’s work. They made recommendations for linking with other related initiatives and noted how the current focus and resources on climate change and food security provide potential interesting opportunities for Drynet CSOs to promote desertification issues.
For more information:
Ms Paule Herodote, Civil Society Investments Advisor
Tel. +39 06 5459 2760
p.herodote (at) global-mechanism.org
and
Marie José van der Werff
Drynet
drynet (at) bothends.org
Posted: 2009-11-16 at 11:59
WFC Message to COP15
Posted: 2009-11-12 at 12:24
A Rebirth of for the Forests of Asia
Posted: 2009-11-11 at 09:24
News - Mali moves ahead in mobilizing innovative finance for SLM
The workshop, organized by the Ministry of Trade and Industry, in cooperation with the International Trade Center (ITC), brought together key public and private stakeholders related to the gum arabic value chain.
The GM has been supporting the gum arabic sector in Mali since 2007, with the objective of facilitating inter-sectoral collaboration between stakeholders from trade, agriculture and environment. The GM firmly believes that sector development requires coordination of all these actors to ensure sustainable development and poverty reduction. During the workshop, the GM reasserted its commitment to supporting the gum arabic sector in the context of its country support programme in Mali, including by engaging with this group and supporting its efforts in implementing the sector strategy.
Gum arabic is a very important product for Mali, not only in terms of the trade potential it offers, but also because gum trees are crucial in sequestering nitrogen, thereby also actively contributing towards halting desertification and land degradation. Moreover, gum arabic is a priority in Mali’s national Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP) and in the Diagnostic Trade Integration Study.
Complying with internationally recognized rules and regulations in the management of gum trees contributes to adding value to the gum production chain and in making it more competitive in the marketplace. It is therefore paramount that sustainable exploitation of acacia trees be an integral part of the sectoral strategy.
The gum arabic production chain in Mali, is an excellent example of the national will to initiate dialogue with public actors from different sectors and the private sector.
Trade can contribute to poverty reduction objectives only if it is fully in line with the sectors that are directly related to livelihoods and food security, such as agriculture, livestock farming and the environment. Aid for trade (AfT), an initiative for the financing of trade development in developing countries, was launched by the international community with a specific view towards increasing the linkages between trade and other sectors.
Mali also benefits from the Integrated Framework (IF), which is the primary financing instrument to channel AfT to Least Developed Countries (LDCs). The IF works for the Government, and therefore it works for all government sectors involved in the promotion of trade initiatives contributing to poverty reduction, such as the multi sectoral strategies.
The GM works to support the review process and the operationalization of the sectoral strategy for gum arabic and to underpin efforts for the definition and implementation of institutional mechanisms to strengthen all the segments of the production/supply chain in a sustained manner.
It also contributes to the elaboration of a joint strategy between all technical and financial partners (TFPs) strengthening the natural linkages between their support programmes vis-à-vis trade, agriculture and the environment.
The GM is very much engaged in a process to enhance coherence of such a strategy with the policies of all ministries involved as well as the coordination quality of all the actors involved - be they public, private or technical and financial partners.
The programmatic approach for sustainable land management (SLM) promoted by the TerrAfrica partnership in Mali, of which the GM is one of the active engines, is an opportunity and a means to promote this process to enhance the coherence and strengthening of the synergies. The Country Strategic Investment Framework (CSIF) that this approach is trying to put in place, is an instrument to help Mali align its different sectors, actors and donors on the range of issues with direct linkages with SLM.
The review and implementation of the sectoral strategy for gum arabic is a great opportunity to channel innovative sources in financing SLM, in particular those related to AfT and private sector investments.
For more information:
Ms Eleonora Canigiani, Trade & Market Access Officer
Tel. +39 06 5459 2734
e.canigiani (at) global-mechanism.org
Maria Soledad Marco, Trade & Market Access Programme Associate
Tel: +39 06 5459 2671
m.marco (at) global-mechanism.org
Posted: 2009-11-05 at 09:23
Event - Strengthening capacities to upscale SLM investments in the Caribbean
The workshop, which is being organized by the GM together with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), will be attended by 35 participants from nine Caribbean countries.
The DIFS programme aims to support UNCCD country Parties in the process towards securing investment packages for SLM projects and programmes. It draws on the GM’s experience in resource mobilization and mainstreaming National Action Programmes (NAPs) into national planning processes and overarching development frameworks in various parts of the world. The programme has seen wide participation from UNCCD stakeholders across the globe through the numerous subregional DIFS workshops held by the GM this year.
In light of the GM’s close cooperation with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in the region, a dedicated session will be held by FAO on its Land Degradation Assessment in Drylands (LADA) project. The session will complement the workshop agenda by providing participants with the knowledge and tools to strengthen land degradation assessments in the Caribbean region.
The GM looks forward to a highly dynamic workshop, which it anticipates will bolster ongoing efforts to attract SLM investments in the region.
For more information:
Mr Alejandro Kilpatrick, Programme Coordinator, Latin America and the Caribbean and the Climate Change Finance Programme
Tel. +39 06 5459 2524
a.kilpatrick (at) global-mechanism.org
Posted: 2009-11-04 at 03:37
A Rebirth for the Forests of Asia
Posted: 2009-11-03 at 09:24
Event - Workshop in Uganda: Capatilzing on the linkages between Aid for Trade and agriculture
The aim of the workshop is to support the development of an agenda of Aid for Trade (AfT) activities to be developed in the context of the Uganda Strategic Investment Framework for Sustainable Land Management (U-SLM SIF).
The workshop will focus on the cross-sectoral linkages between trade and sustainable land management (SLM) including relevant sectors, such as agriculture, environment, and energy. In particular, it will try to raise awarness of the significance of capatilizing on these linkages to strengthen the capacity of the different sectors, thereby contributing towards sustainable development and poverty reduction efforts.
The major expectation of the workshop is to develop a programme of activities which will feed into the finalization of the U-SLM SIF and guide the implementation of AfT interventions therein. In addition, it is anticipated that the workshop will contribute to the process of updating the Diagnostic Trade Integration Study (DTIS) developed in the context of the Integrated Framework.
The workshop will draw in a broad spectrum of participants including sector representatives from agriculture, trade, environment, water and energy, in addditon to public and private sector, development partners and civil society representatives.
For more information:
Ms Eleonora Canigiani, Trade & Market Access Officer
Tel. +39 06 5459 2734
e.canigiani (at) global-mechanism.org
Posted: 2009-11-02 at 01:11
News - GM presents studies on forest investments at World Forestry Congress
The GM’s engagement in this process is in the context of its Forest Finance Strategic Programme (FFSP), designed with a view to harnessing the synergies in forestry for UNCCD implementation as part of its quest to fulfil its core mandate - to promote actions leading to the mobilization and channelling of financial resources to developing country Parties to combat land degradation and poverty.
The objectives of the session facilitated by the GM included: presenting less traditional sources of forest finance in view of the call to mobilize forest finance from all sources; demonstrating the detachment between global dialogue and frontline realities; and highlighting the challenges in pinpointing the “new and additional”. Three studies commissioned and presented by the GM prepared the ground for the ensuing debate:
• Internalization of the Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness in Forest Finance Dialogue
• Forest Finance in Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPCs)- a Case Study of Uganda; and
• Potential of Micro-Finance in Forest Investments.
Participants expressed great interest in the studies and commended the GM for the empirical nature of the information presented and the way the presentations synergistically tied together the national level, corporate inputs and frontline demands.
Download paper on "Mobilising and channeling forest finance in a heavily indebted poor country (HIPC): Case Study of Uganda"
Download paper on "The role of micro-financing in sustainable forest management"
Download paper on "The Paris Declaration and its implication on finance for natural resource management"
For more information:
Mr J. Kamuguisha-Ruhombe,Coordinator Forestry Finance Programme
j.ruhombe (at) global-mechanism.org
Posted: 2009-11-02 at 09:57
Scientific Summary No. 63, 2009
Posted: 2009-10-30 at 02:49
Event - Strengthening ties with Algeria
On the initiative and within the framework of SolArid - the GM’s South-to-South Cooperation Programme - discussions will focus on Algeria’s cooperation with neighbouring countries, in particular with Mali, regarding the development of integrated rural development programmes through experience exchange, sharing of methodologies and financial support. These activities, promoted and supported by GM/SolArid, are also part of a wider vision which aims to provide a solid contribution to the Great Green Wall Programme initiated by the African Union.
Discussions will also hinge on how the GM can facilitate technology transfer within the Maghreb Union and within the framework of North Africa’s Sub-regional Action Programme (SRAP).
For more information:
Mr Youssef Brahimi, Programme Coordinator, North Africa & South-to-South Cooperation
Tel. +39 06 5459 2584
y.brahimi (at) global-mechanism.org
Posted: 2009-10-30 at 10:16
News - The GM's Alejandro Kilpatrick interviewed by Climate Change TV
Climate-Change.it was there to speak to the main players in the run-up to Copenhagen and interviewed Alejandro Kilpatrick, the GM’s Programme Coordinator for the Climate Change Finance Programme on the GM’s role in helping poor countries access funding from climate change financial mechanisms to support sustainable land management practices in the areas most affected by land degradation and desertification.
Mr Kilpatrick explained that by tapping both carbon markets and adaptation funding opportunities, the GM seeks to promote comprehensive financial packages including public funding and donor support and innovative financing .
The GM’s is tackling the challenge of lack of finance - mainly by making the inter-linkages between land degradation and climate change more obvious - not only in environmental terms, but also as a social and broader development issue.
There is clearly still much to be done before Copenhagen and beyond: “A strong message from the UNCCD and its constituencies to the UNFCCC COP processes is needed,” said Mr Kilpatrick, “in terms of the importance of explicitly incorporating land-related issues into the new climate change regime under the current discussions on agriculture, forestry and other land uses (AFOLU).”
For more information:
Mr Alejandro Kilpatrick, Programme Coordinator, Latin America and the Caribbean and the Climate Change Finance Programme
Tel. +39 06 5459 2524
a.kilpatrick (at) global-mechanism.org
Ms Saveis Sadeghian, Junior Advisor, Climate Change Investments
Tel. +39 06 5459 2625
s.sadeghian (at) global-mechanism.org
Posted: 2009-10-29 at 01:24
Unasylva 233: Green jobs
Posted: 2009-10-27 at 11:00
Unasylva 233: Green jobs
Posted: 2009-10-27 at 11:00
Unasylva 233: Green jobs
Posted: 2009-10-27 at 11:00
World Forestry Congres - declaration approved
Posted: 2009-10-26 at 11:00
WFC - strong message to the UN Conference on Climate Change in Copenhagen
Posted: 2009-10-26 at 11:00
WFC - strong message to the UN Conference on Climate Change in Copenhagen
Posted: 2009-10-26 at 11:00
“The planet never needed more than now world forestry management”
Buenos Aires, Argentina - “We should not exclude any potential means of mitigating climate change¨ said Jan Heino, Assistant Director General of the Forestry Department at FAO, just as the World Forestry Congress drew to a close on Friday 23 October. In as little as five days, a major exercise of discussion, partnership and knowledge sharing occurred, seeing the involvement of the private sector as well as of civil society, the academia, NGOs and international organizations. With an initial expected number of 4 000 participants rising up to over 7 000, the meeting in Buenos Aires was evidence of the momentum generated by this crucial juncture.
Posted: 2009-10-23 at 11:00
“The planet never needed more than now world forestry management”
Buenos Aires, Argentina - “We should not exclude any potential means of mitigating climate change¨ said Jan Heino, Assistant Director General of the Forestry Department at FAO, just as the World Forestry Congress drew to a close on Friday 23 October. In as little as five days, a major exercise of discussion, partnership and knowledge sharing occurred, seeing the involvement of the private sector as well as of civil society, the academia, NGOs and international organizations. With an initial expected number of 4 000 participants rising up to over 7 000, the meeting in Buenos Aires was evidence of the momentum generated by this crucial juncture.
Posted: 2009-10-23 at 11:00
“The planet never needed more than now world forestry management”
Buenos Aires, Argentina - “We should not exclude any potential means of mitigating climate change¨ said Jan Heino, Assistant Director General of the Forestry Department at FAO, just as the World Forestry Congress drew to a close on Friday 23 October. In as little as five days, a major exercise of discussion, partnership and knowledge sharing occurred, seeing the involvement of the private sector as well as of civil society, the academia, NGOs and international organizations. With an initial expected number of 4 000 participants rising up to over 7 000, the meeting in Buenos Aires was evidence of the momentum generated by this crucial juncture.
Posted: 2009-10-23 at 11:00
“The planet never needed more than now world forestry management”
Buenos Aires, Argentina - “We should not exclude any potential means of mitigating climate change¨ said Jan Heino, Assistant Director General of the Forestry Department at FAO, just as the World Forestry Congress drew to a close on Friday 23 October. In as little as five days, a major exercise of discussion, partnership and knowledge sharing occurred, seeing the involvement of the private sector as well as of civil society, the academia, NGOs and international organizations. With an initial expected number of 4 000 participants rising up to over 7 000, the meeting in Buenos Aires was evidence of the momentum generated by this crucial juncture.
Posted: 2009-10-23 at 11:00
200 OK
Buenos Aires, Argentina - “We should not exclude any potential means of mitigating climate change¨ said Jan Heino, Assistant Director General of the Forestry Department at FAO, just as the World Forestry Congress drew to a close on Friday 23 October. In as little as five days, a major exercise of discussion, partnership and knowledge sharing occurred, seeing the involvement of the private sector as well as of civil society, the academia, NGOs and international organizations. With an initial expected number of 4 000 participants rising up to over 7 000, the meeting in Buenos Aires was evidence of the momentum generated by this crucial juncture.
Posted: 2009-10-23 at 11:00
“The planet never needed more than now world forestry management”
Buenos Aires, Argentina - “We should not exclude any potential means of mitigating climate change¨ said Jan Heino, Assistant Director General of the Forestry Department at FAO, just as the World Forestry Congress drew to a close on Friday 23 October. In as little as five days, a major exercise of discussion, partnership and knowledge sharing occurred, seeing the involvement of the private sector as well as of civil society, the academia, NGOs and international organizations. With an initial expected number of 4 000 participants rising up to over 7 000, the meeting in Buenos Aires was evidence of the momentum generated by this crucial juncture.
Posted: 2009-10-23 at 11:00
"We are at the dawn of a new era for forestry"
“Work is under way to prepare for a new future as we are at the dawn of a new era for forestry”, the XIII World Forestry Congress was told on Wednesday by Tim Rollinson, Director General of the UK Forestry Commission, who chaired the Special Forum on Forests and Climate Change.
Posted: 2009-10-21 at 11:00
"We are at the dawn of a new era for forestry"
Buenos Aires, Argentina - “Work is under way to prepare for a new future as we are at the dawn of a new era for forestry”, the XIII World Forestry Congress was told on Wednesday by Tim Rollinson, Director General of the UK Forestry Commission, who chaired the Special Forum on Forests and Climate Change.
Posted: 2009-10-21 at 11:00
"We are at the dawn of a new era for forestry"
Buenos Aires, Argentina - “Work is under way to prepare for a new future as we are at the dawn of a new era for forestry”, the XIII World Forestry Congress was told on Wednesday by Tim Rollinson, Director General of the UK Forestry Commission, who chaired the Special Forum on Forests and Climate Change.
Posted: 2009-10-21 at 11:00
"We are at the dawn of a new era for forestry"
Buenos Aires, Argentina - “Work is under way to prepare for a new future as we are at the dawn of a new era for forestry”, the XIII World Forestry Congress was told on Wednesday by Tim Rollinson, Director General of the UK Forestry Commission, who chaired the Special Forum on Forests and Climate Change.
Posted: 2009-10-21 at 11:00
"We are at the dawn of a new era for forestry"
Buenos Aires, Argentina - “Work is under way to prepare for a new future as we are at the dawn of a new era for forestry”, the XIII World Forestry Congress was told on Wednesday by Tim Rollinson, Director General of the UK Forestry Commission, who chaired the Special Forum on Forests and Climate Change.
Posted: 2009-10-21 at 11:00
President de Kirchner plants tree at the Casa Rosada to open World Forestry Congress
Buenos Aires (Argentina). “In my life, I have planted some 3,000 plants, trees and roses” said President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner while planting a tree in front of the Casa Rosada, seat of the executive branch of the government of Argentina.
The ceremonial act, performed together with Jan Heino, Assistant Director General at the Forestry Department of FAO, officially marked the presidential opening of the XIII World Forestry Congress.
Posted: 2009-10-20 at 11:00
President de Kirchner plants tree at the Casa Rosada to open World Forestry Congress
Buenos Aires (Argentina) - “In my life, I have planted some 3,000 plants, trees and roses” said President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner while planting a tree in front of the Casa Rosada, seat of the executive branch of the government of Argentina.
The ceremonial act, performed together with Jan Heino, Assistant Director General at the Forestry Department of FAO, officially marked the presidential opening of the XIII World Forestry Congress.
Posted: 2009-10-20 at 11:00
President de Kirchner plants tree at the Casa Rosada to open World Forestry Congress
Buenos Aires (Argentina) - “In my life, I have planted some 3,000 plants, trees and roses” said President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner while planting a tree in front of the Casa Rosada, seat of the executive branch of the government of Argentina.
The ceremonial act, performed together with Jan Heino, Assistant Director General at the Forestry Department of FAO, officially marked the presidential opening of the XIII World Forestry Congress.
Posted: 2009-10-20 at 11:00
President de Kirchner plants tree at the Casa Rosada to open World Forestry Congress
Buenos Aires (Argentina) - “In my life, I have planted some 3,000 plants, trees and roses” said President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner while planting a tree in front of the Casa Rosada, seat of the executive branch of the government of Argentina.
The ceremonial act, performed together with Jan Heino, Assistant Director General at the Forestry Department of FAO, officially marked the presidential opening of the XIII World Forestry Congress.
Posted: 2009-10-20 at 11:00
President de Kirchner plants tree at the Casa Rosada to open World Forestry Congress
Buenos Aires (Argentina) - “In my life, I have planted some 3,000 plants, trees and roses” said President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner while planting a tree in front of the Casa Rosada, seat of the executive branch of the government of Argentina.
The ceremonial act, performed together with Jan Heino, Assistant Director General at the Forestry Department of FAO, officially marked the presidential opening of the XIII World Forestry Congress.
Posted: 2009-10-20 at 11:00
Global forest monitoring to help mitigate climate change
Posted: 2009-10-19 at 11:00
Global forest monitoring to help mitigate climate change
Posted: 2009-10-19 at 11:00
Global forest monitoring to help mitigate climate change
Posted: 2009-10-19 at 11:00
Global forest monitoring to help mitigate climate change
Posted: 2009-10-19 at 11:00
News - Unlocking Africa's latent potential in carbon finance: challenges, options and opportunities
These meetings that hinged on the theme of “Unlocking Africa’s Latent Potential in Carbon Finance: Challenges, Options and Opportunities”, were organized in order to discuss the ongoing feasibility study to evaluate options for the establishment of a COMESA Carbon Fund/Facility. The specific objectives were to present and discuss the initial work and preliminary findings of the feasibility study; and to hold consultations with UN-Rome-based agencies, the ILC and other partners to identify areas of co-operation in support of the COMESA Carbon Fund/Facility.
The proposed fund/facility is designed to address the issue of climate change within Africa, including how to unlock the tremendous potential and latent value of Africa’s value resources. This potential lies, inter alia, in Africa’s vast agricultural lands and forests - including drylands.
The fund/facility will facilitate access to international carbon trading markets and manage carbon credit trading for the benefit of COMESA Member States.
The fund/facility was initiated by COMESA and the PTA Bank, and is strongly supported by the Government of Norway, the GM, the Rockefeller Foundation, the World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF), WWF-USA, civil society organizations such as the Food Agriculture and Natural Resources Policy Analysis Network (FANRPAN) and other key development partners.
The positive outcomes of the Rome meeting included:
identification of potential partnership opportunities with UN-Rome-based agencies in support of the proposed COMESA Fund/facility, including the provision of technical support, financial support, project design, and implementation and monitoring support;
enhanced dialogue on the conceptual approach to the Fund/Facility, including how to address challenges posed by land rights/usufructs, land ownership; project finance; bundling small-scale projects, smallholders and community based activities; maximising value of African carbon projects; attracting carbon buyers, attracting African carbon sellers, and addressing sustainable development co-benefits; and
finalization of the roadmap for the feasibility study.
