Stories

  Mediterranean countries commit to restore at least 8 million hectares of degraded forest ecosystems by 2030. An important target for achieving Land Degradation Neutrality Through a series of thematic discussions on all aspects of forest and landscape restoration, including governance and intersectoral coordination, monitoring and evaluation, restoration techniques and good practices, the Silva Mediterranea partner countries confirmed their willingness to achieve a common restoration objective, hence the Agadir Commitment to restore at least 8 million hectares of degraded forest ecosystems by 2030. Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) has been part of the key issues discussed in the framework of the 5th Mediterranean Forest Week (MFW 5), gathering representatives from more than 20 countries in the Mediterranean region. Under the theme, “Towards an enhanced regional cooperation to restore Mediterranean landscapes: improving resilience for the benefit of people and environment”, the main objective of the event was to discuss the launch of a Regional Mediterranean Restoration Initiative. In a speech delivered in the high level panel of the MFW 5 closing ceremony, Pradeep Monga, Deputy UNCCD Executive Secretary, confirmed support of the UNCCD to this regional initiative and highlighted how the UNCCD efforts will also accelerate achievement of the Mediterranean ambition to achieve the SDG 15 to “protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss”. Chaired by the facilitator of the Global Partnership for Forest and Landscape Restoration (GPFLR), Peter Besseau, the high level panel highlighted the importance of the Mediterranean pledge in the framework of the Bonn Challenge. The Global Mechanism of the UNCCD (GM) played a key role as an international partner involved in the organizing committee of the event. In an introductory presentation Ludwig Liagre, Programme Officer of the GM, stressed the important role of LDN to achieve forest and landscape restoration, stating, “The LDN Target Setting process in particular can deliver sound data to better quantify the restoration targets and define realistic pledges”. Further, he highlighted the role of the GM in supporting partner countries in developing LDN Transformative Projects which will deliver contributions in terms of climate change mitigation and adaptation, biodiversity conservation, food, water, energy and green jobs, among potential co-benefits. The GM organized a session on sustainable financing for forest and landscape restoration and land degradation neutrality, which addressed the diversity of existing financing solutions and discussed relevant innovations. Boris Spassky, Investment manager at the Fund Management Company Mirova, explained the importance of mobilizing private investments for FLR at scale. He presented the LDN Fund project as an innovative solution for public private partnerships. A European Investment Bank (EIB) representative, James Ranaivoson, also emphasized the importance to support LDN finance. More information: The Agadir Commitment Mediterranean Forest Week 5  (external website) Silva Mediterranea (external website)                                                                         (Photos: Forest Communicator Network MED NE)

A Call for Expressions of Interest (EOI) in the co-development and future management of the LDN Fund Technical Assistance Facility has been launched by Mirova.  The LDN Fund Technical Assistance Facility (TA Facility) will be established in parallel with the LDN Fund to support projects seeking investment from the Fund. The TA Facility will provide grants and/or loans to project developers for project preparation or technical assistance in the structuring of projects with a proven/attractive business model. The LDN Fund team is looking for an organisation to assist in the development and management of the TA Facility. Interested candidates should submit their applications by email to gautier.queru@mirova.com and/or james.rawles@mirova.com at the latest by 5th April 2017 at 5:00 pm CET.  Best regards, The LDN Fund Team   Download the Terms of Reference - LDN Fund Expressions of Interest TAF Manager LDN Fund Brochure

The Mali singer and actress, Fatoumata Diawara visited the UNCCD Executive Secretary Monique Barbut at the UNCCD headquarters on 22 March. Fatoumata came to Bonn, Germany, to perform at the opening of the “Over the Border Music Diversity Festival”. Fatoumata is also known as a strong advocator for gender and environment issues. Her powerful performance at the Festival opening transmitted the reality of life in Africa, highlighting problems that vulnerable people and communities face in the continent. Her lyrics about war and conflict, the role of women and youth remind the audience of the importance of tackling the root causes of such problems, many of them stemmed from desertification and land degradation.  During her visit to the UNCCD secretariat, she discussed with the Executive Secretary some ongoing activities to combat desertification and land degradation, such as the Great Green Wall for the Sahara and the Sahel Initiative. They also talked about the role that artists can play as messengers of the people who do not have means to appeal their hardships.  UNCCD is supporting the “Over the Border Music Diversity Festival”. The festival will end on 2 April.  

By 2025, 1.8 billion people will experience absolute water scarcity, and 2/3 of the world will be living under water-stressed conditions.  In the meanwhile, we continuously waste precious natural resources like land and water. A number of statistics indicate that we are wasting our natural capital at an accelerating pace. Poorly-managed natural capital is not only an ecological liability but also a social and economic threat. The overexploitation of natural capital can be disastrous, and not just in terms of land degradation and water scarcity. The loss of ecosystem productivity and resilience makes many regions more prone to extreme weather events such as floods, landslides and droughts. Drought and water scarcity are considered to be the most far-reaching of all natural disasters, causing short and long-term economic and ecological losses as well as significant secondary and tertiary impacts. In the coming decades, drought is projected to increase in frequency, severity, duration and spatial extent. More and more people will suffer, and even fight, because of water scarcity. This year, the World Water Day sends a message to everyone for taking action on reducing and reusing wastewater under the theme, “Why waste water?”  Think about this. Collectively, women from Sub-Saharan Africa spend about 40 billion hours a year collecting water. How much water do you waste a day? Why waste water?   Further readings: World Water Development Report 2017, “Wastewater, The Untapped Resource”Factsheet World Water Day 2017Issues: Land and Drought    

