event report : forest and restoration day at nature …...event report : forest and restoration day...
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Event Report : Forest and Restoration Day at Nature’s Climate Hub On Sunday, September 22 at the Nature’s Climate Hub, a coalition of civil society, governments,
multilateral institutions, and indigenous peoples gathered for Forest and Restoration Day. The event
occurred on the margins of the UN Secretary-Genera’s Climate Summit during Climate Week. It was the
first day of a four-day series of events in collaboration with Nature4Climate to celebrate and endorse
nature’s role as a climate solution. The Nature4Climate coalition and event participants explored what is
happening around the world on forests and restoration and dove deeper into the solutions to shift from
land degradation and exploitation to protection, restoration, and sustainable use of forest landscapes.
There were more than 30 sessions showcasing government actions and national policies; recognizing the
efforts of and learning from indigenous peoples and local communities; and discussing mobilizing finance,
private sector action and deforestation-free commodities, the role of science and technology, scaling up
restoration, and multi-sectoral initiatives and commitments.
“On the eve of the UN Secretary
General’s Climate Summit, there is
a need to reposition forests as a
development, security, safety, and
climate agenda item.” –Jamison
Ervin, Manager, Global Progamme
on Nature for Development, UNDP Photo by Meridian Institute
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The hallways of the Hub were full of energy
as people from different walks of life and
diverse sectors assembled to amplify a
common message: that we cannot keep
global warming below 1.5 degrees C or
achieve sustainable economic and social
development without protecting, restoring
and sustainably managing forests. Below is
a summary of the day’s events. The full
program and event descriptions are
available here.
“Today we are going to feel the freedom to take action…we are not united to save
the indigenous [peoples], we are united to save the planet. Nature is home. Nature
is life. That is why it is important that every person, that every human being, act in
their own home, in their hearts.”- Tzam Tigre Tzamarenda, Shuar shaman from
the Ecuadorian Amazon
Opening & Welcome Blessing: Sachem HawkStorm of the Schaghticoke First Nation opened Forest and
Restoration Day and the Nature’s Climate Hub by offering a powerful welcome to country and the land of
his ancestors. He was joined by Chief Tashka Yawanawa from the Brazilian Amazon, as well as by Tzam
Tigre Tzamarenda, a Shuar shaman from the Ecuadorian Amazon, who offered a traditional blessing to
commence the week, calling for action and solidarity to help reverse the impacts of environmental
destruction and escalating climate change. He invited attendees to raise their hands in a prayer with the
words, “we are united to save the planet.” To see video coverage of the welcome ceremony and these
inspiring voices, click here.
“Our relationship with nature is about love and respect because nature gives us
everything we need to survive. This is the final call to wake up, take awareness,
take action, change how we live.”- Chief Tashka Yawanawa, Yawanawa
indigenous leader, Brazilian Amazon
The Nature’s Climate Hub has been made possible by the funding and support of Nature4Climate,
the United Nations Development Programme, New York Declaration of Forests, Conservation
International, World Conservation Society, The Nature Conservancy, Youth4Nature, and The
German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety.
Photo by PROAmazonia, Ecuador
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Forest Day by Numbers:
6 events presented or organized by forest countries
6 events organized by UN Agencies including, UNDP, UNEP, UN REDD, and FAO
8 events hosted by non-governmental organizations
7 events hosted with and by indigenous peoples and local communities
11 Big Idea Talks were given by youth representatives, a Minister from Gabon, a UN Agency,
several NGOs, an indigenous representative, a religious leader, and a representative from
academia.
6 reports related to forests and climate launched and disseminated by leading experts on forest
and climate science and policy
5 exhibits displayed in the hallways throughout the day including a photo exhibit from If Not Us
Then Who; an immersive artistic installation called BREATHE by Chilean artist Denise-Lira
Ratinoff; a presentation of a spatial data tool for conservation planning called UN Biodiversity
Lab; a virtual reality experience called ‘Under the Canopy’ by Conservation International; and a
story-telling exhibition with Youth4Nature.