For more information:
Ms Elsie Attafuah, Programme Officer, East and Southern Africa
Tel. +39 06 5459 2577
e.attafuah (at) global-mechanism.org
Posted: 2009-10-19 at 10:50
Forests key pillars of the architecture of sustainable development
Buenos Aires, Argentina. The Opening Ceremony of the XIII World Forestry Congress (WFC) was kicked off by a record amount of 5,200 participants in Buenos Aires on Sunday 18 October.
Julián Dominguez, the newly appointed Argentine Minister of Agriculture, declared the XIII WFC officially open reinforcing FAO’s role as technical advisor to governments. Speakers at the Opening Ceremony used their opportunity to voice the most pressing concerns of the global forestry community.
Posted: 2009-10-18 at 11:00
Forests key pillars of the architecture of sustainable development
Buenos Aires, Argentina - The Opening Ceremony of the XIII World Forestry Congress (WFC) was kicked off by a record amount of 5,200 participants in Buenos Aires on Sunday 18 October.
Julián Dominguez, the newly appointed Argentine Minister of Agriculture, declared the XIII WFC officially open reinforcing FAO’s role as technical advisor to governments. Speakers at the Opening Ceremony used their opportunity to voice the most pressing concerns of the global forestry community.
Posted: 2009-10-18 at 11:00
Forests key pillars of the architecture of sustainable development
Buenos Aires, Argentina - The Opening Ceremony of the XIII World Forestry Congress (WFC) was kicked off by a record amount of 5,200 participants in Buenos Aires on Sunday 18 October.
Julián Dominguez, the newly appointed Argentine Minister of Agriculture, declared the XIII WFC officially open reinforcing FAO’s role as technical advisor to governments. Speakers at the Opening Ceremony used their opportunity to voice the most pressing concerns of the global forestry community.
Posted: 2009-10-18 at 11:00
Forests key pillars of the architecture of sustainable development
Buenos Aires, Argentina - The Opening Ceremony of the XIII World Forestry Congress (WFC) was kicked off by a record amount of 5,200 participants in Buenos Aires on Sunday 18 October.
Julián Dominguez, the newly appointed Argentine Minister of Agriculture, declared the XIII WFC officially open reinforcing FAO’s role as technical advisor to governments. Speakers at the Opening Ceremony used their opportunity to voice the most pressing concerns of the global forestry community.
Posted: 2009-10-18 at 11:00
Forests key pillars of the architecture of sustainable development
Buenos Aires, Argentina - The Opening Ceremony of the XIII World Forestry Congress (WFC) was kicked off by a record amount of 5,200 participants in Buenos Aires on Sunday 18 October.
Julián Dominguez, the newly appointed Argentine Minister of Agriculture, declared the XIII WFC officially open reinforcing FAO’s role as technical advisor to governments. Speakers at the Opening Ceremony used their opportunity to voice the most pressing concerns of the global forestry community.
Posted: 2009-10-18 at 11:00
Event - GM to host Drynet annual meeting
Established in 2007, Drynet represents a network of civil society organizations (CSOs) from 18 countries. Drynet was created to strengthen capacities of CSOs working with marginalized populations whose livelihoods are threatened by drought, desertification and land degradation.
Drynet partners have already made a lasting impact on the policy environment. They have enabled the exchange of information on a range of dryland issues and facilitated CSO participation in decision making at national and international levels.
During the meetings, Drynet partners will discuss their achievements over the last three years and consider opportunities for phase two. They will address the questions: What has been undertaken thus far? What impacts have been made? What are the possibilities for improvement and expansion?
For more information:
Paule Herodote, Civil Society Investments Advisor
Tel. +39 06 5459 2760
p.herodote (at) global-mechanism.org
Eva Schmitz
es (at) bothends.org
Posted: 2009-10-14 at 03:40
News - Land and climate change finance in Central Africa: GM and COMIFAC seek to unlock opportunities
Within this framework the Central Africa Forest Commission (COMIFAC), with support of the GM and together with Ecosecurities, have issued a working paper on “Land and Climate Change Finance in Central Africa” to identify climate change adaptation and mitigation activities in the sub-region, and options for improving access to climate change finance supporting the UNCCD. The study was presented at a side event during COP 9 in Buenos Aires.
Following an introduction by Mr Chouaibou Nchoutpouen, on behalf of the Executive Secretary of COMIFAC that highlighted the role and achievements of the GM/COMIFAC partnership, Mr Robert Tippmann, Associate Director of Ecosecurities, presented the main outcomes of the study. In particular, he highlighted the key recommendations for the Central African sub-region to improve its prospects of accessing climate change-related financing and funding in ways that will support the implementation of the UNCCD, including by drawing on mitigation and adaptation funding opportunities under the UNFCCC.
Mr Gaius Elemga Bolumgu Entanga, Assistant to the UNCCD National Focal Point of the Republic of the Congo, presented the country’s experience in mobilizing climate change financing for sustainable land management (SLM) and gave recommendations for increasing such opportunities. He confirmed the existence of largely untapped renewable resources and limited internal capacity to tap this potential. Ms. Saveis Joze Sadeghian, Advisor to the GM’s Climate Change Strategic Programme presented the capacity building programme of the GM that aims to identify mitigation and adaptation project opportunities for the implementation of UNCCD and has been designed to address these challenges. This initiative is part of the GM’s long-term engagement in Central Africa, which aims at mobilizing financing for SLM
A lively discussion ensued that centred on the emerging opportunities of Central African countries to upscale financing from climate change mechanisms for SLM.
For more information:
Mr Sven Walter, Programme Officer, West and Central Africa
Tel. +39 06 5459 2150
s.walter (at) global-mechanism.org
Ms Saveis Sadeghian, Junior Advisor, Climate Change Programme
Tel. +39 06 5459 2625
s.sadeghian (at) global-mechanism.org
Posted: 2009-10-14 at 08:56
News - Land resources underpin national economies
“The initiative…”, said Mr Alejandro Kilpatrick, GM’s Programme Coordinator for Latin America and the Caribbean and the Climate Change Finance Programme, “…aims to provide a conducive environment for investments in sustainable land management (SLM) by clearly demonstrating the sizeable economic losses incurred due to declining agricultural productivity.”
Convincing finance and planning ministries to channel financial resources into regenerating lands is no easy task, with many sectors competing for the same resources. A major hurdle is the low ranking of land degradation by LAC countries among their development priorities. Compelling facts and figures therefore are needed to convince policy and decision makers that SLM is not merely a technical matter for environmentalists, but a socio-economic priority that helps achieve national development objectives.
ECLAC Director, Jose Luis Samaniego, outlined that the methodology for the assessments is based on a simple approach that is easily replicable and draws on the significant linkages with cross-cutting issues including climate change and migration which have far-reaching implications on countries.
A consortium of stakeholders, including the GM, ECLAC and Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) who were present at the side event, are aiming to build on the lessons from the LAC region, and undertake assessments on a regional and global scale. The consortium also includes CAB International (CABI), Overseas Development Institute (ODI) and Oxford Policy Management (OPM).
It is anticipated that such assessments will provide much-needed factual ammunition to argue along economic lines for increased SLM investments. “Land resources underpin national economies and livelihoods worldwide”, said Professor John Soussan from SEI Asia.
For more information:
Mr Alejandro Kilpatrick, Programme Coordinator, Latin America and the Caribbean and the Climate Change Finance Programme
Tel. +39 06 5459 2524
a.kilpatrick (at) global-mechanism.org
Posted: 2009-10-13 at 01:14
Task Force Side Event at WFC
Posted: 2009-10-12 at 11:00
"The need to adopt integrated, sustainable approaches to land and forest management has never been more urgent"
“By considering forests as an integral part of wider economic and social development goals, we will make giant strides in our efforts to reduce poverty, hunger and malnutrition.”
Read the interview with Dr Jacques Diouf, Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) who will be speaking at the opening Ceremony of the XIII World Forestry Congress in Argentina.
Posted: 2009-10-11 at 11:00
"The need to adopt integrated, sustainable approaches to land and forest management has never been more urgent"
“By considering forests as an integral part of wider economic and social development goals, we will make giant strides in our efforts to reduce poverty, hunger and malnutrition.”
Read the interview with Dr Jacques Diouf, Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) who will be speaking at the opening Ceremony of the XIII World Forestry Congress in Argentina.
Posted: 2009-10-11 at 11:00
"The need to adopt integrated, sustainable approaches to land and forest management has never been more urgent"
“By considering forests as an integral part of wider economic and social development goals, we will make giant strides in our efforts to reduce poverty, hunger and malnutrition.”
Read the interview with Dr Jacques Diouf, Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) who will be speaking at the opening Ceremony of the XIII World Forestry Congress in Argentina.
Posted: 2009-10-11 at 11:00
"The need to adopt integrated, sustainable approaches to land and forest management has never been more urgent"
“By considering forests as an integral part of wider economic and social development goals, we will make giant strides in our efforts to reduce poverty, hunger and malnutrition.”
Read the interview with Dr Jacques Diouf, Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) who will be speaking at the opening Ceremony of the XIII World Forestry Congress in Argentina.
Posted: 2009-10-11 at 11:00
"The need to adopt integrated, sustainable approaches to land and forest management has never been more urgent"
“By considering forests as an integral part of wider economic and social development goals, we will make giant strides in our efforts to reduce poverty, hunger and malnutrition.”
Read the interview with Dr Jacques Diouf, Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) who will be speaking at the opening Ceremony of the XIII World Forestry Congress in Argentina.
Posted: 2009-10-11 at 11:00
World Forestry Congress to meet in Buenos Aires
Posted: 2009-10-09 at 04:00
World Forestry Congress to meet in Buenos Aires
Posted: 2009-10-09 at 04:00
News - Understanding the value of land & the costs of land degradation
The emphasis of the initiative, launched at COP9,is on generating evidence to support sustainable land management (SLM) policies and investments, by demonstrating their existing and potential contribution to national development and poverty reduction. The partners believe that SLM is a fundamental requirement for sustainable development and poverty reduction and, conversely, that existing trends in land degradation are jeopardizing the prospects of many nations for achieving their national development priorities and the MDGs.
The paradox is that this degradation persists despite our knowledge of the solutions: around the world there are examples of effective and sustainable land management practices that can and do prevent and reverse the destruction of ecosystems and livelihoods that land degradation generates. One reason for this paradox is that policies for and investments in SLM have not been perceived as a priority for the allocation of scarce institutional and financial resources in many countries. This, in turn, reflects a limited understanding of the value of land and the potential returns on investments in sustainable land management.
The initiative intends to reverse this through three linked areas of action:
an assessment at the global and regional levels of the inherent values of land resources, based on the appraisal of their ecosystems services potentials, together with estimates of the costs of land degradation;
work at the national level to provide evidence to policy makers on the condition and values of land resources and their role in the livelihoods of different communities, along with the appraisal of the costs and benefits of different sustainable land management practices; and
the development of robust and replicable methodologies for the analysis of the values of land and costs of land degradation with the intention that these methods can be adopted by UNCCD member countries for future use to generate evidence and guide policies and investment decisions.
Several discussions were held with member countries during the COPon the prospects of undertaking national level activities and extremely strong demand for these types of capabilities and analyses was expressed. The initiative will respond by preparing concrete proposals for actions in an agreed group of representative countries from different parts of the world, as well as preparing detailed proposals for the global and regional analyses and the preparation of methodologies.
For more information:
Mr Simone Quatrini, Coordinator, Policy & Investment Analysis
Tel. +39 06 5459 2154
s.quatrini (at) global-mechanism.org
Posted: 2009-10-07 at 01:23
GFIS Side Event at World Forestry Congress
Posted: 2009-10-07 at 09:29
"There isn't a choice between poverty alleviation and stopping deforestation"
“If we could give the correct impression that there isn’t a choice between poverty alleviation and stopping deforestation, I think it would be a very positive contribution to the Copenhagen deliberations.”
Read the interview with Tony Juniper, Special Adviser to The Prince’s Rainforests Project (PRP) and one of England’s best known environmentalists.
Posted: 2009-10-04 at 11:00
"There isn't a choice between poverty alleviation and stopping deforestation"
“If we could give the correct impression that there isn’t a choice between poverty alleviation and stopping deforestation, I think it would be a very positive contribution to the Copenhagen deliberations.”
Read the interview with Tony Juniper, Special Adviser to The Prince’s Rainforests Project (PRP) and one of England’s best known environmentalists.
Posted: 2009-10-04 at 11:00
"There isn't a choice between poverty alleviation and stopping deforestation"
“If we could give the correct impression that there isn’t a choice between poverty alleviation and stopping deforestation, I think it would be a very positive contribution to the Copenhagen deliberations.”
Read the interview with Tony Juniper, Special Adviser to The Prince’s Rainforests Project (PRP) and one of England’s best known environmentalists.
Posted: 2009-10-04 at 11:00
"There isn't a choice between poverty alleviation and stopping deforestation"
“If we could give the correct impression that there isn’t a choice between poverty alleviation and stopping deforestation, I think it would be a very positive contribution to the Copenhagen deliberations.”
Read the interview with Tony Juniper, Special Adviser to The Prince’s Rainforests Project (PRP) and one of England’s best known environmentalists.
Posted: 2009-10-04 at 11:00
News - Proposal on a new UNCCD monitoring system presented to the CRIC
reviewing the performance of country Parties and other reporting entities in the implementation of the strategic and operational objectives of the Ten-Year Strategy of the UNCCD, and
assessing the performance of the Convention’s institutions and subsidiary bodies on the basis of the indicators included in their respective results-based-management (RBM) systems.
The PRAIS proposal foresees the establishment of a comprehensive knowledge-sharing system to manage and organize the information that will be contained in the new generation of UNCCD reports prepared by country Parties and other reporting entities in accordance with the new reporting guidelines that are expected to be adopted at COP9. The proposal also anticipates that the GM will analyse financial flows on the basis of the information originating from the financial annexes to the reports.
Download the official document introducing the PRAIS (pdf, English, 549kb)
Download the official document on the Financial Annex and Programme and Project Sheet (pdf, English, 97kb)
For more information:
Mr Simone Quatrini, Coordinator, Policy & Investment Analysis
Tel. +39 06 5459 2154
s.quatrini (at) global-mechanism.org
Posted: 2009-10-02 at 11:28
News - GM Facilitation Committee moves ahead with SLM portfolio reviews
The proposal, presented by Mr. Simone Quatrini, Coordinator of the GM’s Policy and Investment Analysis Programme, builds on the analytical approach and methodology of the GM developed by the GM for portfolio reviews in collaboration with IFAD, TerrAfrica, the World Bank and the African Development Bank, and on the know-how and experience in conducting portfolio reviews of international financial institutions accumulated since 2005.
The portfolio reviews will enable the FC member organizations to:
measure and compare their levels of investments in SLM;
assess their contributions to the achievement of corporate, national and international goals and priorities;
identify opportunities for leveraging potential synergies and complementarities; and
establish baseline values against which future patterns and trends.
Download the document “Measuring Investments in SLM by FC Member Organizations" (pdf, English 151kb)
For more information:
Mr Simone Quatrini, Coordinator, Policy & Investment Analysis
Tel. +39 06 5459 2154
s.quatrini (at) global-mechanism.org
Posted: 2009-10-02 at 10:41
WFSE Side Event at World Forestry Congress
Posted: 2009-10-02 at 08:10
WFSE Side Event at World Forestry Congress
Posted: 2009-10-02 at 08:10
News - Casting the net wider to attract innovative finance for the UNCCD
“Innovative finance can be defined as finance that is currently not considered as part of the UNCCD context”, said Elisabeth Barsk-Rundquist, the GM’s Director of Strategic Programmes, during a side-event held on 30 September during COP9. “We are looking at a range of sources, mechanisms and related processes – such as climate change, trade, food security and others – that could possibly be channeled to sustainable land management (SLM) and UNCCD implementation”.
But how can these innovative mechanisms be streamlined to fully exploit their potential?
The GM’s work focuses on three areas:
knowledge management, looking in depth at how these mechanisms and processes could function within the UNCCD context;
providing advisory and brokering services at the country level, mobilizing innovative sources and access additional ones; and
fostering an enabling environment, engaging in partnerships and networks at the regional and international levels.
A strategic partnership between the GM and the Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Center (CATIE) is paving the way for enhancing knowledge on the design and implementation of innovative mechanisms such as climate change and trade and market access-related ones.
The GM works with countries to provide incentive schemes with a view to safeguarding land users’ costs related to land degradation. These include:
public payments (e.g. public funds to promote certain land use practices);
open-trade options under regulatory caps (e.g. carbon markets);
self-organized private deals (to be implemented at the local scale through private contracts related directly to the providers of certain ecosystem services); and
sustainable markets and trade, ensuring that a certain product is marketed within environmentally sound criteria (e.g. eco-labeling).
The GM promotes awareness-raising on these schemes through its Designing Integrated Financing Strategies (DIFS) knowledge exchange workshops. An evaluation methodology to capitalize on these new opportunities is currently being piloted in Cameroon and other countries, to facilitate the elaboration of projects and programmes as part of integrated investment frameworks (IIFs).
The objective of the GM’s Market Access and Trade Strategic Programme is to take advantage of trade resources for SLM in order to:
integrate trade finance into the IIF development process; and
include SLM in trade planning and development frameworks.
Aid for Trade (AfT) is an initiative that was launched in 2005 at the sixth World Trade Organization (WTO) Ministerial Conference to enable developing countries to participate in world trade by improving supply-side capacity and trade-related infrastructures, in full compliance with the Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness. One of the mechanisms of the AfT is the Integrated Framework (IF), designed for least developed countries (LDCs) to build trade capacities and integrate trade issues in national strategies.
The GM works to capture financing opportunities from IF and access AfT resources that flow through Official Development Assistance (ODA), AfT-specific funds, Sector-wide approaches (SWAps) and trade financing mechanisms. Because AfT is a policy process, there is a clear need to work at the international level, networking and building partnerships where the trade donors are based, in particular, in Geneva.
Regarding civil society organizations (CSOs), the 10-Year Strategy defines their contribution as an innovative one, even though they have been active partners in the UNCCD for many years. In fact, their role in policy processes and developing partnerships with the public and private actors deserves greater recognition.
The GM believes CSOs can contribute to leveraging more and better resources for SLM by participating in the development of IIFs by improving the effectiveness and coherence of their investments that need to be linked to the national development frameworks. The GM supports CSOs by:
broadening Governments’ understanding their role in the development agenda;
leveraging and mobilizing resources;
facilitating CSO participation in the IFS process and in IIF and National Action Programme (NAP) implementation; and
creating an enabling environment at the (sub)regional and international levels.
All these examples outline GM efforts to mobilize resources from innovative mechanisms. As expressed in its mandate, the GM engages with a variety of UNCCD stakeholders on climate change, trade and civil society issues - not at the technical level, but with a clear view towards boosting financial resources for the Convention.
Download the presentation on trade resources for SLM (pdf, English 187kb)
Download the presentation on market-based mechanisms for SLM (pdf, English 783kb)
Download the presentation on CSOs as financial partners for UNCCD (pdf, English 493kb)
For more information:
Ms Elisabeth Barsk-Rundquist, Director, Strategic Programmes
Tel. +39 06 5459 2471
e.barsk (at) global-mechanism.org
Posted: 2009-10-01 at 03:52
News - Policy options to position land in the emerging climate regime, discussed at COP9
Download the paper “Revitalizing the UNCCD” (pdf, English, 171kb)
Download the MS PowerPoint presentation (pdf, English, 2.6mb)
For more information:
Mr Simone Quatrini, Coordinator, Policy & Investment Analysis
Tel. +39 06 5459 2154
s.quatrini (at) global-mechanism.org
Posted: 2009-10-01 at 11:11
News - Generating sustainable finance for SLM
Given the instrumental role that finance plays in bringing about such change, the article recommends a number of innovative measures to mobilize the requisite level of resources for sustainable land management (SLM). In particular, the creation of market-based mechanisms and insurance schemes are highlighted as viable methods for rewarding responsible land and natural resource management and discouraging unsustainable land use practices.