In 2013, the Conference of the Parties decided to establish a Science–Policy Interface (SPI) to facilitate a two‐way science–policy dialogue and ensure the delivery of policy‐relevant information, knowledge and advice on desertification/land degradation and drought (DLDD).  The SPI is composed of 20 members and three observers, who are mostly scientific experts. The SPI is currently pursuing its work programme assigned for the biennium 2016‐2017. In 2015, the COP decided that the work conducted by the SPI and its overall achievements since its establishment will be reviewed at COP 13 in order to decide on the future functioning of the SPI. In this context, the UNCCD secretariat, with advice from the CST Bureau, commissioned an assessment that will serve as a background for the SPI review at COP 13.  Part of the data collection for the assessment consists of an online survey targeting all UNCCD stakeholders. It is now open for responses in three languages (English, French and Spanish) and can be accessed through the links below. Time that is needed to answering the survey questions is estimated at 5-10 minutes.  https://de.surveymonkey.com/survey-closed/?sm=YXiquq5mvM_2BW0f9e3P7g8s5ts1mOXeCt0Y58WKsB49F_2B3TnqsxuSf1ALWJeZ3YYWeymBB4uORB2ANvBw9pUXTQP6cAO54l_2B5KywV_2Bgs20357_2Frml0as2vNpeUlRypqzD https://fr.surveymonkey.com/survey-closed/?sm=RrMdGYOrVbK6Ksqt50tjOjMcF8yDWJElLMU6F2nlgkmLGji1fbUlpz8Fkbvqr1yOS7BbNmen255rApBQNbI8IMHIzV2pOt5xyIdVe9rWnPaoLIB_2BMYj3_2FotT1tTktPuz https://es.surveymonkey.com/survey-closed/?sm=EOOlZpppTrQiMKN6pymrHS1sGLOGwhS5r1X8c3mBK_2Be0xt4L1jCFQp2wnA7_2FtoC12lRRZhZyliHhfcb5zSv2NyW_2Btuipj0PpMEYNmEeGR8ZjzhbJ_2F_2FO5z_2B_2FOeB4JHzMq

The International Day of Forests is observed on 21 March every year. This year, a special event to observe the Day was held at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) headquarters in Rome under the theme, “Forests and energy”. The observance was held in conjunction with the Global Symposium on Soil Organic Carbon which is taking place until 23 March. The UNCCD Executive Secretary Monique Barbut made the following statement at this special observance event.  The Forest – Energy nexus Excellency, Distinguished guests, Dear colleagues and friends, Province after province around the Mediterranean was turned to desert, 2000 years ago, by the rapid expansion of the Roman Empire and an urgent need for food, fuel and shelter.   It reminded me of a quote by the French philosopher François-René de Chateaubriand who once said “Forests precede civilizations and deserts follow them”.  It seems our civilization has not progressed that far in 2000 years! •    Every 60 seconds -- we cut down 15 hectares of forest primarily to make room for food or energy production.   •    Between 1990 and 2015, the world lost some 129 million hectares of forest - an area the size of South Africa.  When we take away the forest it is not just the trees that go. The entire ecosystem begins to fall apart.  With dire consequences for us all.   In terms of climate change and the water cycle certainly - but also in terms of future energy provision. •    Deforestation and forest degradation are responsible for just over 17% of all man-made greenhouse gas emissions.  For now, some 296 gigatonnes of carbon are stored in the world’s forests in both above and below ground biomass. But for how long? The need for food, fuel and shelter is still turning forests to deserts every day.   •    For every million kilos of beef exported from South America some 45,000 hectares of rainforest are cleared.  •    And in many low-income countries fuel wood is still the most important forest product - it represents 93% of the total harvested wood.  The 300 million people who live in forests worldwide are counting on us to break the spiral of forest loss and degradation while allowing people to eat and have access to the energy, water and incomes the forest provides.  So, how might we approach this?  In my mind, we can manage the trade-offs better - in particular, getting the choices right where land use, water and energy collide. The time for small scale “pilot project” is coming to an end. We know that sustainable, efficient technologies and alternatives - to charcoal and fuel wood – work if they are in the hands of consumers.  Our bio-fuels and hydro-electric strategies, while well-meaning, can sometimes be low carbon but not truly sustainable or friendly to the forests or the land.  We can reflect a little more perhaps on these unintended consequences and revisit how we approach these strategies.  While, if we shift our consumption patterns and sustainably manage and rehabilitate the degraded land we have outside forests; there will be less pressure for agricultural expansion into forests.  I would like to see techniques like agroforestry go mainstream, for example. Above all, a new integrated way of doing business is something that would benefit everyone.  The 105 countries participating in the Land Degradation Neutrality Target Setting Programme with UNCCD account for example represent more than 54 percent of global forest cover.  Just these 105 countries have lost 64 million ha of forest between 1990 and 2015.   Most of these countries will include specific forest-based targets such as increasing the amount of forested area or its productivity in their LDN targets. We would love to be working with you, indeed with all forestry stakeholders, to get the land, forest and energy communities working together. To get SDG 15 and SDG 7 delivered together.   Man-made deserts should not follow mankind’s “so-called” civilization.   I very much welcome the day the forest community will put me out of a job.  Thank you.