2010 Progress Report – Draft - NFP Facility

2010 Progress Report“Forest and Water” initiativeFollow up in NicaraguaIn 2009, 27 practical cases on compensatory mechanisms to forests for the provision of waterin Latin America were discussed and a decision was made to support such initiatives at countrylevel.In 2010 in Nicaragua, “Groups interested in the recognition of the role of forests in theproduction of water” were created with Facility support. Exchange visits for approximately 300participants (managers and technicians of the Municipal Environmental Units, NGOs and policymakers at sub-national level and at national level, such as the Forestry Department, theMinistry of Environment and the Ministry of Agriculture) to share experiences about localprogrammes which received compensation for forests’ provision of water were organised.In December 2010, a network of stakeholders interested in “Forest and Water” was establishedwith an elected Steering Committee. A simple model for the economic valuation of waterservices provided by forests has been discussed. Various governmental institutions anddevelopment agencies have expressed interest and commitment to supporting this network.Additionally, the Facility is providing support to five initiatives related to “Forest and Water” inNicaragua to raise awareness among suppliers and users of water services of theenvironmental goods and services provided by forests. The initiative is promoting theestablishment of strategic alliances for the recognition of environmental services amongsuppliers and users of water. It resulted in the creation of a legal and institutional frameworkat municipal level to recognise and compensate for the environmental services (water)provided by suppliers. More information may be found on the Facility web page: www.nfpfacility.org/66211/en/in the window: "Regional Initiatives", "Forest and water".At the Regional LevelSupport to national forest programmes has been seen as a priority by the Latin American and CaribbeanForestry Commission (COFLAC). Therefore, the Commission decided to carry out regional knowledge exchangesrelated to different relevant forestry issues influencing the sector. The regional nfp focal points from theCaribbean, Central America and South American countries have pointed out at COFLAC that forest policy andinstitutional issues are being discussed at national fora across the region but that there is however a need tostrengthen national and institutional capacities for a better policy and programme implementation. Based on thisobservation, the Facility has established an exchange mechanism to facilitate a mutual learning process on nfprelated topics such as “Forest and Water”, and to support the strengthening of the forestry sector in LatinAmerica and the Caribbean countries.At the Global LevelThe Forestry Department of FAO and the Facility have initiated a joint effort to assist countries to addressemerging policy issues related to forests and climate change by integrating climate change considerations intonational forest programmes.A preliminary analysis of the major challenges and opportunities climate change poses for the forestsector and the related policy issues has been undertaken in Cambodia, Paraguay, South Africa andTanzania (December 2009 – April 2010). The resulting document has served as background materialfor a national workshop held in each country to raise awareness, exchange information and gatherstakeholder views on policy-relevant issues and possible responses regarding forests and climatechange.26