Download “Generating sustainable finance for SLM” (pdf, English, 45kb)
For more information:
Mr Simone Quatrini, Coordinator, Policy & Investment Analysis
Tel. +39 06 5459 2154
s.quatrini (at) global-mechanism.org
Posted: 2009-09-30 at 03:36
News - Master's course on integrated drylands management launched
The MSc programme that commences in November 2009, aims to enhance the capacity of developing countries to manage their drylands resources. It is designed to provide young professionals and scientists with an international perspective on resource management approaches in drylands.
Students enrolled in the 2009-2010 programme will attend a 4-week intensive course at ICARDA facilities in Aleppo, Syria in November 2009. Upon completion of coursework and approval of research proposals, students will be hosted by one of the partner organizations, where they will carry out their field research. The students are also required to complete a research project in their home country.
The GM will hold lectures and present case studies on integrated financing strategies, economic assessments of land degradation and analyses of funding flows – processes that are instrumental in the mobilization of traditional and innovative financial resources for UNCCD implementation.
It is anticipated that graduates from the M.Sc. programme will serve in government departments and agencies (e.g. those dealing with agriculture, forestry, natural resource management and combating desertification), or hold teaching positions in institutions of higher education, research institutions and doctoral research programmes.
Download the brochure on the MSc programme (pdf, English 932 kb)
For more information:
Mr Simone Quatrini, Coordinator, Policy & Investment Analysis
Tel. +39 06 5459 2154
s.quatrini (at) global-mechanism.org
Posted: 2009-09-30 at 03:20
News - New standards for financial reporting presented at COP9
Download the Financial Annex and Programme and Project Sheet (pdf, English, 1kb)
Download the introductory note (pdf, English 45kb)
For more information:
Mr Simone Quatrini, Coordinator, Policy & Investment Analysis
Tel. +39 06 5459 2154
s.quatrini (at) global-mechanism.org
Posted: 2009-09-30 at 01:32
"The World Forestry Congress founds cooperation on responsibility"
“The continuing loss of forests and forest degradation pose a critical challenge. Research has demonstrated repeatedly that damage to forest ecosystems is significant and is affecting everyone.”
This is the opinion of Jan Heino, Assistant Director General of the Forestry Department at the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, under the auspices of which the World Forestry Congress has been held every six years since 1926.
Posted: 2009-09-29 at 11:00
"The World Forestry Congress founds cooperation on responsibility"
“The continuing loss of forests and forest degradation pose a critical challenge. Research has demonstrated repeatedly that damage to forest ecosystems is significant and is affecting everyone.”
This is the opinion of Jan Heino, Assistant Director General of the Forestry Department at the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, under the auspices of which the World Forestry Congress has been held every six years since 1926.
Posted: 2009-09-29 at 11:00
"The World Forestry Congress founds cooperation on responsibility"
“The continuing loss of forests and forest degradation pose a critical challenge. Research has demonstrated repeatedly that damage to forest ecosystems is significant and is affecting everyone.”
This is the opinion of Jan Heino, Assistant Director General of the Forestry Department at the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, under the auspices of which the World Forestry Congress has been held every six years since 1926.
Posted: 2009-09-29 at 11:00
"The World Forestry Congress founds cooperation on responsibility"
“The continuing loss of forests and forest degradation pose a critical challenge. Research has demonstrated repeatedly that damage to forest ecosystems is significant and is affecting everyone.”
This is the opinion of Jan Heino, Assistant Director General of the Forestry Department at the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, under the auspices of which the World Forestry Congress has been held every six years since 1926.
Posted: 2009-09-29 at 11:00
"The World Forestry Congress founds cooperation on responsibility"
“The continuing loss of forests and forest degradation pose a critical challenge. Research has demonstrated repeatedly that damage to forest ecosystems is significant and is affecting everyone.”
This is the opinion of Jan Heino, Assistant Director General of the Forestry Department at the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, under the auspices of which the World Forestry Congress has been held every six years since 1926.
Posted: 2009-09-29 at 11:00
News - International Land Coalition calls for improved land governance to combat desertification, land degradation and poverty
“Poverty has a rural face,” said Dr. Madiodio Niasse, Director of the ILC. “More than 70% of poor rural people are either landless or are small-scale farmers. We also know that land degradation and desertification are often the result of human behaviour rather than natural causes. In order to develop sustainable solutions, we therefore must examine these anthropogenic causes, and understand the role that failed land governance policies and misguided land allocation practices play in fuelling unsustainable agricultural practices and deforestation. We also must recognize that fair and effective land governance can be a powerful tool for empowering local communities to reverse land degradation trends, increase productivity, and improve their livelihoods.”
The panel discussion featured experts from the global land policy and desertification communities, including intergovernmental organisations and ILC members and civil society organisations from Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Speakers from Pakistan, Nepal, South Africa, and Peru presented case studies of land governance experiences and the challenges and lessons learned in their respective country contexts. Topics presented and discussed included: the linkages between land reform processes and UNCCD objectives; how an innovative land-to-the-tillers programme has helped to increase productivity and improve socio-economic living conditions for the rural poor in Nepal; an example of competition for land resources between local indigenous communities, commercial farmers, and nature conservationists in Namaqualand, South Africa; and indigenous land governance experiences in response to land degradation partly caused by oil mining in the Peruvian Amazon. The floor was then opened for questions and discussion, with participants offering perspectives their home countries.
Winding up the event, the ILC issued two calls for action:
that the COP recognise the importance of land governance in addressing challenges posed by DLDD (Desertification, Land Degradation and Drought) by placing the issue high on the UNCCD agenda, both from a science and policy perspective; and
that the UNCCD support partnerships aimed at designing and implementing practical land governance responses to DLDD challenges, in areas such as action research and the scaling up of best practices.
The event provided a lively exchange of ideas and underscored the fact that improved land governance, access to land, and land tenure security are urgently needed to empower the rural poor to combat desertification and land degradation around the world.
The conference presentations and abstracts can be viewed on the ILC website at www.landcoalition.org
The International Land Coalition is a global alliance of civil society and inter-governmental organisations working together to promote secure and equitable access to land for poor women and men through advocacy, dialogue and capacity building. Its members include UN and other international organisations, farmer organisations, research institutes, NGOs and community-based organisations in over 40 countries.
For more information:
Ms. Natalia Vaccarezza, Communications Officer
International Land Coalition
Tel. +39 06 5459 2644
n.vaccarezza (at) landcoalition.org
Posted: 2009-09-29 at 12:56
News - IFAD grant for 2nd phase of designing integrated financing strategies approved
The second instalment (USD 1.25M) of this two-year grant for a total of USD 2.5M was approved by IFAD’s Executive Board, at its 97th session on Tuesday 16 September 2009. The initiative addresses the emerging challenges and build on the opportunities in particular with regard to adaptation to climate change in least developed countries (LDCs) affected by desertification and drought.
This GM-assisted, country-led development programme was conceived in full coordination with IFAD’s Latin America and Asia and Pacific divisions, and will be jointly implemented. It will generate mutual benefits for IFAD and the GM, in particular as it is consistent with the objectives of the results-based country strategic opportunity programmes (COSOPs) for Brazil, Cambodia, Chile, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Nepal, Peru, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Uruguay.
This second phase comprises four components:
(a) support for the implementation of integrated financing strategies (IFSs) in selected countries of Asia and the Pacific, and Latin America and the Caribbean.
(b) Further design of national-level IFSs in selected countries of Asia and the Pacific, and Latin America and the Caribbean.
(c) mobilization of supplementary funds for IFAD programmes and projects through the development and implementation of climate change/sustainable land management (SLM) components under the IFS; and
(d) knowledge management leading to the establishment of best practices for replication in other regions.
The initiative will scale up IFS design and implementation to include additional countries from the subregions in which DIFS capacity-building and information exchange workshops have been conducted. Partnership financing platforms will be established and climate change/SLM projects developed in countries where the IFS development processes is at an advanced stage. Clearly, harmonization of UNCCD implementation with ongoing national strategies related to climate change is a core component of the IFS process.
For more information:
Mr Aymeric Songy, Junior Advisor, Resource Mobilization & Donor Relations
Tel. +39 06 5459 2558
a.songy (at) global-mechanism.org
Posted: 2009-09-29 at 10:11
News - Denmark and the GM call for climate resilience-oriented land and water management
DANIDA is playing a key role in promoting land and water linkages in increasing resilience to climate change and has been leading the recent “Dialogue on Land and Water Management for Adaptation to climate change” in the run up to UNFCCC COP15. This dialogue resulted in the Nairobi Statement and its five Guiding Principles that constitute a cutting-edge framework for future initiatives and actions on adaptation to climate change.
“Sustainable land management (SLM) can improve the productivity and resilience of agricultural landscapes and increase food security while reducing Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions” said Mr. Eric Fernandes - World Bank’s Advisor for Agriculture and Rural Development, highlighting the untapped potential of SLM in adaptation and mitigation terms, and the multiple benefits for populations living in degraded landscapes.
Other key messages included the urgent need to identify vulnerabilities and assess resilience capacity, along with financing options for action for rural communities that are already experiencing first hand the catastrophic impacts of climate change: Bolivia and Kenya were showcased as two such examples during the side event.
Moreover, the voices of all affected countries must be strengthened in political talks on climate change, and adaptation needs to be brought to the forefront in the COP 15 and in the future development cooperation.
The dialogue initiated by DANIDA goes beyond post-2012 negotiations and also aims to serve to develop a roadmap for mainstreaming land and water mainstreaming into climate change adaptation and mitigation programmes and actions.
According to its mandate and multi-dimensional approach, the GM is committed to the overall dialogue and plays a key role in implementing the principles of the Nairobi Statement. In particular, the GM’s added value falls under the 5th guiding principle on economics and financing, in line with the GM’s objective of ensuring sustained adequate investment flows in SLM though increasing co-financing from climate change mechanisms.
Download the Nairobi Statement (pdf, English, 126kb)
For more information:
Mr Alejandro Kilpatrick, Programme Coordinator, Latin America and the Caribbean and the Climate Change Finance Programme
Tel. +39 06 5459 2524
Ms Saveis Sadeghian, Junior Advisor, Climate Change Investments
Tel. +39 06 5459 2625
s.sadeghian (at) global-mechanism.org
Posted: 2009-09-29 at 09:27
News - The GM and the way ahead
Opening the event, Ms Elisabeth Barsk-Rundquist, Director of Strategic Programmes, explained in detail how the GM is responding to the UNCCD Ten-Year Strategy and its key role in and responsibility for the Operational Objective 5 on finance and technology transfer. The GM is increasing its support for UNCCD implementation at the national level: 64% of its 2010-2011 budget is dedicated to providing direct country support for sustainable land management (SLM) financing.
“COP 9, will have the opportunity to exercise increased oversight over the GM’s Programme of Work and Budget and in monitoring of the Joint Work Programme through the newly instituted result based management system” said Ms. Barsk-Rundquist. “This, in turn, offers a new level of transparency of planned outputs, avoiding overlaps and duplication of work with the secretariat and other international partners.”
In the ensuing interactive dialogue between country Parties and the GM, a number of key issues were raised, including that of the complimentary role of the integrated financing strategy (IFSs) – the GM’s core product – and the UNCCD National Action Programmes (NAPs). By way of clarification, the GM’s Managing Director, Christian Mersmann, highlighted the IFS as a substantive contribution towards the alignment of NAPs, in addition to its primary role of guiding the process leading to an Integrated Investment Framework, as called for by the Ten-Year Strategy.
Mr Alejandro Kilpatrick, the GM’s Climate Change Finance Programme Coordinator, drew attention to the identification of SLM finance from climate change mechanisms at national, subregional and international levels as a fundamental element of the GM’s IFS approach. The GM’s successful cooperation with its host organization, the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), provides an excellent example of the GM’s influence on donor resource allocation in this context. This cooperation has led to the mainstreaming of SLM/climate change issues into IFAD’s Country Strategic Opportunities (COSOP) Paper for Viet Nam, leading to substantive investment into the rehabilitation of degraded land.
The GM engages in climate change dialogue and activities at both national and subregional levels, leading to increased finance by ensuring that SLM related issues are included in the broader debate. The GM’s cooperation and partnership with the Common Market for East and Southern Africa (COMESA) and the Central African Forest Commission (COMIFAC) provide examples in this regard.
With the intention of enhancing country Parties’ capacity to access innovative sources of finance for the implementation of the Convention, the GM is in the process of developing a specific module on climate change for the Designing Integrated Financing Strategy (DIFS) knowledge exchange programme. The GM is currently engaged in supporting 30 countries in all regions, and has substantially increased its subregional support through the DIFS knowledge exchange programmes, in which some 90 country Parties have participated to date.
The GM looks forward to further guidance from country Parties, leading to enhanced transparency and increased impact at the country level with regard to the mobilization of financial resources for UNCCD implementation.
For more information:
Ms Elisabeth Barsk-Rundquist, Director, Strategic Programmes
Tel. +39 06 5459 2471
e.barsk (at) global-mechanism.org
Posted: 2009-09-28 at 02:14
Scientific Summary No. 62, 2009
Posted: 2009-09-28 at 10:41
United Nations Environment Programme''s World Conservation Monitoring Centre Invites Safe Software into Proteus Partnership
September 23, 2009, Cambridge, United Kingdom - The United Nations Environment Programme's World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC) today announced that they have invited Safe Software into their Proteus Partnership, a collaboration of progressive corporate business leaders and the UNEP-WCMC. The goal of Proteus is to provide industry decision makers with access to the best possible data on location and distribution of biodiversity to support risk management and safeguard the Earth's biodiversity and ecosystems.
The UNEP-WCMC helps decision-makers to protect conservation areas and therefore ensure that future generations can enjoy the benefits of biodiversity. To accomplish this, the Centre provides critical information to aid biodiversity assessments and policy support for decision making by compiling data from governments and other sectors around the world and making it globally available.
Posted: 2009-09-26 at 02:57
News - Mali presents progress in developing its country strategic investment framework (CSIF) for sustainable land management (SLM)
Since the first phase of CSIF design was illustrated in November 2008, during the Seventh Session of the CRIC held in Istanbul, Turkey, Mali has moved forward in strengthening its institutional setting in order to prepare the ground for the actual development and implementation of the framework. It has done so by:
establishing a National Coalition for SLM;
adopting a long-term, programmatic approach;
improving the country’s national framework for environmental issues, through strong harmonization and alignment of the range of stakeholders involved in the process (donors, NGOs, communities etc); and
promoting, in cooperation with its partners, an integrated approach for the mobilization of resources for SLM.
The institutional framework has become the reference point for all partners, with which they have agreed to align. In particular, donors including the World Bank, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the German Technical Cooperation (GTZ) and the Global Mechanism (GM) have committed to engaging in a financing approach, based on a code of conduct that centres on the following principles:
alignment of donor interventions to national priorities through acknowledgement of the prime responsibility of the Government;
improved coordination and consistency between donors;
approach oriented to results; and
use of effective mechanisms to mobilize resources, including capacity-building.
Diagnostic analysis was conducted to assess the political, institutional, technical and ecosystems-related settings in order to gain adequate knowledge for the formulation of the CSIF A process of mainstreaming climate change in SLM - a theme recognized as a driver for introducing innovative elements in Mali’s environmental policy – was also completed
The findings of all the studies, including a fully-fledged cost-benefit analysis of SLM practises, suggested the need to increase investments in SLM, including addressing all those constraints that limit its adoption. Such constraints include land tenure issues, lack of local knowledge and insufficient financial resources.
The central Government of Mali joined the TerrAfrica platform with the clear objective of providing the country with a long-lasting, sustainable solution to its environmental concerns. The CSIF will be launched by the end of 2009 and will constitute an important tool for addressing land and natural resource management to reverse the negative trends of land degradation in Mali.
For more information:
Mr François Tapsoba, Regional Financial Advisor for Francophone Africa
f.tapsoba (at) global-mechanism.org
Posted: 2009-09-25 at 03:44
News - Statement by the GM's Managing Director on the JIU evaluation of the GM
Download the Statement (pdf, English, 25kb)
Posted: 2009-09-25 at 01:11
"Climate change: the first step? Educating people and raising their awareness regarding the potential impacts"
"We should act now to curb climate change. We can do it if science, governments, businesses and communities come together and address this pressing issue."
Read the full interview with Balgis Osman-Elasha, Nobel Peace Prize laureate together with theIntergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) who will be a keynote speaker on “Producing for development” at the XIII World Forestry Congress in Argentina.
Posted: 2009-09-24 at 11:00
"Climate change: the first step? Educating people and raising their awareness regarding the potential impacts"
"We should act now to curb climate change. We can do it if science, governments, businesses and communities come together and address this pressing issue."
Read the full interview with Balgis Osman-Elasha, Nobel Peace Prize laureate together with theIntergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) who will be a keynote speaker on “Producing for development” at the XIII World Forestry Congress in Argentina.
Posted: 2009-09-24 at 11:00
"Climate change: the first step? Educating people and raising their awareness regarding the potential impacts"
"We should act now to curb climate change. We can do it if science, governments, businesses and communities come together and address this pressing issue."
Read the full interview with Balgis Osman-Elasha, Nobel Peace Prize laureate together with theIntergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) who will be a keynote speaker on “Producing for development” at the XIII World Forestry Congress in Argentina.
Posted: 2009-09-24 at 11:00
"Climate change: the first step? Educating people and raising their awareness regarding the potential impacts"
"We should act now to curb climate change. We can do it if science, governments, businesses and communities come together and address this pressing issue."
Read the full interview with Balgis Osman-Elasha, Nobel Peace Prize laureate together with theIntergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) who will be a keynote speaker on “Producing for development” at the XIII World Forestry Congress in Argentina.
Posted: 2009-09-24 at 11:00
"Climate change: the first step? Educating people and raising their awareness regarding the potential impacts"
"We should act now to curb climate change. We can do it if science, governments, businesses and communities come together and address this pressing issue."
Read the full interview with Balgis Osman-Elasha, Nobel Peace Prize laureate together with theIntergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) who will be a keynote speaker on “Producing for development” at the XIII World Forestry Congress in Argentina.
Posted: 2009-09-24 at 11:00
REDD: North-South Agreement for New Emissions Reduction Mechanism
Posted: 2009-09-23 at 11:00
REDD: North-South Agreement for New Emissions Reduction Mechanism
Posted: 2009-09-23 at 11:00
REDD on the agenda at UN Summit on Climate Change
Posted: 2009-09-22 at 11:00
Role of forests essential in the climate change debate
Posted: 2009-09-22 at 11:00
REDD on the agenda at UN Summit on Climate Change
Posted: 2009-09-22 at 11:00
News - Updated Relevant Activity Codes (RACs) for UNCCD reporting released
The RACs are derived from the text of the Convention and the Ten Year Strategic Plan to enhance UNCCD implementation, and they are used in the reviews and analysis of project portfolios, as well as in the classification and organization of information for the Financial Information Engine on Land Degradation (FIELD). It is expected that the RACs will facilitate the elaboration of the new generation of reports on UNCCD implementation that will be launched at COP9.
The list of RACs is regularly maintained by GM since 2000 and posted on its website. The current version of the RACs includes more than sixty codes clustered under five main areas:
monitoring and research;
capacity development and planning;
resource management;
mitigation and recovery; and
emergency response.
Download the latest version of the RACs (PDF, English, 68 Kb)
For more information:
Simone Quatrini, Coordinator, Policy and Investment Analysis Programme
Tel. +39 06 5459 2154
s.quatrini (at) global-mechanism.org
Posted: 2009-09-22 at 09:52
News - Jordan and Guatemala showcase their experiences of designing integrated financing strategies
“Twelve per cent of Guatemala’s land is degraded”, said Mr Roberto Motta, the UNCCD National Focal Point, “and this has serious implications on food security”. In 2004, Guatemala in close cooperation with the GM, strengthened its institutional setting through the establishment of a Unit to Combat Desertification and Drought, created within the Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources.
With the instrumental support of the GM, the Unit mobilized an integrated package of resources for the development of an IFS. This package comprised financial support from the Spanish and German cooperation agencies (circa USD 30M) and a contribution of USD 13 million from Mexico. The IFS design phase culminated in the establishment of a Technical Inter-Institutional Group (TIG) - convened together with government institutions, international cooperation agencies, civil society organizations and the private sector - with the specific aim of integrating the IFS process into similar initiatives in the Mesoamerican region.
Mr Hussein Shahine, UNCCD National Focal Point for Jordan then made a presentation of Jordan’s experience in developing the IFS, outlining the various phases, which included:
the endorsement of the NAP by Government;
the mainstreaming of SLM into the National Agenda;
the strengthening of the Government-Donor Coordination Group as well as the NCCD; and
the development of the country’s IIF.
Notably, it was mentioned that prior to the initiation of the IFS design process, around 200 existing projects were already addressing land degradation and desertification. The Government, together with the GM, assessed the whole project package streamlining it in a comprehensive matrix clustering all activities by thematic area. The external sources of funding were also assessed comprehensively through a donor matrix that led to the formulation of a five-year action plan - the core of the IFS - designed using a results-based management approach. The draft IIF was prepared in 2009 with an estimated total amount of USD 664 million spread across 47 national projects.
The experiences presented during this dynamic side event indicate the value of South-to-South knowledge exchange in sharing views on resource mobilization for SLM. Moreover, the Guatemala and Jordan country experiences are an important contribution towards understanding the practical applications of the IFS approach while at the same time illustrating its significant potential in achieving financial packages for SLM projects and programmes.
The GM is very much looking forward to supporting future knowledge sharing initiatives amongst countries from different continents
For more information:
Mr Roshan Cooke, Programme Coordinator, Asia and Pacific
Tel. +39 06 5459 2156
ro.cooke (at) global-mechanism.org
Mr Alejandro Kilpatrick, Programme Coordinator, Latin America and the Caribbean and the Climate Change Finance Programme
Tel. +39 06 5459 2524
a.kilpatrick (at) global-mechanism.org
Posted: 2009-09-22 at 12:58
"Forest plantations in the tropics can help create employment particularly in rural areas"
“The world needs more effective and focused international action on tropical forests. That will help reduce poverty, protect biodiversity and also mitigate the effects of climate change.”
Emmanuel Ze Meka, ITTO’s Executive President, will be urging more effective and focused international action on tropical forests at the XIII World Forestry Congress.
Posted: 2009-09-21 at 11:00
Role of forests essential in the climate change debate
Posted: 2009-09-21 at 11:00
"Forest plantations in the tropics can help create employment particularly in rural areas"
“The world needs more effective and focused international action on tropical forests. That will help reduce poverty, protect biodiversity and also mitigate the effects of climate change.”
Emmanuel Ze Meka, ITTO’s Executive President, will be urging more effective and focused international action on tropical forests at the XIII World Forestry Congress.
Posted: 2009-09-21 at 11:00
"Forest plantations in the tropics can help create employment particularly in rural areas"
“The world needs more effective and focused international action on tropical forests. That will help reduce poverty, protect biodiversity and also mitigate the effects of climate change.”
Emmanuel Ze Meka, ITTO’s Executive President, will be urging more effective and focused international action on tropical forests at the XIII World Forestry Congress.
Posted: 2009-09-21 at 11:00
"Forest plantations in the tropics can help create employment particularly in rural areas"
“The world needs more effective and focused international action on tropical forests. That will help reduce poverty, protect biodiversity and also mitigate the effects of climate change.”
Emmanuel Ze Meka, ITTO’s Executive President, will be urging more effective and focused international action on tropical forests at the XIII World Forestry Congress.
Posted: 2009-09-21 at 11:00
"Forest plantations in the tropics can help create employment particularly in rural areas"
“The world needs more effective and focused international action on tropical forests. That will help reduce poverty, protect biodiversity and also mitigate the effects of climate change.”
Emmanuel Ze Meka, ITTO’s Executive President, will be urging more effective and focused international action on tropical forests at the XIII World Forestry Congress.
Posted: 2009-09-21 at 11:00
Event - Arid zone forests' contribution to biodiversity conservation, combating desertification and sustainable livelihoods
Spearheaded by the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO), this side event will assess the real impact of current programmes, discuss how to upscale lessons learned and increase outreach and knowledge-sharing, and explore options for a networking mechanism for practitioners and stakeholders working in drylands to address the inherent environmental and socio-economic challenges.
One expected output is synergy between the UNCBD, the UNCCD and the UNFCCC on this theme and the formulation of a joint position, in order to raise the profile of dryland forests in Convention negotiations – including the forthcoming Climate Change COP in Copenhagen in December 2009.
Download the Side Event Flyer & Agenda (pdf, English, 166MB)
For more information:
Ms Nora Berrahmouni
Email: Nora.Berrahmouni (at) fao.org
Posted: 2009-09-21 at 09:47
Biodiversity indicators need greater investment
The world could be doing better at tracking change in biodiversity and what it means for people. That is the conclusion of a UNEP-WCMC report and a paper in the journal Science, both published today.
The Convention on Biological Diversity has adopted a suite of indicators to measure progress towards its 2010 biodiversity target, and support to the delivery of these indicators is being provided by the 2010 Biodiversity Indicators Partnership (2010 BIP), a group of 40+ international agencies co-ordinated by UNEP-WCMC, But in a review of progress. the partners found that whilst major advances have been made there were still significant gaps in the development of the indicators and the content of the indicator framework at national, regional and global scales.
Lessons learned from the 2010 indicators process were considered by a group of 70 international experts at a workshop convened by UNEP-WCMC and the Secretariat of the CBD and hosted by the British Government in Reading, UK in July this year. The group identified a range of measures to improve indicator development and use that will help governments as they agree a new post 2010 biodiversity target and indicator framework next year.
Posted: 2009-09-18 at 11:30
Biodiversity indicators need greater investment
The world could be doing better at tracking change in biodiversity and what it means for people. That is the conclusion of a UNEP-WCMC report and a paper in the journal Science, both published today./p>
The Convention on Biological Diversity has adopted a suite of indicators to measure progress towards its 2010 biodiversity target, and support to the delivery of these indicators is being provided by the 2010 Biodiversity Indicators Partnership (2010 BIP), a group of 40+ international agencies co-ordinated by UNEP-WCMC, But in a review of progress. the partners found that whilst major advances have been made there were still significant gaps in the development of the indicators and the content of the indicator framework at national, regional and global scales.
Lessons learned from the 2010 indicators process were considered by a group of 70 international experts at a workshop convened by UNEP-WCMC and the Secretariat of the CBD and hosted by the British Government in Reading, UK in July this year. The group identified a range of measures to improve indicator development and use that will help governments as they agree a new post 2010 biodiversity target and indicator framework next year.
Posted: 2009-09-18 at 11:14
Biodiversity indicators need greater investment
The world could be doing better at tracking change in biodiversity and what it means for people. That is the conclusion of a UNEP-WCMC report and a paper in the journal Science, both published today./p>
The Convention on Biological Diversity has adopted a suite of indicators to measure progress towards its 2010 biodiversity target, and support to the delivery of these indicators is being provided by the 2010 Biodiversity Indicators Partnership (2010 BIP), a group of 40+ international agencies co-ordinated by UNEP-WCMC, But in a review of progress. the partners found that whilst major advances have been made there were still significant gaps in the development of the indicators and the content of the indicator framework at national, regional and global scales.
Lessons learned from the 2010 indicators process were considered by a group of 70 international experts at a workshop convened by UNEP-WCMC and the Secretariat of the CBD and hosted by the British Government in Reading, UK in July this year. The group identified a range of measures to improve indicator development and use that will help governments as they agree a new post 2010 biodiversity target and indicator framework next year.
Posted: 2009-09-18 at 10:53
Biodiversity indicators need greater investment
The world could be doing better at tracking change in biodiversity and what it means for people. That is the conclusion of a UNEP-WCMC report and a paper in the journal Science, both published today./p>
The Convention on Biological Diversity has adopted a suite of indicators to measure progress towards its 2010 biodiversity target, and support to the delivery of these indicators is being provided by the 2010 Biodiversity Indicators Partnership (2010 BIP), a group of 40+ international agencies co-ordinated by UNEP-WCMC, But in a review of progress. the partners found that whilst major advances have been made there were still significant gaps in the development of the indicators and the content of the indicator framework at national, regional and global scales.
Lessons learned from the 2010 indicators process were considered by a group of 70 international experts at a workshop convened by UNEP-WCMC and the Secretariat of the CBD and hosted by the British Government in Reading, UK in July this year. The group identified a range of measures to improve indicator development and use that will help governments as they agree a new post 2010 biodiversity target and indicator framework next year.
Posted: 2009-09-18 at 10:53
"Forest management: role of state essential for sustainable development"
“In times of global financial and economic crisis and globalization of economy, the role of state forest management is essential for the sustainable development of society and the attainment of the goals formulated in United Nations Millennium Declaration.”
This is the opinion of Alexey Savinov, Head of the Russian Federal Forestry Agency who will be speaking at the opening session of the XIII World Forestry Congress in Argentina.
Posted: 2009-09-16 at 11:00
"Forest management: role of state essential for sustainable development"
“In times of global financial and economic crisis and globalization of economy, the role of state forest management is essential for the sustainable development of society and the attainment of the goals formulated in United Nations Millennium Declaration.”
This is the opinion of Alexey Savinov, Head of the Russian Federal Forestry Agency who will be speaking at the opening session of the XIII World Forestry Congress in Argentina.
Posted: 2009-09-16 at 11:00
"Forest management: role of state essential for sustainable development"
“In times of global financial and economic crisis and globalization of economy, the role of state forest management is essential for the sustainable development of society and the attainment of the goals formulated in United Nations Millennium Declaration.”
This is the opinion of Alexey Savinov, Head of the Russian Federal Forestry Agency who will be speaking at the opening session of the XIII World Forestry Congress in Argentina.
Posted: 2009-09-16 at 11:00
"Forest management: role of state essential for sustainable development"
“In times of global financial and economic crisis and globalization of economy, the role of state forest management is essential for the sustainable development of society and the attainment of the goals formulated in United Nations Millennium Declaration.”
This is the opinion of Alexey Savinov, Head of the Russian Federal Forestry Agency who will be speaking at the opening session of the XIII World Forestry Congress in Argentina.
Posted: 2009-09-16 at 11:00
ACP-FLEGT Support Programme: First call for proposals
The Forest Policy and Economics Division has launched the Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade Support Programme for African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP-FLEGT) countries by issuing the first call for pilot projects and technical assistance proposals.
The four-year initiative has two main components: providing assistance to ACP countries in putting the European Union FLEGT Action Plan into practice, and supporting the collection, analysis and dissemination of FLEGT-related information and lessons learned among stakeholder groups in ACP countries.
Posted: 2009-09-13 at 11:00
ACP-FLEGT Support Programme: First call for proposals
The Forest Policy and Economics Division has launched the Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade Support Programme for African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP-FLEGT) countries by issuing the first call for pilot projects and technical assistance proposals.
The four-year initiative has two main components: providing assistance to ACP countries in putting the European Union FLEGT Action Plan into practice, and supporting the collection, analysis and dissemination of FLEGT-related information and lessons learned among stakeholder groups in ACP countries.
Posted: 2009-09-13 at 11:00
“Amazonia: The challenge of developing a forest policy more in tune with the Brazilian context."
“At regional and global levels, especially in inland Amazonia and other regions in southern central Brazil, if the rate of deforestation is not reduced, removal of plant cover can affect rainfall, as has been scientifically demonstrated.”
Read the interview with Dr Jose Carlos Carvalho, the State Secretary for Environment and Sustainable Development of Minas Gerais, who will be taking part in the World Forestry Congress as keynote speaker on “Organizing forest development”.
Posted: 2009-09-08 at 11:00
“Amazonia: The challenge of developing a forest policy more in tune with the Brazilian context."
“At regional and global levels, especially in inland Amazonia and other regions in southern central Brazil, if the rate of deforestation is not reduced, removal of plant cover can affect rainfall, as has been scientifically demonstrated.”
Read the interview with Dr Jose Carlos Carvalho, the State Secretary for Environment and Sustainable Development of Minas Gerais, who will be taking part in the World Forestry Congress as keynote speaker on “Organizing forest development”.
Posted: 2009-09-08 at 11:00
“Amazonia: The challenge of developing a forest policy more in tune with the Brazilian context."
“At regional and global levels, especially in inland Amazonia and other regions in southern central Brazil, if the rate of deforestation is not reduced, removal of plant cover can affect rainfall, as has been scientifically demonstrated.”
Read the interview with Dr Jose Carlos Carvalho, the State Secretary for Environment and Sustainable Development of Minas Gerais, who will be taking part in the World Forestry Congress as keynote speaker on “Organizing forest development”.
Posted: 2009-09-08 at 11:00
“Amazonia: The challenge of developing a forest policy more in tune with the Brazilian context."
“At regional and global levels, especially in inland Amazonia and other regions in southern central Brazil, if the rate of deforestation is not reduced, removal of plant cover can affect rainfall, as has been scientifically demonstrated.”
Read the interview with Dr Jose Carlos Carvalho, the State Secretary for Environment and Sustainable Development of Minas Gerais, who will be taking part in the World Forestry Congress as keynote speaker on “Organizing forest development”.
Posted: 2009-09-08 at 11:00
UNEP-WCMC AND CBD SECRETARIAT STRENGTHEN LINKS FOR THE PREPARATION OF THE 2010 NAGOYA BIODIVERSITY SUMMIT
Further steps have been taken to strengthen the support provided by UNEP-WCMC to the implementation of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). Dr. Jon Hutton, Director, UNEP-WCMC, and Dr. Ahmed Djoghlaf. Executive Secretary of the CBD on 3 September signed a Memorandum of Cooperation in London that sets out a work programme of cooperation between the Convention and UNEP-WCMC.
The multi-year programme of work builds on an agreement established in March 2006, on the existing collaboration between UNEP-WCMC and the CBD Secretariat and Parties in order to bring the technical and capacity building expertise within UNEP-WCMC to bear on the improved implementation of the Convention. The cooperation aims to enhance, in particular, the preparation of the tenth meeting of the CBD Conference of the Parties to be held in Nagoya, Japan, in October 2010.
Further InformationPosted: 2009-09-07 at 12:14
News - Towards a Subregional, South-to-South Partnership and Financing Platform
Africa’s undeniable potential to combat poverty and promote sustainable land management (SLM) needs to be tapped in the context of South-to-South cooperation.
This was the essence of the final recommendations of the international experts’ meeting that addressed the substance and the architecture of the South-to-South Partnership and Financing Platform for the Community of Sahel-Saharan States’ (CEN-SAD) programmes to combat desertification, promote rural development, agriculture and integrated water management.
The platform, which is the linchpin of the cooperation agreement between CENSAD and the Global Mechanism (GM) portrays itself as a forum for cooperation, coordination and harmonization of actions and synergies between the subregional stakeholders that include the African Maghreb Union (AMU), the West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA), the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and CEN-SAD. The platform will also contribute to the exchange of experiences and capacity building within the region, above all as a result of the South-to-South cooperation dynamics that have emerged under the GM’s SolArid programme.
By promoting the flow and exchange of information on bilateral, multilateral and innovative financing opportunities, the platform will increase coordination and synergy between the initiatives of the sub-region’s stakeholders’, thus strengthening their response capacity.
A Steering Committee has been created for the platform, consisting of CENSAD, the regional Economic Communities, the GM and other institutions active in the region. The Steering Committee will draw up an action plan to be submitted to the 4th meeting of the Ministers of Agriculture, Water and Environment, that will be held in Tripoli, Libya, towards the end of 2009.
For more information:
Mr Youssef Brahimi, Programme Coordinator, North Africa & South-to-South Cooperation
Tel. +39 06 5459 2584
y.brahimi (at) global-mechanism.org
Posted: 2009-09-01 at 03:48
News - xxx
C’est le sens des recommandations finales de la réunion internationale d’experts qui s’est penchées sur le contenu et l’architecture de la plateforme de partenariat Sud-Sud et de financement des programmes de lutte contre la désertification, développement rural, agriculture et eau de la Communauté des Etats Sahélo-Sahariens (la CENSAD).
Cette plateforme, au centre de l’accord de coopération Mécanisme Mondial-CENSAD, est proposée comme un espace de concertation et de coordination et d’harmonisation des actions et de synergie entre les acteurs sous-régionaux tels que lÚnion du Maghreb arabe (l'UMA), la Communauté économique des États de lÁfrique (l’UMEOA), la Communauté Économique des Etats de l'Afrique de l'
Ouest (la CEDEAO) et la CENSAD. Elle devra également contribuer à l’échange d’expérience et au renforcement des capacités de la région, grace notamment à la coopération sud-sud développée par le programme SolArid du MM.
En favorisant le flux d’échange d’information sur les opportunités de financement bilatérales, multilatérales ainsi que sur les potentialités de sources novatrices, la Plateforme favorisera la coordination et la synergie entre les différentes initiatives entreprises par les acteurs de la sous-région et renforcera ainsi la capacité de réponse des acteurs concernés.
Un Comité d’Orientation de la Plateforme a été défini. Il comprendra la CENSAD, les Communautés Économiques Régionales, le MM ainsi que d’autres institutions concernées de la région. Il tiendra sa première session en septembre 2009 et le Plan d’Action qu’il aura élaboré sera soumis à la 4ième réunion des Ministres de l’Agriculture, de l’Eau et de l’Environnement qui se tiendra à Tripoli à la fin de l’année 2009.
Pour de plus amples informations:
M. Youssef Brahimi
Coordonnateur de programme pour l'Afrique du Nord et Coopération Sud-Sud
Tél. +39 06 5459 2584
y.brahimi (at) global-mechanism.org
Posted: 2009-09-01 at 10:31
News - Denmark and GM step-up cooperation on climate change resilience
Attention focused on the implications for the UNCCD of the recent Nairobi Statement on Land and Water Management for Adaptation to Climate Change, in particular Guiding Principle No.5 on “Economics and Financing”, related to the economic and social benefits of adaptation actions and the call for increased investments from innovative mechanisms.
The Danish Ministry for Foreign Affairs is taking the lead in promoting the critical importance of land and water linkages in increasing resilience to climate change by initiating a “Dialogue on Land and Water Management for Adaptation to climate change” in collaboration with international and national partners.
The Nairobi Statement is a major preliminary result of this dialogue, which aims to tackle existing problems in land and water management to build resilience to climate change; strengthen institutions for land and water management; improve global climate impact models; and increase financing targeted towards the most vulnerable people. Sea-level rise and climate variability - which threaten to displace millions of people in the developing world, with huge economic and ecological costs - impact primarily through the land and water system.
A side-event will be held at the ninth session of the Conference of Parties (COP 9) in Buenos Aires, to foster a debate on the Nairobi Guiding Principles and the resulting opportunities for the Convention.
The Government of Denmark and the Global Mechanism are currently in negotiations with regard to a significant financial contribution towards the implementation of the GM’s programme of work and budget for 2010-2011, in recognition of the emerging challenges and opportunities, in particular for climate change adaptation in least developed countries affected by desertification and drought.
For more information:
Mr Alejandro Kilpatrick, Coordinator, the Climate Change Finance Programme
Tel. +39 06 5459 2524
a.kilpatrick (at) global-mechanism.org
Posted: 2009-08-28 at 04:16
Event - Cameroon national finance workshop
The workshop, which will bring together key stakeholders across various sectors, aims to exchange knowledge and build capacity on how to upscale finance for SLM. DIFS workshops are becoming a key instrument for the GM and its partners to better position the UNCCD at country level in order to influence decision-making on finance.
The approach aims to enhance co-operation and co-ordination between the various stakeholders in preparing for the next step in accessing finance, namely the establishment and implementation of an integrated financing strategy (IFS). The IFS guides the process towards an SLM integrated investment framework, as called for by the Ten-Year Strategy.
To anchor the GM’s IFS concept firmly in the Cameroonian context, the GM has engaged five national consultants to undertake and present analysis during the workshop on key issues including:
(i) mainstreaming SLM into major policy processes;
(ii) an assessment of the costs of inaction of SLM;
(iii) an analysis of potential domestic resources;
(iv) identification of innovative financing mechanisms for SLM; and
(v) an analysis of the current institutional framework for the UNCCD and how to strengthen the National Coordinating Body.
It is fully anticipated that the work conducted will provide workshop participants with an understanding of the practical opportunities for accessing SLM finance, whilst stimulating highly fruitful debate.
For further information:
Mr Sven Walter, Programme Officer, West and Central Africa
Tel. +39 06 5459 2150
s.walter (at) global-mechanism.org
Ms Camilla Nordheim-Larsen, Financial Strategy Officer
Tel. +39 06 5459 2061
c.nordheim-larsen (at) global-mechanism.org
Posted: 2009-08-28 at 10:06
News - New publication on climate change finance and Sustainable Land Management released
The publication was developed as a summary of the presentations made during a panel discussion held as a side-event during the latest Committee on the Review of the Implementation of the Convention (CRIC7) that took place in Istanbul, Turkey, in November 2008. GTZ and the GM had already released a publication on the same theme in June 2008.
The panel discussion was an opportunity to assess all existing and potential tools and financing mechanisms available, as well as to understand how to link desertification or SLM projects and programmes to climate change (i.e. adaptation and mitigation) finance.
The publication seeks to build on this discussion by tackling key questions related to finance for the UNCCD through climate change mechanisms, including:
What existing finance opportunities in mitigation and adaptation are of relevance to the UNCCD?
Are Clean Development Mechanisms (CDMs), the post-Kyoto regime for REDD (reducing emissions from deforestation and degradation) as well as other similar processes such as the voluntary carbon markets, the only financing windows available?
What are the newest sources of money available for adaptation and mitigation, especially for UNCCD-relevant sectors like land-use, rural sector and agriculture?
The path towards climate change finance for SLM is multi-faceted and requires an integrated approach allowing all development partners to be aware of - and exploit - all existing mechanisms and windows.
One of the biggest challenges for an effective post-2012 climate agreement will be to widen its coverage beyond mitigation to adaptation, and to embrace sustainable land use - included avoided deforestation - in a far broader and more effective fight against global warming. “The negotiators must explicitly incorporate agriculture, forestry and other land uses (or AFOLU) so as to ensure that the financial mechanisms that emerge will be conducive to supporting SLM-related activities as valuable measures to mitigate and adapt to climate change” said Mr Alejandro Kilpatrick, the GM’s Coordinator for the Climate Change strategic programme.
Download the publication "Accessing climate-change finance for SLM - Real-world opportunities (PDF, English, 4.3 Mb)
Download the publication "Climate Change Financing - Fresh Resources for SLM or Re-labelling?" (PDF, English, 948 Kb)
For more information:
Mr Alejandro Kilpatrick, Programme Coordinator, Latin America and the Caribbean and the Climate Change Finance Programme
Tel. +39 06 5459 2524
a.kilpatrick (at) global-mechanism.org
Posted: 2009-08-27 at 02:04
Event - COP 9: Ninth Session of the Conference of Parties
It is fully anticipated that COP 9 will generate a dynamic and highly constructive debate on a number of key issues including:
a review of the Convention bodies’ work programmes;
the UNCCD communication strategy;
a discussion on regional coordination mechanisms;
the format for future CRICs and reporting guidelines; and
the Joint Inspection Unit assessment of the Global Mechanism (GM).
The GM will have an exhibition space during the course of the two-week event where there will be opportunities to speak with staff members about the GM’s programmes, products and outreach activities. As part of the new “GM Green Events Programme”, which aims to make the GM more climate neutral by keeping printed materials to a minimum, the GM will also be distributing “Greenstick” USB pen drives containing the GM’s most recent publications, brochures and fact sheets.
To cover the GM’s involvement throughout the session, a dedicated, live GM webpage on COP will be launched with news articles and events posted on a daily basis.
For further information:
Mr Maurizio Navarra
Communications Coordinator
Tel. +39 06 5459 2512
m.navarra (at) global-mechanism.org
Posted: 2009-08-26 at 02:19
First shoots of Haiti’s agricultural renaissance
Posted: 2009-08-20 at 12:00
First shoots of Haiti’s agricultural renaissance
Posted: 2009-08-20 at 12:00
"This relationship of being part of nature should be an example for western culture to follow."
“This relationship and feeling of being part of nature and not opposed to it should be an example for western culture to follow.”
By resolution 49/214 of 23 December 1994, the General Assembly of the United Nations decided to celebrate the International Day of the World’s Indigenous People on 9 August every year. Among other things, this event also recognizes the achievements and contributions that indigenous people make to addressing such worldwide issues as environmental protection. Read the interview with Macuxi leader Euclides Pereira, who will be speaking on behalf of indigenous peoples worldwide at the XIII World Forestry Congress.
Posted: 2009-08-17 at 11:00
"This relationship of being part of nature should be an example for western culture to follow."
“This relationship and feeling of being part of nature and not opposed to it should be an example for western culture to follow.”
By resolution 49/214 of 23 December 1994, the General Assembly of the United Nations decided to celebrate the International Day of the World’s Indigenous People on 9 August every year. Among other things, this event also recognizes the achievements and contributions that indigenous people make to addressing such worldwide issues as environmental protection. Read the interview with Macuxi leader Euclides Pereira, who will be speaking on behalf of indigenous peoples worldwide at the XIII World Forestry Congress.
Posted: 2009-08-17 at 11:00
"This relationship of being part of nature should be an example for western culture to follow."
“This relationship and feeling of being part of nature and not opposed to it should be an example for western culture to follow.”
By resolution 49/214 of 23 December 1994, the General Assembly of the United Nations decided to celebrate the International Day of the World’s Indigenous People on 9 August every year. Among other things, this event also recognizes the achievements and contributions that indigenous people make to addressing such worldwide issues as environmental protection. Read the interview with Macuxi leader Euclides Pereira, who will be speaking on behalf of indigenous peoples worldwide at the XIII World Forestry Congress.
Posted: 2009-08-17 at 11:00
"This relationship of being part of nature should be an example for western culture to follow."
“This relationship and feeling of being part of nature and not opposed to it should be an example for western culture to follow.”
By resolution 49/214 of 23 December 1994, the General Assembly of the United Nations decided to celebrate the International Day of the World’s Indigenous People on 9 August every year. Among other things, this event also recognizes the achievements and contributions that indigenous people make to addressing such worldwide issues as environmental protection. Read the interview with Macuxi leader Euclides Pereira, who will be speaking on behalf of indigenous peoples worldwide at the XIII World Forestry Congress.
Posted: 2009-08-17 at 11:00
Noticias 1/2009
Posted: 2009-08-17 at 07:00
Greening the World''s Multi Trillion Dollar Investments Gets Asset Managers and Legal Backing
UNEP-Supported Report Says Ignoring Environmental, Social and Governance Issues May Open Door to Court Cases
Geneva/Nairobi/Sydney, 14 July 2009 - A powerful group of asset managers, representing around USD 2 trillion in assets under management, are arguing that integrating environmental, social and governance (ESG) considerations into investment decisions is no longer just a luxury, but a legal responsibility.
The case, outlined in a new report with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), underlines how the world's largest institutional investors-such as pension funds, insurance companies, sovereign wealth funds, mutual funds and foundations-have a central role in assisting the transition to a low carbon and resource efficient Green Economy.
Posted: 2009-08-14 at 06:51
A new on-line system to view and study the worlds marine protected areas
8 June 2009, Cambridge - At a time when the world's oceans are facing unprecedented pressures from human impacts in the marine environment,a new decision-making tool is being launched to provide the most current and relevant information about marine and coastal biodiversity and its protection status.
Posted: 2009-08-06 at 08:55
News - Official COP documents released
The documents are:
• The 2-Year Work Programme (2010-2011);
• The 4-Year Work Plan (2010-2013);
• The Programme performance report of the GM.
The English versions of the documents can be downloaded from this page.
Versions in other UN languages will be available on the UNCCD Secretariat’s website as soon as translation has been completed by UN conference services.
For more information:
Ms Elisabeth Barsk-Rundquist, Director, Strategic Programmes
Tel. +39 06 5459 2471
e.barsk (at) global-mechanism.org
Posted: 2009-08-03 at 11:09
"This single-biggest thing if you’re in forestry is keeping the forest.”
“This single-biggest thing in trying to address climate change if you’re in forestry is keeping the forest.”
Listen to Avrim Lazar, President & CEO of FPAC (Forest Products Association of Canada) and keynote speaker on Forests and Climate Change at the XIII World Forestry Congress in Argentina.
Posted: 2009-07-30 at 11:00
The wildland fire problem - an integrated approach to reduce fire losses
Posted: 2009-07-30 at 11:00
The wildland fire problem - an integrated approach to reduce fire losses
Posted: 2009-07-30 at 11:00
"This single-biggest thing if you’re in forestry is keeping the forest.”
“This single-biggest thing in trying to address climate change if you’re in forestry is keeping the forest.”
Listen to Avrim Lazar, President & CEO of FPAC (Forest Products Association of Canada) and keynote speaker on Forests and Climate Change at the XIII World Forestry Congress in Argentina.
Posted: 2009-07-30 at 11:00
"This single-biggest thing if you’re in forestry is keeping the forest.”
“This single-biggest thing in trying to address climate change if you’re in forestry is keeping the forest.”
Listen to Avrim Lazar, President & CEO of FPAC (Forest Products Association of Canada) and keynote speaker on Forests and Climate Change at the XIII World Forestry Congress in Argentina.
Posted: 2009-07-30 at 11:00
"This single-biggest thing if you’re in forestry is keeping the forest.”
“This single-biggest thing in trying to address climate change if you’re in forestry is keeping the forest.”
Listen to Avrim Lazar, President & CEO of FPAC (Forest Products Association of Canada) and keynote speaker on Forests and Climate Change at the XIII World Forestry Congress in Argentina.
Posted: 2009-07-30 at 11:00
WILDFIRES
Science in Action - BBC
Posted: 2009-07-30 at 11:00
WILDFIRES
Science in Action - BBC
Posted: 2009-07-30 at 11:00
WILDFIRES
Science in Action - BBC
Posted: 2009-07-30 at 11:00
Scientific Summary No. 61, 2009
Posted: 2009-07-28 at 12:26
Scientific Summary No. 60, 2009
Posted: 2009-07-28 at 12:22
The wildland fire problem
Posted: 2009-07-27 at 09:00
The wildland fire problem
Posted: 2009-07-27 at 09:00
The wildland fire problem - an integrated approach to reduce fire losses
Posted: 2009-07-26 at 11:00
The wildland fire problem - an integrated approach to reduce fire losses
Posted: 2009-07-26 at 11:00
"Planted forests: responsible use of resources."
“In Brazil, there are 1.7 million ha planted with eucalyptus or pine trees. Some 50,000 families are already benefiting from practicing small-scale agriculture there – whilst the planet benefits from the responsible use of resources.”
This is the opinion of Elizabeth de Carvalhaes, Executive President of BRACELPA (Brazilian Pulp and Paper Association) and keynote speaker on “Producing for Development” at the XIII World Forestry Congress in Argentina.
Posted: 2009-07-16 at 11:00
"Planted forests: responsible use of resources."
“In Brazil, there are 1.7 million ha planted with eucalyptus or pine trees. Some 50,000 families are already benefiting from practicing small-scale agriculture there – whilst the planet benefits from the responsible use of resources.”
This is the opinion of Elizabeth de Carvalhaes, Executive President of BRACELPA (Brazilian Pulp and Paper Association) and keynote speaker on “Producing for Development” at the XIII World Forestry Congress in Argentina.
Posted: 2009-07-16 at 11:00
"Planted forests: responsible use of resources."
“In Brazil, there are 1.7 million ha planted with eucalyptus or pine trees. Some 50,000 families are already benefiting from practicing small-scale agriculture there – whilst the planet benefits from the responsible use of resources.”
This is the opinion of Elizabeth de Carvalhaes, Executive President of BRACELPA (Brazilian Pulp and Paper Association) and keynote speaker on “Producing for Development” at the XIII World Forestry Congress in Argentina.
Posted: 2009-07-16 at 11:00
"Planted forests: responsible use of resources."
“In Brazil, there are 1.7 million ha planted with eucalyptus or pine trees. Some 50,000 families are already benefiting from practicing small-scale agriculture there – whilst the planet benefits from the responsible use of resources.”
This is the opinion of Elizabeth de Carvalhaes, Executive President of BRACELPA (Brazilian Pulp and Paper Association) and keynote speaker on “Producing for Development” at the XIII World Forestry Congress in Argentina.
Posted: 2009-07-16 at 11:00
News - Streamlining country-driven SLM efforts in African island developing states
This workshop, held in Victoria, Seychelles, from 26 to 29 May, was one of four sub-regional DIFS workshops in Africa in 2009, jointly-organized in the context of a partnership between the GM, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), which aims to harmonize the three institutions’ financial and technical support to the sub-region with a view to increasing the scale, efficiency and effectiveness of investments in SLM.
The event brought together some 20 delegates from Comoros, Mauritius, Madagascar and Seychelles to enhance their skills and foster knowledge exchange on designing IFSs. This approach, developed and advocated by the GM, is a process-oriented method of guiding resource mobilization efforts towards an integrated investment framework (IIF) that meets the specific, long-term needs of each developing country Party to the UNCCD.
Didier Dogley, Secretary General of the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources of the Seychelles, underscored how, in the current financial crisis, it is crucial for IFSs to be operationalized with maximum effectiveness through partnership. He stressed how these strategies must be an integral part of the countries’ National Action Programmes to combat desertification (UNCCD/NAPs) and the need to promote sustainable land management in the sub-region. His words were echoed by Rebecca Loustau-Lalanne, UNDP, Seychelles, who declared that “fighting land degradation should be a global priority”.
For more information
Mr Évariste Nicolétis
Programme Officer, West and Central Africa and South-to-South Cooperation
Tel. +39 06 5459 2647
e.nicoletis (at) global-mechanism.org
Download the article on the DIFS workshop published in the Seychelles Nation (pdf, French, 243 KB)
Download the GM’s Opening Statement (pdf, French 104 KB)
Download the results of the participants’ survey (pdf, French, 64 KB)
Posted: 2009-07-13 at 12:53
Scientific Summary No. 59, 2009
Posted: 2009-06-29 at 01:53
Scientific Summary No. 58, 2009
Posted: 2009-06-29 at 11:43
"Ours is a unique industry when it comes to mitigating climate change."
“We have all the elements in our industry, the willingness and the potential to contribute, to be part of the solution to climate change.”
Teresa Presas, Managing Director of CEPI (Confederation of European Paper Industries), will be a key-note speaker on Opportunities for Development at the XIII World Forestry Congress in Argentina.
Posted: 2009-06-17 at 11:00
"Ours is a unique industry when it comes to mitigating climate change."
“We have all the elements in our industry, the willingness and the potential to contribute, to be part of the solution to climate change.”
Teresa Presas, Managing Director of CEPI (Confederation of European Paper Industries), will be a key-note speaker on Opportunities for Development at the XIII World Forestry Congress in Argentina.
Posted: 2009-06-17 at 11:00
"Ours is a unique industry when it comes to mitigating climate change."
“We have all the elements in our industry, the willingness and the potential to contribute, to be part of the solution to climate change.”
Teresa Presas, Managing Director of CEPI (Confederation of European Paper Industries), will be a key-note speaker on Opportunities for Development at the XIII World Forestry Congress in Argentina.
Posted: 2009-06-17 at 11:00
"Ours is a unique industry when it comes to mitigating climate change."
“We have all the elements in our industry, the willingness and the potential to contribute, to be part of the solution to climate change.”
Teresa Presas, Managing Director of CEPI (Confederation of European Paper Industries), will be a key-note speaker on Opportunities for Development at the XIII World Forestry Congress in Argentina.
Posted: 2009-06-17 at 11:00
News - Partnering to regenerate lands in West Africa: GM and ECOWAS conclude agreement
Cooperation between the two institutions is set within the context of their support to the implementation of UNCCD National and Subregional Action Programmes (NAPs and SRAPs) to combat desertification and drought.
Through the cooperation agreement, the GM and ECOWAS aim to support the elaboration of resource mobilization strategies and promote innovative approaches to finance sustainable land management (SLM) programmes. The institutions will work together to integrate SLM into the regional and national Agricultural Investment Programmes that are part of the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) in West Africa.
The agreement aims to strengthen the capacities of stakeholders in accessing innovative sources of funding including emerging financing opportunities stemming from the synergies between climate change and land degradation. In addition, the GM and ECOWAS will cooperate on the Great Green Wall initiative of the Sahara and the Sahel, which takes cross-sectoral actions to conserve natural resources with a view to improving rural livelihoods, strengthening infrastructure and reducing poverty.
The GM and ECOWAS see this new parntership as a fundamental contribution towards knowledge management and information exchange on SLM financing in the West Africa region within the framework of South-to-South cooperation.
Download press release in French (PDF, 56 KB)
For more information:
Mr Youssef Brahimi
Programme Coordinator, North Africa & South-to-South Cooperation
Tel. +39 06 5459 2584
y.brahimi (at) global-mechanism.org
Posted: 2009-06-11 at 01:56
The Natural Fix? The role of ecosystems in climate mitigation
The report, the fifth in UNEP's 'rapid response assessment' series, looks beyond forests and the REDD debates to the potential of natural and agricultural ecosystems to capture and store carbon. It examines the potential for gaining multiple benefits for livelihoods and ecosystem services through managing ecosystem carbon and considers the implications for policy.
Posted: 2009-06-11 at 12:14
A new on-line system to view and study the world''s marine protected areas
8 June 2009, Cambridge - At a time when the world's oceans are facing unprecedented pressures from human impacts in the marine environment, a new decision-making tool is being launched to provide the most current and relevant information about marine and coastal biodiversity and its protection status.
This marine protected areas tool (www.wdpa-marine.org), created by the United Nations Environment Programme's World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC) with the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), is part of the recently redeveloped World Database on Protected Areas (WDPA) - the authoritative and most globally comprehensive list of marine and terrestrial protected areas.
This new system allows users to view information on marine protected areas in their web browser, to visualise them in Google Earth, to download data, to bring together other important data like species and ecosystem information into the same portal and more.
The WDPA-Marine comes as nations, communities and people around the globe mark World Oceans Day - a day designated by the United Nations to raise awareness of the current challenges faced by the international community in connection with the oceans and to seek solutions such as those offered through the establishment of marine protected areas.
Posted: 2009-06-08 at 08:59
Vital Forest Graphics
Over the last few years, two key environmental issues, closely related, have been on the top of the environmental agenda: climate change and deforestation. Forest is a subject for these two concerns. Deforestation, estimated at above 13 millions hectares a year, or an area roughly equivalent to the size of Greece, has immediate consequence in terms detraction of livelihoods for people, increased carbon emissions, and loss of biological diversity to mention few.
Most of the forest cover losses are taking place in developing countries, in particular in South America, Africa and South-East Asia. One of the root causes behind deforestation is the weak governance structure for forest conservation and sustainable management of forest resources. This applies particularly to public-owned forests that represent over 80 percent of the global forest cover.
One of the recent mechanisms to battle deforestation through attaching economic value to the carbon stored in the forest was launched in Montreal in 2006. The “Reduce Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation” (REDD) initiative is already part of the international negotiations on climate change. However, understanding real values of losses and gains of forests still needs improvement.
Posted: 2009-06-08 at 06:00
"Forests: fundamental for the balance between carbon emission and carbon absorption"
In the era of global warming, forests are a fundamental requirement for the balance between carbon emission and carbon absorption.
Read the full interview with Professor Swaminathan, key-note speaker on Trees and Forests in Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) at the XIII World Forestry Congress.
Posted: 2009-06-07 at 11:00
Vital Forest Graphics
Over the last few years, two key environmental issues, closely related, have been on the top of the environmental agenda: climate change and deforestation. Forest is a subject for these two concerns. Deforestation, estimated at above 13 millions hectares a year, or an area roughly equivalent to the size of Greece, has immediate consequence in terms detraction of livelihoods for people, increased carbon emissions, and loss of biological diversity to mention few.
Most of the forest cover losses are taking place in developing countries, in particular in South America, Africa and South-East Asia. One of the root causes behind deforestation is the weak governance structure for forest conservation and sustainable management of forest resources. This applies particularly to public-owned forests that represent over 80 percent of the global forest cover.
One of the recent mechanisms to battle deforestation through attaching economic value to the carbon stored in the forest was launched in Montreal in 2006. The “Reduce Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation” (REDD) initiative is already part of the international negotiations on climate change. However, understanding real values of losses and gains of forests still needs improvement.
Posted: 2009-06-07 at 11:00
"Forests: fundamental for the balance between carbon emission and carbon absorption"
In the era of global warming, forests are a fundamental requirement for the balance between carbon emission and carbon absorption.
Read the full interview with Professor Swaminathan, key-note speaker on Trees and Forests in Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) at the XIII World Forestry Congress.
Posted: 2009-06-07 at 11:00
"Forests: fundamental for the balance between carbon emission and carbon absorption"
In the era of global warming, forests are a fundamental requirement for the balance between carbon emission and carbon absorption.
Read the full interview with Professor Swaminathan, key-note speaker on Trees and Forests in Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) at the XIII World Forestry Congress.
Posted: 2009-06-07 at 11:00
"Forests: fundamental for the balance between carbon emission and carbon absorption"
In the era of global warming, forests are a fundamental requirement for the balance between carbon emission and carbon absorption.
Read the full interview with Professor Swaminathan, key-note speaker on Trees and Forests in Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) at the XIII World Forestry Congress.
Posted: 2009-06-07 at 11:00
News - Land and Climate: European Commission and GM target action
The contribution is being made under EC’s “Environment and sustainable management of natural resources including energy” (ENRTP) thematic programme for the period 2007-2010. This four-year strategy dedicates resources to support developing countries and partner organizations in addressing environmental and natural resource management issues related to combating climate change, tackling land degradation and desertification, and protecting biodiversity.
The GM strongly advocates such a comprehensive approach that generates cross-cutting environmental benefits by addressing climate change and land degradation in tandem, as pursued by the ENRTP strategy and EC’s Global Climate Change Alliance (GCCA) objectives.
Indeed, through the priority action, “Integrating Climate Change Finance into Sustainable Land Management Investment Strategies”, the GM will seek to support countries through the following specific objectives:
efficiently integrate climate change related financing into national processes leading to investment frameworks supporting SLM;
build capacity to identify, formulate and implement financially feasible mitigation and adaptation projects in the agricultural, rural and land use sectors to benefit SLM and UNCCD implementation; and
make available expertise and knowledge on the applicability of current and/or emerging adaptation and mitigation financing mechanisms in developing countries to support the international UNCCD and United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) policy dialogue.
For more information:
Mr Alejandro Kilpatrick
Coordinator, Climate Change Programme
Tel. +39 06 5459 2524
a.kilpatrick@global-mechanism.org
Ms Saveis Joze Sadeghian
Advisor, Climate Change Programme
Tel. +39 06 5459 2625
s.sadeghian@global-mechanism.org
Posted: 2009-06-05 at 10:52
Your Planet Needs You!
Millions of people around the world Unite to Combat Climate Change for World Environment Day 2009
Monday 1 June 2009 - People around the world will unite for the planet on 5 June for World Environment Day 2009, with a strong call for environmental action just six months before the crucial United Nations climate change talks in Copenhagen.
This year's theme is 'Your Planet needs You! Unite to combat climate change' - a topic that reflects everyone's individual responsibility to protect the planet, as well as the urgency for nations to agree on a new climate change deal in December.
World Environment Day is truly a People's Day: it is the chance for everyone, young and old, with their community or with close friends, to show that they care for the planet.
This year's host is Mexico, reflecting the country's growing role in the fight against climate change - with its increasingly strong participation in global carbon markets, its massive tree planting campaigns and its natural resource management.
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said: "On this World Environment Day. I encourage all people to take concrete steps toward making the planet greener and cleaner. Switch off the lights. Take public transportation. Recycle. Plant a tree. Clean up your local park. Hold corporations responsible for their environmental practices. And urge your government representatives to Seal the Deal in Copenhagen."
Achim Steiner, UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme, said: "I am delighted that Mexico and its people will be the 2009 global hosts of the annual United nations celebrations on 5 June under the theme 'Your Planet Needs You! Unite to Combat Climate Change'. Mexico is among a group of nations showing real leadership on the challenges of our age - from climate change to bringing environmental goods and services into the mainstream of national and international economics."
World Environment Day is a truly global event, and as such it will be celebrated on every continent - from remote villages to sprawling capitals. Here are some of the highlights of this year's celebration.
Posted: 2009-06-03 at 08:51
Scientific Summary No. 57, 2009
Posted: 2009-05-28 at 06:43
UNEP completes fieldwork in the Gaza Strip
Gaza Strip/Nairobi, 21 May 2009 - A team of experts from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is leaving the region today after completing fieldwork in the Gaza Strip on Tuesday, as part of a post-conflict environmental assessment undertaken following the escalation of hostilities there in December 2008 and January 2009.
Conducted at the request of its Member States, the UNEP assessment aims to examine the natural and environmental impacts on the Gaza Strip caused by the recent hostilities, and to make concrete recommendations for rehabilitation.
The fieldwork phase of the assessment was carried out by a multi-disciplinary team of eight UNEP experts, who spent ten days in Gaza from 10 to 19 May. The main sectors under investigation were waste and waste water, the coastal and marine environment, and solid and hazardous waste management, including asbestos.
Travelling extensively across the Gaza Strip, the UNEP team undertook walkover inspections of some 32 sites to assess environmental impacts and collect samples for laboratory analysis. The team also collected data for an economic evaluation of the cost of rehabilitation and restoration of the environmental damage in Gaza.
Sites visited included residential areas, schools, industrial areas, sewage facilities, landfills and the coastline, where detailed sampling of water and sediments, bio-indicators, asbestos and waste water was conducted.
Samples collected on the ground will be sent to an independent international laboratory and analysed in the coming weeks. Together with concrete recommendations for rehabilitation, the findings of the assessment will be published in a UNEP Post-Conflict Environmental Assessment report during the summer.
Download Full Press ReleasePosted: 2009-05-27 at 09:50
The United Nations Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre will launch a new 2010 Biodiversity Indicators Partnership website
On 22 May 2009: the 16th International Day for Biological Diversity
Cambridge, UK (Date) - The 2010 Biodiversity Indicators Partnership (2010 BIP) is a global initiative, funded by the Global Environmental Facility (GEF) that brings together over 40 international organizations to develop biodiversity indicators and assess biodiversity loss, The 2010 BIP Secretariat, hosted by the UNEP-World Conservation Monitoring Centre, will launch a new version of its website on the International Day for Biological Diversity: 22 May 2009.
The website will be a unique portal to provide comprehensive information on global biodiversity indicators and trends; with an emphasis on reporting towards the "2010 Biodiversity Target".
The theme of 2009 International Day for Biological Diversity (IDB) is Invasive Alien Species - which present one of the greatest threats to biodiversity and the ecological and economic well-being of society. Each year the cost of damage caused by invasive species is estimated to be in the region of US$ 1.4 trillion. (Information: Global Invasive Species Programme, www.gisp.org).
This year's International Day for Biological Diversity marks the countdown to the publication of the third edition of the Global Biodiversity Outlook (GBO-3). The publication will be launched on IDB (22 May) 2010, which has been designated as the International Year of Biodiversity the United Nations, Over the next year the 2010 BIP partners will be working together to produce indicator results and storylines for inclusion in this publication.
In April 2002, 191 nations committed themselves to "achieve by 2010 a significant reduction of the current rate of biodiversity loss at the global, regional and national level as a contribution to poverty alleviation and to the benefit of all life on Earth" at the 6th Conference of Parties (COP) to the Convention on Biological Diversity. The 2010 Biodiversity Indicators Partnership was established in a response to this target, to develop and promote the biodiversity indicators selected by the CBD for measuring progress towards this target.
The 2010 Biodiversity Indicators Partnership is a global initiative to track progress towards achieving the "2010 biodiversity target" to significantly reduce the rate of biodiversity loss by 2010.
The 2010 BIP is a collaboration of over 40 international organizations and agencies developing global biodiversity indicators and is the leading source of information on trends in global biodiversity.
The three main objectives of the 2010 BIP are:
- To generate information on biodiversity trends that is useful to decision makers.
- To ensure improved global biodiversity indicators are implemented and available.
- To establish links between biodiversity initiatives at the regional and national levels to enable capacity building and improve the delivery of the biodiversity indicators.
Posted: 2009-05-26 at 11:07
ACP-FLEGT Support Programme announces opportunties for direct assistance to governement institutions
Posted: 2009-05-25 at 11:00
ACP-FLEGT Support Programme announces opportunties for direct assistance to governement institutions
Posted: 2009-05-25 at 11:00
ACP-FLEGT Support Programme announces opportunties for direct assistance to governement institutions
Posted: 2009-05-25 at 11:00
Initiatives - Tchémsou
Posted: 2009-05-20 at 05:47
Event - Land Day
The event provides the opportunity for climate change negotiators to consider in depth the linkages between climate change and desertification, land degradation and drought.
Discussions will focus on the contribution of sustainable land management to climate change adaptation and climate change mitigation and adaptation through soil carbon sequestration and will consider ways to enable low-income natural resource users to access the low-carbon economy.
Participants will include: Rattan Lal, Ohio State University; Paul Vlek, University of Bonn; Bo Kjellén, former Chief negotiator in the Ministry of Environment, Sweden; Daniel Martino, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change; and Roberto Acosta, United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
Land Day is sponsored by: the German Federal Ministry for Cooperation and Economic Development (BMZ); Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ); and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC): and is being organized in partnership with the Global Mechanism (GM) of the UNCCD; the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO); the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED); and the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD).
For more information and contact details:
Download the flyer (pdf, English, 716kb)
Posted: 2009-05-18 at 05:34
Join urban forest data standardization team
Posted: 2009-05-18 at 02:37
UNEP Year Book 2009: New Science and Developments in Our Changing Environment
The UNEP Year Book 2009 presents work in progress on scientific understanding of global environmental change, as well as foresight about possible issues on the horizon. The aim is to raise awareness of the inter-linkages among environmental issues that can accelerate the rates of change and threaten human wellbeing.
The UNEP Year Book 2009 examines in six chapters new science and developments, and discusses the cumulative effects expected from degradation of ecosystems, the release of substances harmful to those ecosystems and to human health, the consequences of our changing climate, the continued human and economic loss resulting from disasters and conflicts, and the overexploitation of resources. It calls for an intensified sense of urgency for responsible governance in the face of approaching critical thresholds and tipping points.
Available for download
English full report
- Download High Res (96 MB)
- Download Low Res (2.29 MB)
Français full report
- Download High Res (5.54 MB)
- Download Low Res (1.85 MB)
Español full report
- Download High Res (4.72 MB)
- Download Low Res (1.87 MB)
Russian full report
- Download High Res (6.03 MB)
- Download Low Res (2.00 MB)
Arabic full report
- Download High Res (5.77 MB)
- Download Low Res (1.89 MB)
Chinese full report
- Download High Res (9.08 MB)
- Download Low Res (2.57 MB)
Posted: 2009-05-14 at 07:05
Scientist Support Package
Posted: 2009-05-14 at 03:01
UNEP Year Book 2009: New Science and Developments in Our Changing Environment
The UNEP Year Book 2009 presents work in progress on scientific understanding of global environmental change, as well as foresight about possible issues on the horizon. The aim is to raise awareness of the inter-linkages among environmental issues that can accelerate the rates of change and threaten human wellbeing.
The UNEP Year Book 2009 examines in six chapters new science and developments, and discusses the cumulative effects expected from degradation of ecosystems, the release of substances harmful to those ecosystems and to human health, the consequences of our changing climate, the continued human and economic loss resulting from disasters and conflicts, and the overexploitation of resources. It calls for an intensified sense of urgency for responsible governance in the face of approaching critical thresholds and tipping points.
Available for download
English full report
- Download High Res (96 MB)
- Download Low Res (2.29 MB)
Français full report
- Download PDF (5.7 MB)
Español full report
- Download PDF (4.8 MB)
Russian full report
- Download PDF (6.2 MB)
Arabic full report
- Download PDF (6.0 MB)
Chinese full report
- Download PDF (9.3 MB)
Posted: 2009-05-12 at 09:45
UNEP Year Book 2009: New Science and Developments in Our Changing Environment
The UNEP Year Book 2009 presents work in progress on scientific understanding of global environmental change, as well as foresight about possible issues on the horizon. The aim is to raise awareness of the inter-linkages among environmental issues that can accelerate the rates of change and threaten human wellbeing.
The UNEP Year Book 2009 examines in six chapters new science and developments, and discusses the cumulative effects expected from degradation of ecosystems, the release of substances harmful to those ecosystems and to human health, the consequences of our changing climate, the continued human and economic loss resulting from disasters and conflicts, and the overexploitation of resources. It calls for an intensified sense of urgency for responsible governance in the face of approaching critical thresholds and tipping points.
Available for download
- English full report (96 MB)
- Français full report (5.7 MB)
- Español full report (4.8 MB)
- Russian full report (6.2 MB)
- Arabic full report (6.0 MB)
- Chinese full report (9.3 MB)
Posted: 2009-05-12 at 06:35
Unasylva No. 231/232
Posted: 2009-05-11 at 11:00
Unasylva No. 231/232
Posted: 2009-05-11 at 11:00
Unasylva No. 231/232
Posted: 2009-05-11 at 11:00
2009 State of the World's Forests
Posted: 2009-05-11 at 11:00
2009 State of the World's Forests
Posted: 2009-05-11 at 11:00
2009 State of the World's Forests
Posted: 2009-05-11 at 11:00
Unasylva No. 231/232
Posted: 2009-05-11 at 11:00
2009 State of the World's Forests
Posted: 2009-05-11 at 11:00
Cristina Fernández to be ambassador of the XIII World Forestry Congress (WFC)
Posted: 2009-05-11 at 06:00
Cristina Fernández to be ambassador of the XIII World Forestry Congress (WFC)
Posted: 2009-05-10 at 11:00
UNFF takes note of Assessment Report
Posted: 2009-05-06 at 09:15
Scientific Summary No. 56, 2009
Posted: 2009-04-30 at 11:36
Scientific Summary No. 55, 2009
Posted: 2009-04-30 at 11:32
Scientist Support Package
Posted: 2009-04-23 at 03:01
Side event of the XIII World Forestry Congress at the UNFF-8, New York
Posted: 2009-04-21 at 06:00
ASEAN Workshop on Harmonization of Reporting to Biodiversity-related Conventions
Representatives of seven countries of the ASEAN region as well as of the Australian Government Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts and of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands gathered in Hanoi, Vietnam, from 15-17 April 2009, for a workshop on harmonization of reporting to biodiversity-related conventions. The workshop was facilitated by the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity in cooperation with UNEP-WCMC and hosted by the Vietnam Environment Administration. The goal of the workshop was to provide a venue to develop a framework to harmonize national reporting to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), Convention on Migratory Species (CMS), Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, and World Heritage Convention. A strong focus was put on building the capacity of the ASEAN countries to improve and streamline national reporting as an output of implementation of global conventions. The fourth national reports to the CBD, which were due at the end of March, as well as joint reporting on inland waters to the Ramsar Convention and the CBD, were also highlighted. UNEP-WCMC contributed with an overview of global initiatives for harmonization of reporting and facilitated a training session on tools and approaches to harmonization. For more information, see http://www.aseanbiodiversity.org/.
Posted: 2009-04-20 at 09:05
IUFRO Press Release
Posted: 2009-04-17 at 01:00
News - Spain allocates 1 million euros to combating desertification through the UNCCD
Against this backdrop, on 16 March 2009, Christian Mersmann, Managing Director of the Global Mechanism (GM) of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) and Juan Pablo de Laiglesia, Director of the Spanish Agency for International Cooperation and Development (AECID) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) whereby the Government of Spain allocated 500 000 euros to the GM, as part of its 1 million Euro contribution to the UNCCD.
Spain’s contribution will be used for:
cooperation programmes in Honduras, the Dominican Republic, Mauritania, Peru and Haiti;
setting up the Mesoamerican Investment Platform for Sustainable Land Management (PIMAST);
developing and implementing initiatives to address climate change and land degradation; and
supporting the GM’s South-to-South Cooperation Programme – SolArid – which is currently operational in Algeria, Morocco, the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Tunisia, Burkina Faso, Mali, Mauritania, Níger, Senegal and Chad.
For more information:
Mr Aymeric Songy
Donor Cooperation Advisor
Tel. +39 06 5459 2558
a.songy (at) global-mechanism.org
Posted: 2009-04-06 at 08:47
?14 million Finland/FAO forestry programme - Data collection and management skills for developing country forestry
Posted: 2009-04-01 at 06:00
€14 million Finland/FAO forestry programme - Data collection and management skills for developing country forestry
Posted: 2009-03-31 at 11:00
Side event of the XIII World Forestry Congress at the UNFF-8, New York
Posted: 2009-03-30 at 11:00
New publication: Global review of forest pests and diseases - FAO Forestry Paper 156
Posted: 2009-03-30 at 06:00
New publication: Global review of forest pests and diseases - FAO Forestry Paper 156
Posted: 2009-03-29 at 11:00
Scientific Summary No. 54, 2009
Posted: 2009-03-27 at 04:48
€14 million Finland/FAO forestry programme
Posted: 2009-03-26 at 11:00
€14 million Finland/FAO forestry programme
Posted: 2009-03-26 at 11:00
Now online: Unasylva 231/232 ? Adapting to climate change
Posted: 2009-03-26 at 06:00
$18 Million Approved Under UN-REDD Programme
Posted: 2009-03-20 at 06:00
Forestry in a new economic climate
Posted: 2009-03-17 at 06:00
Regional Capacity Development Workshop for Central Asia, Ramsar, Iran, 9-13 March 2009
The Regional Capacity Development Workshop for Central Asia on National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs) and the Mainstreaming of Biodiversity co-hosted by the Department of the Environment and the Ramsar Regional Center for Central and Western Asia, took place in Ramsar City of Iran from 9 to 12 March 2009. It was organized by the CBD Secretariat and brought together more than 20 participants including representatives from following member countries of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO): Azerbaijan, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.
The overall purpose of the Workshop was to strengthen national capacities for the development, implementation, reviewing and updating NBSAPs and the integration of biodiversity concerns into relevant sectors, through exchange of experiences; and to provide an opportunity for countries to identify ways and means for overcoming challenges in the implementation of NBSAPs. The field trip of the workshop also provided valuable insights in the link between biodiversity conservation and development.
UNEP-WCMC Senior Advisor, Asghar M. Fazel served as facilitator of the Workshop, and along with David Cooper (SCBD), Christian Prip (UNU), Mehrasa Mehrdadi (IUCN/NFP) and Mostafa Panahi (IAU), they gave numerous presentations on introducing tools for the preparation of the fourth national reports, progress towards the 2010 Biodiversity Target, the Clearing House Mechanism of the Convention and the Conservation Commons, national reports feed into the 3rd Global Biodiversity Outlook, integrated planning of protected areas and economic valuation of ecosystem services.
Additional information about the Workshop can be found at: http://www.cbd.int/nbsap/workshops/central-asia.shtml
Please contact asghar.fazel@unep-wcmc.org or david.cooper@cbd.int for further information.
Posted: 2009-03-16 at 10:17
The Environmental Food Crisis: The Environment's Role in Averting Future Food Crisis (2009)
The Environmental Food Crisis: The Environment's Role in Averting Future Food Crises (2008)
A new rapid response assessment report released by UNEP warns that up to 25% of the world's food production may become lost due to environmental breakdown by 2050 unless action is taken. Prepared by the Rapid Response Assessment Team at UNEP/GRID-Arendal and UNEP-WCMC, the report provides the first summary by the UN of how climate change, water stress, invasive pests and land degradation may impact world food security, food prices and life on the planet and how we may be able to feed the world in a more sustainable manner. The report concludes that we need to get smart and more creative about recycling food wastes and fish discards into animal feed. While major efforts have gone into increasing efficiency in the traditional energy sector, food energy efficiency has received too little attention.
Download (PDF File)
View Electronic Book
Posted: 2009-03-16 at 06:38
UNEP Year Book 2009: New Science and Developments in Our Changing Environment
The UNEP Year Book 2009 presents work in progress on scientific understanding of global environmental change, as well as foresight about possible issues on the horizon. The aim is to raise awareness of the inter-linkages among environmental issues that can accelerate the rates of change and threaten human wellbeing.
The UNEP Year Book 2009 examines in six chapters new science and developments, and discusses the cumulative effects expected from degradation of ecosystems, the release of substances harmful to those ecosystems and to human health, the consequences of our changing climate, the continued human and economic loss resulting from disasters and conflicts, and the overexploitation of resources. It calls for an intensified sense of urgency for responsible governance in the face of approaching critical thresholds and tipping points.
Available for download
English full report
- Download High Res (96 MB)
- Download Low Res (2.29 MB)
Français full report
- Download High Res (5.7 MB)
- Download Low Res (5.7 MB)
Español full report
- Download High Res (4.8 MB)
- Download Low Res (5.7 MB)
Russian full report
- Download High Res (6.2 MB)
- Download Low Res (5.7 MB)
Arabic full report
- Download High Res (6.0 MB)
- Download Low Res (5.7 MB)
Chinese full report
- Download High Res (9.3 MB)
- Download Low Res (5.7 MB)
Posted: 2009-03-16 at 06:00
Forestry in a new economic climate
Posted: 2009-03-16 at 09:00
Forestry in a new economic climate
Posted: 2009-03-16 at 09:00
Forests and the global economy: 10 million new jobs
Posted: 2009-03-10 at 09:00
Forests and the global economy: 10 million new jobs
Posted: 2009-03-10 at 09:00
Forests and the global economy: 10 million new jobs
Posted: 2009-03-10 at 06:00
World Forest Week / COFO 2009
Posted: 2009-03-10 at 06:00
UNEP-WCMC AND CBD SECRETARIAT STRENGTHEN LINKS FOR THE PREPARATION OF THE 2010 NAGOYA BIODIVERSITY SUMMIT
Further steps have been taken to strengthen the support provided by UNEP-WCMC to the implementation of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). Dr. Jon Hutton, Director, UNEP-WCMC, and Dr. Ahmed Djoghlaf. Executive Secretary of the CBD on 3 September signed a Memorandum of Cooperation in London that sets out a work programme of cooperation between the Convention and UNEP-WCMC.
The multi-year programme of work builds on an agreement established in March 2006, on the existing collaboration between UNEP-WCMC and the CBD Secretariat and Parties in order to bring the technical and capacity building expertise within UNEP-WCMC to bear on the improved implementation of the Convention. The cooperation aims to enhance, in particular, the preparation of the tenth meeting of the CBD Conference of the Parties to be held in Nagoya, Japan, in October 2010.
Further InformationPosted: 2009-03-09 at 11:25
FAO Forestry side event on mountain water at the 5th world water forum
Posted: 2009-03-09 at 06:00
New research shows a global trend in nature-based tourism
A new study published this week found that many nations throughout the world are seeing continued annual increases in visitors to their
conservation areas.
The research, a collaboration between scientists at the University of Cambridge, WWF-US and UNEP-WCMC and published on 29th June in the journal PLoS Biology, found that in 15 of the 20 countries for which information was available there was an increase in the number of visitors to their nature reserves. This has important implications for nations who are reliant on nature-related tourism to generate funds for conservation, as well as for engaging the public about the importance of conserving biodiversity.
Posted: 2009-03-07 at 12:25
Rethinking the value of planted forests
Posted: 2009-02-27 at 09:00
Rethinking the value of planted forests
Posted: 2009-02-27 at 09:00
Rethinking the value of planted forests
Posted: 2009-02-27 at 06:00
Alfred John Leslie 5 February 1921 - 24 January 2009
Posted: 2009-02-26 at 06:00
Scientific Summary No. 53, 2009
Posted: 2009-02-25 at 07:47
UNEP-WCMC launches the State of the World's Protected Areas 2007: An annual review of global conservation progress.
Protected Areas Programme is proud to launch the 2007 State of the World's Protected Areas Report, the first in what will be a regular series of analyses to better understand progress being made in relation to global conservation targets such as those under the Convention on Biological Diversity.
This report was designed to highlight protected area accomplishments made at local, national, regional and global levels using information from the World Database on Protected Areas and other sources. Local protected areas are featured alongside reviews focused on marine and terrestrial protection, efforts to protect the high seas, of which less than 1% are currently protected, and social aspects of protected area management such as livelihoods impacts.
Other highlights include a global analysis of the management effectiveness of protected areas, indicating that although most regions still fall well below the 30% effectiveness target set by the CBD, progress is being made in this area. The value of protected areas is also strengthened through an analysis of global carbon stocks demonstrating that 15.2% of the earth's terrestrial carbon stores are found within the protected area network.
We have developed a short, 10 minute survey to accompany this first edition so we can use input from readers for improving the content and format of this report.
English, French and Spanish versions of the full report, and the link to the Survey Monkey, can be found on the Protected Area Programme's publications website.
Please contact colleen.corrigan@unep-wcmc.org if you have any comments or require more information on the content of the report, and francine.kershaw@unep-wcmc.org to request copies or for survey monkey enquiries.Posted: 2009-01-29 at 11:59
Scientific Summary No. 52, 2009
Posted: 2009-01-29 at 08:47
Scientific Summary No. 51, 2009
Posted: 2009-01-29 at 08:00
IUFRO Congress 2010 -Session proposal deadline extended
Posted: 2009-01-14 at 04:00
COFO key note speaker
Posted: 2009-01-11 at 06:00
New video now available ? Forests and climate change: A convenient truth
Posted: 2009-01-10 at 06:00
Now on line, Unasylva 230: Land use
Posted: 2008-12-16 at 06:00
NATIONAL AND REGIONAL NETWORKS OF MARINE PROTECTED AREAS: A REVIEW OF PROGRESS
In response to the global challenge, for a systematic conservation planning approach to MPA establishment, set by the Convention on Biological Diversity and other international agreements and action plans, there are now many initiatives to develop ecologically representative MPA networks. This report describes the progress being made in 30 national and 35 sub-national ecological MPA network initiatives, using information from the literature, MPA practitioners and planners, and conservation experts. The report explores the diverse range of approaches applied, at various spatial and geographical scales, to demonstrate how MPA networks can be established in practice, and how they can be adapted to different needs and priorities.
This report aims to promote a better understanding of the underlying principals and scientific basis behind MPA network design, while disseminating experiences and lessons learned from the initiatives underway at regional national and sub-national levels. The report concludes with a series of six recommendations for the establishment of effective MPA networks, which build on these experiences to capture the complex range of considerations in this rapidly evolving field.
The report is a joint publication between UNEP-WCMC and the UNEP Regional Seas Programme, and was written by Sue Wells, in collaboration with Victoria Sheppard and Hanneke van Lavieren, with support from Nicola Barnard, Francine Kershaw, Colleen Corrigan, Kristian Teleki, Penny Stock and Ellik Adler. The report was launched at the "International Coral Reef Marine Protected Area Network Meeting / 4th ICRI East Asia Regional Workshop" on 17-19th November 2008 in Tokyo, Japan.
The report can be downloaded from the UNEP-WCMC One Ocean Programme website
Posted: 2008-12-08 at 07:10
Forestry takes on the climate change challenge
Posted: 2008-12-05 at 06:00
Forestry takes on the climate change challenge
Posted: 2008-12-04 at 11:00
Forestry takes on the climate change challenge
Posted: 2008-12-04 at 11:00
UNEP-WCMC launches new Carbon and Biodiversity Atlas
The 24 page demonstration atlas, launched at the 14th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, shows that areas high in both carbon and biodiversity do exist and can be identified by relatively simple mapping tools. Prioritising such areas could give the 'double benefit' of reducing emissions from land use change whilst conserving biodiversity. Three regional maps along with six national maps are shown for the tropics, derived from global-scale data.
Achim Steiner, UN Under-Secretary General and UNEP Executive Director, said: "At a time of scarce financial resources and economic concerns, every dollar, euro or yen needs to deliver double, triple even quadruple dividends. Intelligent investment in forests in developing countries is a key example".
By demonstrating the potential for such 'win win' areas to be identified, the atlas could have particular input to the current discussions on reducing emissions from deforestation in developing countries (REDD).
These new maps are just a first step towards demonstrating how combining different types of data can help to identify areas where opportunities and benefits overlap for storing carbon and protecting biodiversity. A new, detailed and web-based atlas is expected in 2009 in the run up to UN climate meeting in Copenhagen. The atlas will cover a larger number of countries with more accurate, national data on carbon and biodiversity where available, and examine options to include ecosystem services and impacts on local livelihoods. As emphasised by Mr Steiner, ensuring safeguards for local and indigenous people will be paramount to a successful REDD.
Full details of the press release can be found here
The atlas can be downloaded here as a screen friendly version, or as a printable version. The atlas is also available as hard copy or as a CD upon request.
Please contact barney.dickson@unep-wcmc.org for further information regarding the demonstration atlas, or alison.campbell@unep-wcmc.org to request copies.
Posted: 2008-11-20 at 10:53
New publication: Forests and water * FAO Forestry Paper 155
Posted: 2008-10-31 at 06:00
UNEP-WCMC Informatics Programme featured in Vector1Media
Posted: 2008-10-28 at 10:01
European Forest Week - Rome, 20-24 October 2008
Posted: 2008-10-25 at 06:00
Conservation Commons Workshop: Addressing the Barriers to Data Sharing
On Monday 6th October 2008, The Conservation Commons Secretariat organized an alliance workshop at the IUCN World Conservation Congress (WCC) in Barcelona, Spain to address barriers to data sharing. The workshop was organized in collaboration with Conservation International, Global Biodiversity Information Facility, IUCN, National Geographic Society, The Getty Research Institute, The Nature Conservancy, and UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre.
The purpose of this workshop was to draw attention to the barriers faced by the conservation community which limit access to biodiversity data and information, and to identify efforts to collectively address these challenges. The workshop supported the "Safeguarding the Diversity of Life" Stream of the Forum.
Speakers and participants from sectors both within and outside the traditional conservation community were asked to consider key questions in relation to accessing biodiversity data or information; legal and technical data standards; and cultural challenges often faced in accessing the best available data and information. The audiences were challenged to think beyond current limitations and paradigms in order to develop innovative solutions to these challenges. The workshop concluded after a short open discussion.
For more information about Conservation Commons visit: www.conservationcommons.org
For background materials, presentations and full report of the meeting see the Conservation Commons Workspace: http://conserveonline.org/workspaces/commons
Posted: 2008-10-20 at 11:53
Climate change and forestry in Europe
Posted: 2008-10-16 at 11:00
Climate change and forestry in Europe
Posted: 2008-10-16 at 11:00
Relaunch of the World Database on Protected Areas
Since 1981 what is now UNEP-WCMC has been managing the only global database on the world's national parks and reserves, working in close collaboration with IUCN and its World Commission on Protected Areas. This database has now been completely redesigned, and was relaunched on Monday 6th October at the World Conservation Congress in Barcelona.
The new online tool includes many new features aimed at increasing access to the maps and associated data on the world's protected areas, including employing Google Earth to help users to visualise sites. Additional features facilitate update and quality control, and the Centre is working with a range of other organizations to develop new tools making further use of the data.
Redevelopment has been supported by UNEP-WCMC's Proteus Partners, a coalition of oil, gas, mineral and mining and information technology companies, who have between them contributed more than US$2 million into the initiative.
To access the World Database on Protected Areas: www.wdpa.org
A copy of the press release is available here
Posted: 2008-10-07 at 12:12
New publication, The World's Protected Areas
Based on input from more than 100 experts, this book aims to provide the most detailed assessment ever of the worldwide distribution and conservation status of national parks and reserves. It examines the relationship between people and protected areas, investigates threats and opportunities, cites the history of protected areas, provides expert conservation advice and celebrates the success of protected areas around the world.
With 352 pages, The World's Protected Areas: Status, value and prospects in the 21st Century, which is published in associated with UNEP-WCMC by the University of California Press, contains 110 colour illustrations, 165 line illustrations and 39 colour maps. It is edited by Stuart Chape, Mark Spalding and Martin Jenkins, and includes a foreword by Achim Steiner and Julia Marton-Lefèvre.
Available from University of California Press: www.ucpress.edu
A copy of the press release is available here
Posted: 2008-10-06 at 10:00
New Biodiversity Target a vital part of achieving the Millennium Development Goals
On 25 September 2008 world leaders are meeting at UN Headquarters in New York to identify new actions to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), which now include a new biodiversity target. The High-level Event, convened by UN Secretary-General BAN Ki-moon, aims to ensure that all countries can achieve the Millennium Development Goals by 2015. The seventh Millennium Development Goal, to ensure environmental sustainability, now includes the target, "reduce biodiversity loss, achieving by 2010 a significant reduction in the rate of loss", which is compatible with the '2010 Target' of the Convention on Biological Diversity. Environmental sustainability will be one of three themes discussed at the High-level Event.
"The world is waking up to the fact that environmental destruction and species extinction does real damage to peoples' lives and livelihoods," says Dr Matt Walpole, UNEP-World Conservation Monitoring Centre. "Pledging to reduce biodiversity loss as part of the Millennium Development Goals demonstrates clear recognition by the World's governments that poverty reduction and sound environmental management go hand in hand."
The 2008 MDG report includes the new biodiversity target and a new indicator to monitor progress, called the proportion of species threatened with extinction. This indicator is calculated from the IUCN Red List Index, which is based on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™.
UNEP-WCMC has played a central role in promoting the inclusion of the new biodiversity target and indicator in the MDGs, working with IUCN, the Secretariat of the CBD, UNEP and UNDP. The IUCN Red List Index is presented for use by the United Nations through UNEP-WCMC, which is also responsible for reporting on the existing MDG indicator of coverage of protected areas, utilising the World Database on Protected Areas.
The biodiversity information in the 2008 MDG report shows that the proportion of land in protected areas is increasing, but only 0.7% of the world's oceans - about 2 million square kilometres - were protected, despite their importance to fish stocks and coastal livelihoods. At the same time the proportion of threatened species is increasing, which indicates the biodiversity on which the poor depend for their livelihoods may be degrading, since species are harvested and cultivated for food, medicines and fibres.
To view the official press release click here.
Posted: 2008-09-25 at 06:39
REDD Letter Day for Forests
Posted: 2008-09-24 at 06:00
New Study Finds World's Coastal Waters Are Vastly Under-Protected
A new study published in Conservation Letters finds that protection of marine habitats is lagging far behind that of terrestrial areas. While 12 percent of the world's lands are protected, only 4 percent of the world's coastal waters fall within "marine protected areas," a conservation tool used around the world to preserve ocean resources.
"Unfortunately, we found that great swathes of the world's coastal waters are unprotected, meaning coastal livelihoods, incomes and food supplies are all at risk as fish stocks fall and coastlines erode," said Mark Spalding, senior marine scientist at The Nature Conservancy and lead author of the study. "The good news is that marine protected areas can be a powerful tool to ensure that ocean habitats remain healthy and productive for future generations - but we need to expand and strengthen protection efforts now."
The study was a collaboration between The Nature Conservancy (TNC), UNEP-WCMC and IUCN. As part of this study, spatial analysis was conducted at UNEP-WCMC using the marine classification system of coastal ecoregions (developed by TNC, the World Wildlife Fund and other partners) and a global marine protected areas dataset. The study examined the protection status for each of the world's varied coastal ecoregions (geographically and scientifically similar areas), but also expanded its vision out to the open oceans.
To read more about this study please see the press release
The marine protected areas dataset used in this study is now part of the World Database on Protected Areas (WDPA), hosted and managed by UNEP-WCMC. A joint project of UNEP and IUCN, the WDPA is the most comprehensive global spatial dataset on marine and terrestrial protected areas available, see www.wdpa.org.
Posted: 2008-09-20 at 11:53
UNEP-WCMC supporting the African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbird Agreement (AEWA)
From 15-19 September, the 4th Meeting of the Parties (MOP) to the African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbird Agreement (AEWA) will take place in Antananarivo, Madagascar (see http://www.unep-aewa.org/press/mop4_media_alert.htm for more information). The conference is expected to adopt, for the first time, an online format for national reporting. UNEP-WCMC is glad to have been able to develop the online reporting facility, through a grant from UNEP for a project on knowledge management for the biodiversity-related agreements. Parties to AEWA are requested to prepare for each MOP a report on its implementation of the Agreement. National reporting can be a burden for Parties, in particular as such reports are required for most multilateral environmental agreements. The online reporting facility is expected to make reporting easier and more straightforward for Parties.
In addition, UNEP-WCMC, under contract to the AEWA Secretariat, has produced for MOP 4 posters depicting the Madagascar Pond Heron and the Sociable Lapwing, two threatened species that have attracted specific attention of AEWA and the wider conservation community. The meeting in Madagascar is expected to adopt an Action Plan for the Conservation of the Madagascar Pond Heron and will review the implementation of the existing Action Plan for the Sociable Lapwing.
UNEP-WCMC is also supporting implementation of the Wings Over Wetlands (WOW) UNEP-GEF African-Eurasian Flyways Project - the largest "flyway-scale" waterbird conservation project in the AEWA region, through the development of the Critical Sites Network (CSN) Tool, in close partnership with Wetlands International and BirdLife International. The CSN Tool will provide a web-based portal integrating data from multiple sources, and will help improve site management along the entire African-Eurasian Flyways; see http://www.wingsoverwetlands.org.
UNEP-WCMC is part of the Circumpolar Biodiversity Monitoring Programme (CBMP) of the Conservation of Arctic Fauna and Flora (CAFF) programme of the Arctic Council that has taken a leading role in researching the responses of biodiversity to climate change in the Arctic (http://arcticportal.org/en/caff/cbmp). Consequently, for World Migratory Bird Day 2007, UNEP-WCMC released a news item on the threats from climate change to migratory waterbirds from the Arctic; see http://www.unep-wcmc.org/regions/arctic_climate.cfm for details.
Posted: 2008-09-12 at 11:00
Older newsroom content
Posted: 2008-08-31 at 11:00
Older newsroom content
Posted: 2008-08-31 at 11:00
Forest Fires in the Mediterranean Region: Prevention and Regional Cooperation
Posted: 2008-08-06 at 06:00
IUCN World Conservation Congress
At the beginning of October the IUCN World Conservation Congress takes place in Barcelona. This will be a very significant event, with some 10,000 people participating, from all levels of governmental and non-governmental organizations, and from industry and academe. A large delegation from UNEP-WCMC will attend, lead by the Centre's Director, Jon Hutton. While UNEP-WCMC staff will be addressing a wide range of issues at the Congress, key items on our agenda include the launch of the redeveloped World Database on Protected Areas on 6 October, and opportunities for promoting both the 2010 Biodiversity Indicators Partnership and the Conservation Commons - key partnership efforts in which UNEP-WCMC is centrally involved.
Further information on the congress can be found on the IUCN website.
Posted: 2008-07-24 at 07:44
Spotlight on forest monitoring
Posted: 2008-07-16 at 06:00
2nd Meeting of the 2010 Biodiversity Indicators Partnership
The second meeting of the 2010 Biodiversity Indicators Partnership (BIP) was held at the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity in Montréal, Canada from the 25-26 June 2008. This meeting was crucial for determining the progress of the Partnership, as well as clarifying the expectations for the Partnership over the next two years in the run up to the 10th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP 10).
More than 30 participants from major biodiversity-related conventions, initiatives and networks attended the meeting. A variety of subjects were discussed by the numerous Indicator Partners including progress in developing the suite of 2010 BIP indicators and the linkages of indicators between focal areas. Future opportunities were identified for various Partnership products, including the contribution of the 2010 BIP to the 3rd edition of the Global Biodiversity Outlook (GBO-3).
The meeting also focused on the work of the BIP post 2010 and the further development of national and regional linkages. The latter will ensure that biodiversity indicators are widely used in broader policy initiatives and by national governments.
For more information, see the 2010 BIP website: www.twentyten.net.
Posted: 2008-07-03 at 09:27
New FAO strategy for forestry ? draft ready for comments
Posted: 2008-07-02 at 06:00
UNEP Post-Conflict work presented at UNEP-WCMC
Silja Halle, communications advisor for the UNEP Post-Conflict and Disaster Management Branch in Geneva, presented an overview of the Branch's work at UNEP-WCMC on 26 June 2008.
The presentation highlighted the Branch's work in Lebanon and Sudan, and described how the Branch will develop as UNEP's Medium Term Strategies are implemented in the near future.
Presentation Part 1 (2.10MB)
Presentation Part 2 (28.8MB)
Posted: 2008-06-27 at 07:55
RALUCIAPA Featured on Google Earth Outreach Gallery
RALUCIAPA (RAPID ASSESSMENT OF LAND USE CHANGE IN AND AROUND PROTECTED AREAS ) does as it says on the tin and is a collaboration between KCL and UNEP-WCMC (the United Nations Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre). It is a tool to assist in conservation monitoring and prioritisation and shows protected areas in green. In red it shows areas deforested between 2000 (when most of the NASA imagery used in Google Earth/Maps was taken) and 2005, based on the MODIS VCF data.
RALUCIAPA works best for large scale forest loss in areas of previously full forest cover (especially tropical forests) - it does not work so well in scrubland or in human dominated landscapes outside the tropics. It shows clearly the value of protected areas in preventing large scale forest loss but also where protected areas may be under threat.
The Earth and Earth-Plugin versions especially also provide a great deal of information on protected areas from the World Database on Protected Areas (2007, web download): particularly outlines, names and characteristics. This is a beta : in the next version, with the launch of the new UNEP-WCMC IUCN WCPA World Database on Protected Areas there will be links to tiled downloadable GIS data but these are inactive at the moment.
http://www.unep-wcmc.org/protected_areas/raluciapa/
Published it in Earth (all layers), Earth Plugin (all layers), Maps (some layers) and also VE (some layers)
Posted: 2008-06-17 at 09:31
Africa: Atlas of Our Changing Environment
Senior UNEP officials presented an important new publication entitled "Africa: Atlas of Our Changing Environment" to the public on Tuesday during three simultaneous press conferences in Johannesburg, Nairobi and London.
UNEP-WCMC Deputy Director Monika MacDevette served on the panel at the launch of the publication in London, and along with Acting Director of the Division of Early Warning and Assessment Marion Cheatle and UNEP European Spokesman Robert Bisset. They gave numerous interviews to various UK-based media organisations on that day including the BBC, the Times and the Independent.
The Atlas was compiled by UNEP staff and other professionals at the request of ministers from the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment. South African President Thabo Mbeki was among those who presented the publication during the AMCEN meeting in Johannesburg on Tuesday.
The nearly 400-page publication features 316 satellite images, 319 ground photographs and 151 maps from every country on in Africa that illustrate environmental changes in 104 locations on that continent during recent years. While most of the images outlined areas of environmental degradation, a number of the photographs do show improvements to the environment in those areas where conservation efforts have been undertaken.
Posted: 2008-06-16 at 08:18
Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation: Global Land-Use Implications
Conserving biodiversity must be considered when developing plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from deforestation, researchers from UNEP-WCMC and University of Cambridge warn in a special issue of Science. The scientists support the plan to reduce deforestation but urge initiatives to protect biodiversity in other ecosystems from displaced land use changes.
Resources:
Special issue of Science magazine on forests, including video interviews; Press release at University of Cambridge
Posted: 2008-06-14 at 12:26
2010 Biodiversity Indicator Partnership side event at CBD/COP-9
The 2010 Biodiversity Indicators Partnership (BIP) Secretariat held a side event at the ninth meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP 9) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) on Friday, 23 May 2008. Chaired by SBSTTA's Spencer Thomas of Grenada, with presentations from Linda Collette of FAO, Sarah Simons of Global Invasive Species Programme (GISP) and Gordon Sheppherd of WWF, it was well attended and provoked a lively discussion.
Canada stressed that parties are really counting on delivery of the project and that it is imperative that the project targets SBSTTA-14. IUCN noted that the suite of core indicators form a continuum ranging from indicators for which the baseline will be delivered in 2010 to indicators ready to show trends by 2010. The 2010 BIP Secretariat, represented by Dr Matt Walpole, added that 2010 BIP feeds into the preparation for GBO-3 and looks beyond 2010 to inform the process of setting the next target. Various participants emphasized the importance of a solid communication strategy and SwedBio asked specifically about possible development of indicators for ecosystem services. The 2010 BIP Secretariat responded that work on this with WRI has recently been initiated.
For more information on the 2010 BIP see: www.twentyten.net.
Posted: 2008-06-09 at 07:18
85% of terrestrial carbon unprotected
Earth's terrestrial ecosystems store 2,052 gigatons of carbon in their biomass and soil (to 1 m depth). Protected areas worldwide cover 12.85% of the land surface and help to maintain ecosystem services including climate regulation through carbon storage. The latest analyses reveal that an astonishing amount of terrestrial carbon, over 312 gigatons or 15.2% of its global stock, lies within the protected area network. Our assessment of carbon storage in protected areas integrates information from the most up-to-date studies to inform decision-making at global, regional and national level.
Posted: 2008-05-27 at 06:13
CBD COP 9 - The ninth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity
From 19-30 May 2008, delegations from governments, IGOs and NGOs, business and indigenous communities will gather in Bonn, Germany. The meeting will discuss issues such as agricultural and forest biodiversity, the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation, invasive alien species, progress towards the 2010 biodiversity target, financial resources, and a proposed international regime for access and benefit-sharing.
UNEP-WCMC will be well represented, and will highlight various aspects of its work, including on the World Database on Protected Areas, forest protected areas, the 2010 Biodiversity Indicators Partnership, the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation, biodiversity and climate change, the International Year of the Reef, and national reporting to the biodiversity-related conventions. The Centre has a joint work programme with the CBD which focuses on support to the implementation of COP decisions, and a new version of the work programme is expected to be elaborated following COP 9.
Further information: http://www.cbd.int/cop9/ and http://www.iisd.ca/biodiv/cop9/
Posted: 2008-05-16 at 05:14
Wild Wonders of Europe
Today, the day before Europe Day, 'Wild Wonders of Europe' rolls into action. 55 of Europe's top nature photographers embark on 90 assignments to 44 countries.
The mission: To reveal the amazing natural heritage of Europe and to inspire a desire to save it. This project is endorsed by UNEP. To find out more, visit http://www.wild-wonders.com
Posted: 2008-05-09 at 12:05
UNEP-WCMC at the 9th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity
A strong team from UNEP-WCMC participated in the 9th Conference of the Parties (COP 9) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), 19-30 May, in Bonn, Germany. The Conference adopted more than 35 decisions, among which a roadmap for the final rounds of negotiating an international regime on access and benefit-sharing, and an agreement on criteria for establishment of marine and coastal protected areas, were perhaps the most significant. At the Ministerial Segment, the German Chancellor Angela Merkel announced major financial commitments by Germany for forests and protected areas.
Among the COP decisions were new mandates for UNEP-WCMC's work, including on the 2010 Biodiversity Indicators Partnership, protected areas, marine biodiversity, drylands biodiversity and harmonization of national reporting to biodiversity-related conventions. These will form the core of a new joint work programme with the CBD Secretariat. The Centre also organised COP 9 side events to present the redeveloped World Database on Protected Areas and the 2010 Biodiversity Indicators Partnership, and participated in others on the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation, marine biodiversity and harmonization of national reporting.
For further information see www.cbd.int/cop9 and www.iisd.ca/biodiv/cop9. COP 10 will be held in October 2010 in Nagoya, Japan.
Posted: 2008-05-03 at 10:40
UNEP-WCMC supporting CITES scientific committees
Seventeenth meeting of the CITES Plants Committee and Twenty-third meeting of the CITES Animals Committee
15-23 April 2008 | Geneva, Switzerland
UNEP-WCMC attended both meetings and provided information in relation to various agenda items. Chief documents discussed, and outcomes were:
- Trade data, used as the first step in the selection of species for inclusion in the review of Significant Trade process.
- The report from the South East Asia timber workshop and news on forthcoming Central and West African workshop, following which three recommendations for action were agreed.
- Development of a Wiki type ID manual on the internet.
- Contributions to discussions on species nomenclature.
Image: Harriet Gillett (UNEP-WCMC) presenting recommendations resulting from the technical workshop on "Strategies for Sustainable Use and Management of Timber Tree Species Subject to International Trade: Southeast Asia" held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 5-7 September 2007. © IISD Reporting Services
Posted: 2008-04-28 at 07:49
Biodiversity Loss - It Will Make You Sick
On Wednesday 23 April, SKY News visited UNEP-WCMC to record a message on the importance of biodiversity to human health and well-being. The news clip highlights the findings of the book Sustaining Life: How Human Health Depends on Biodiversity, written and edited by Harvard researchers Dr Eric Chivian and Dr Aaron Bernstein, along with contributions of over 100 leading scientists. The book, supported by the CBD, UNEP, UNDP and IUCN, was formally launched at UN headquarters in New York at a gala event on 23 April, and will be presented again at the Smithsonian Institute later in April. UNEP-WCMC staff members played a role in the review of several chapters in this book. Dr Chivian, who shared the 1985 Nobel Peace Prize for his role in working toward preventing nuclear war, will be in Cambridge on 2 June and participate in a programme of lectures jointly organised by UNEP-WCMC and the Zoology Department of Cambridge University. Monika MacDevette, one of UNEP-WCMC's two Deputy Directors, gave the interview on behalf of the Centre.
Posted: 2008-04-24 at 06:57
ITTO/CITES Regional Workshop on Afrormosia: Kribi, Cameroon 2-4 April 2008
UNEP-WCMC participated in a regional timber workshop to develop a participatory action plan to ensure that international trade in Afrormosia Pericopsis elata is consistent with its sustainable management and conservation in Africa. Afrormosia is listed in CITES Appendix II and is used in furniture making, interior and exterior work, flooring and boat-building.
The action plan agreed by the workshop included five thematic areas:
1 - Building capacity of exporting and importing countries on implementation of CITES.
2- Building capacity of exporting and importing countries to manage P. elata sustainably.
3- Improving the ecological and sylvicultural knowledge of P. elata
4. Promotion of support programmes for regeneration of P. elata
5. Governance and marketing of P. elata
Harriet Gillett attended on behalf of UNEP-WCMC and presented UNEP-WCMC's plans for the implementation of a Central and West African timber workshop. This is the third in the series of regional workshops that UNEP-WCMC is running to support the sustainable use of timber trees in international trade.
Posted: 2008-04-07 at 10:44
Monitoring Arctic Biodiversity
UNEP-WCMC works closely with colleagues in GRID Arendal as part of the Circumpolar Biodiversity Monitoring Program (CBMP). On March 6 - 7th, Tim Johnson and Christoph Zockler attended the CBMP International Workshop in Washington DC, United States, entitled "Building a Partnership for Enhanced Understanding and Conservation of Arctic Biodiversity".
The workshop launched the "implementation phase" of the CBMP after several years of substantive program development and planning. Participants discussed program priorities, and generated short term action plans and identified new partnerships to accomplish them. The event also managed to foster healthy debate regarding CBMP's opportunities for the next 5 years.
Mike Gill (CBMP Chair) summarized the events achievements "With the help of some of our existing partners, we were able to leverage new strategic partnerships in several key areas of the program. The program is very well positioned to deliver on the key products and activities planned over the next five years. We are confident that our vision of expanded and enhanced Arctic biodiversity monitoring and improved conservation and adaptation decisions for the Arctic will be achieved."
The Workshop attracted a large group of participants representing government agencies, academic insititutions, International NGO's, international organisations and funding foundations. The workshop was enabled through the generous support of the US Fish and Wildlife Service, Swedish Environmental Protection Agency and Finland Ministry of Environment.
Posted: 2008-03-14 at 04:28
UNEP Knowledge Management workshop at WCMC
From 7-9 March 2008, UNEP held a workshop with the secretariats of biodiversity-related multilateral agreements on knowledge management in support of improved agreement implementation. The UNEP-WCMC-hosted workshop brought together staff from the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), Convention on Migratory Species (CMS), Ramsar Convention, African-Eurasian Waterbird Agreement (AEWA) and Indian Ocean South-East Asian Marine Turtle Memorandum of Understanding (IOSEA), as well as from the UN Environment Management Group (EMG) and Countdown 2010. Participants reflected on the results of the UNEP Knowledge Management project that WCMC has implemented over the past 18 months. The project developed an Internet portal that allows access to key agreement information as well as online tools for national reporting to CMS, AEWA and CITES. It also explored new options for harmonization of national reporting between these agreements. In addition, the workshop looked into potential links between the knowledge management tools and the issue-based modules that Tematea has developed. Participants agreed on ways forward, working towards developing further linkages between the information systems of the different agreements, with the support from UNEP. This will increase the capacity of secretariats to address issues of information management. Not least will it provide tools for parties to agreements that allow for easier access to information relevant for agreement implementation and will make reporting on implementation easier.
Posted: 2008-03-11 at 10:14
Holidays for a living planet
A global campaign including green travel tips for the world's growing number of international tourists have been developed and launched by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). The internet-based campaign, "Green Passport", aims to raise tourists' awareness of their potential to contribute to sustainable development by making responsible holiday choices. Click here to visit the internet-based campaign.
Posted: 2008-03-11 at 06:48
IPCC Author to strengthen Climate Change work
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and California State University, Chico are pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Jeff Price as Senior Fellow for Climate Change and Biodiversity at the UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre in Cambridge, UK. Paul Zingg, President of CSU Chico, said today "I am delighted with this new relationship with UNEP-WCMC because it will allow Jeff Price to inject an important new international perspective to his teaching and research".
Dr. Price, who was a lead author for the Nobel Peace Prize-winning Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change (IPCC)'s Third and Fourth Assessment Reports, will work with UNEP-WCMC during 2008 to assist the Centre to assimilate the most recent information and research on climate change and its impacts on biodiversity, so that it can be used to better inform the development of international policy.
A central focus of the Centre's work on climate change is the linkage between policies and activities to reduce the rate at which tropical forests are destroyed. One aspect of this work is to address the increasing pressure on crops, agriculture and land to produce biofuels. Paradoxically, by encouraging the growth of biofuels to reduce greenhouse gases from fossil fuels, the international community is in danger of speeding up the rate of deforestation - which itself accounts for at least 18% of all greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere.
The Director of UNEP-WCMC, Prof Jon Hutton, described the appointment of Dr Price to the Centre's new Fellowship in collaboration with CSU Chico as "just the sort of partnership we need to raise our game, bridge the divide between research and policy and speed up the response to human-induced climate change". Jeff Price brings to UNEP-WCMC 15 years of experience working on these issues. He lectures on climate change adaptation and was one of the lead authors of the IPCC's Third and Fourth Assessment Reports dealing with ecosystems, and the IPCC's Technical Paper on Climate Change and Biodiversity. He also contributed text to one of the reports underlying the Stern Review of the Economic Impacts of Climate Change in the UK, and the National Assessment on Climate Change Impacts on the United States. He was co-author of the Nature article "Fingerprints of global warming on wild animals and plants" and produced the popular 'Birdwatcher's Guide to Global Warming'.
Posted: 2008-02-29 at 08:51
Convention on Biological Diversity meetings in Rome
Eight staff members of UNEP-WCMC attended the meetings of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), held at the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in Rome, Italy over the last two weeks. The Ad Hoc Open-ended Working Group on Protected Areas, from 11-15 February, reviewed the CBD Programme of Work on Protected Areas as well as options for mobilizing financial resources for implementing the programme of work. The WCMC delegation worked with delegates and through side events to share progress to date on relevant protected area projects, demonstrating UNEP-WCMC's critical role in providing expertise and knowledge to biodiversity conservation, in particular through its joint work with the World Conservation Union (IUCN) to manage the World Database on Protected Areas (WDPA). The recommendations of the meeting include a draft mandate for WCMC to work with IUCN on development of verification and data improvements in the WDPA, development of additional and complementary data sets, and the development of tools that assist in monitoring and reporting on the progress of implementation of the Programme of Work on Protected Areas. UNEP-WCMC contributed to side events related to protected area management effectiveness and livelihoods.
From 18-22 February, the 13th meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice (SBSTTA) to the CBD reviewed the implementation of the CBD programmes of work on forests and agricultural biodiversity and also considered specific aspects of marine and coastal biodiversity, inland water ecosystems, invasive alien species, biodiversity and climate change, as well as the SBSTTA modus of addressing new and emerging issues. WCMC contributed a paper on an interactive map (IMAP) and a review of spatial databases on marine areas beyond national jurisdiction to the consideration of marine and coastal biodiversity. The meeting acknowledged this work and also invited the Ramsar Convention, UNEP and UNEP-WCMC to continue their work on a joint reporting framework on inland waters between CBD and Ramsar. UNEP-WCMC contributed to side events on the Global Biodiversity Outlook and the 2010 Biodiversity Indicators Partnership, the forest-related CBD indicators, and a global bioregional classification for open oceans and deep seas.
Both meetings ended with lots of bracketed text as delegates were unable to agree on many issues. The 9th meeting of the Conference of the Parties, to be held in Bonn, Germany, in May this year, will have the onerous task of finding consensus on those issues as well as many other issues on the agenda. For further information, see the Convention on Biological Diversity and for a report on the meetings the earth Negotiations Bulletin.
Posted: 2008-02-26 at 10:57
One Ocean Programme
The International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI) designated 2008 as the International Year of the Reef. As part of the ICRI secretariat, the One Ocean Programme is integral to the planning and coordination of IYOR 2008 through the IYOR ad hoc committee.
On the evening of January 24th, 2008, the International Year of the Reef was officially launched. Guests from international governments, organisations, embassies, private sector and the conservation / scientific community gathered at the World Bank hosted event, (Washington DC), to celebrate the beginning of this year's activities, which aim to draw attention to coral reefs as sentinels of the ocean environment.
Following this a mini-symposium was held at the Mexican Cultural Centre in Washington DC to celebrate the coming year through a showcase of IYOR 2008 activities taking place around the world. Opening remarks were given by Arturo Sarukhan, Ambassador of Mexico to the United States of America, who is an avid diver and lover of the ocean. Countries and organisations presented on regional launches and a wealth of planned activities.
To find out more about the launch or what is happening in your area, visit www.iyor.org
Posted: 2008-01-14 at 11:53
Forest Restoration Information Service
The Forest Restoration Information Service (FRIS) aims to facilitate the exchange of knowledge and experience among forest restoration projects and practitioners; and the prioritisation, design and implementation of forest restoration efforts. The open-access resources available through the FRIS include a database of projects worldwide, case studies, definitions, maps & links.
The online survey is closed as of 11th February 2008; we extend our thanks to all those who responded.
Posted: 2008-01-03 at 10:47
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
At the 13th Conference of Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change held in Bali in December, the topics included measures to address emissions from deforestation in developing countries. A Decision was approved on approaches to stimulate action on emissions from both deforestation and forest degradation in developing countries, including indicative guidance for demonstration activities.
At the meeting, UNEP-WCMC released a paper on the factors that could influence the outcomes of such a decision for conservation and livelihoods, and a summary of related experience from protected areas.
Posted: 2008-01-03 at 09:19
Announcements
Strategies for landscape scale restoration in the tropics
The Yale chapter of the International Society of Tropical Foresters will host practitioners and researchers from government, academia, and environmental ...
When: 2012-01-26
Bonn Challenge on Forests, Climate Change and Biodiversity
Ministerial Roundtable and Restoration Leadership Forum
The Government of the Federal Republic of Germany and IUCN have decided to organize ...
When: 2011-09-01
Restoring forests for communities, biodiversity and ecosystem services
A conference and workshop organized by ELTI, Bogor Agricultural University, and Tropenbos-Indonesia. September 12-13, 2011. Institut Pertanian Bogor Convention Center ...
When: 2011-09-12
4th World Conference on Ecological Restoration
Ecological restoration is becoming increasingly important as fragile ecosystems continue to be degraded and threatened. The SER2011 World Conference on ...
When: 2011-08-21
Investment forum: mobilizing private investment in trees and landscape restoration in Africa
We are pleased to announce that together with the Program on Forests (PROFOR), the World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF), the IUCN ...
When: 2011-05-25