“More than ever, we need to decarbonize the mind of all the leaders and heads of
state in government. We need to restore and clean their thoughts and to reforest
the hearts of everybody.”–Sônia Guajajara, indigenous leader, activist and
politician, Brazil
Summary of Events by Theme: Big Idea Talks: This session included a series of 11 TED-style talks about different ‘Big Ideas’ related to
nature-based solutions for climate. Videos of each talk will be available soon.
1. Mapping the Connections: Nature, Climate, Sustainable Development by Nicole DeSantis and
Anne Virnig, UNDP
2. Planting a Climate Change Solution with 1,000 Trees for Every Global Youth, Kaitlin and Lauren
Griersen, TreesCO2
3. Getting a Real and Credible Picture of Restoration Progress by Radhika Dave, Bonn Challenge
Barometer, IUCN
4. Central African Forests for a Cooler Future by H.E. Lee White, Minister for Forests, Sea, the
Environment and Climate Plan, Gabon
1. Sessions 5-10 were part of a thematic session focused on the Amazon
5. Amazonia Imperative by Dr. Daniela Raik, Conservation International
6. Brazil Imperative by Dr. Rachel Biderman, WRI Brazil
7. How the Laudato Si can save the Amazon by Reverend Séamus Finn, Interfaith Center on
Corporate Responsibility
8. Amazonia 4.0 by Dr. Carlos Nobre, Institute of Advanced Studies, University of Sao Paulo
9. The Green Gold: the True Value of the Amazon in the Sustainable Harvest and Protection of Its
BIOdiversity by Jorge Lopez Doriga, AJE Group
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10. The Voice of the Indigenous Peoples of the Amazon, Tuntiak Katan, Global Alliance of Territorial
Communities & COICA
11. The Age of Accountability: Driving Corporate and Financial Sustainability Through Data
Transparency by Sarah Lake, Climate Advisers.
Government Action and National Policy: Central Africa Forest Initiative: African leaders’ solution to meet the climate and poverty challenge
(Central African Forest Initiative (CAFI) & Central African Forest Governments): Central Africa is home to
the second largest tropical forest basin in the world, i.e. the surface of Western Europe and 90% of Africa’s
dense humid forests. It stores the equivalent of about 70 billion tons of carbon (equivalent to 5-10 years
of global emissions), 30% of which is in peatlands; it provides food, medicine, shelter and fuel for 60 million
people living in forests or in proximity. In addition, 40 million living in urban centers are dependent on the
forest. The countries of the region have some of the lowest deforestation rates in the world but receive
only a fraction of climate finance. Senior representatives of governments, NGOs, private sector and
partners discussed the importance
and values of this forest; the
commitments made by countries
including donors; the results achieved
and opportunities to develop a new
paradigm in sustainable forest
management. See a video of Gabon’s
contribution to the UN Climate
Summit here and a video of Gabon
and Norway’s historic 150 million US
dollar agreement which also raises
the per ton price of carbon dioxide
equivalent avoided (CO2e) from USD
5 to USD 10 here.
Forests4Peace Colombia (UNDP Colombia): Three women community leaders from the most biodiverse
regions of Colombia who are affected by violence, presented their nature-based products and solutions
to climate change. Participants included the Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development of
Colombia Ricardo Lozano, the High Councilor for Stabilization and Consolidation of Colombia Emilio
Archila and the UNDP Resident Representative in Colombia Jessica Faieta. Forests4Peace Colombia
highlighted how communities affected by climate change and a war that lasted more than 50 years are
now building sustainable peace and a resilient future hand in hand with the Government of Colombia and
UNDP. See the press release here and the full recording of the session here. Watch the Women Leaders
Forests4Peace trailer here. Meet the Leaders here: Yennifer Martínez, Raquel Espinosa and Carmen
Rodríguez.
Photo by Meridian Institute
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“We cannot achieve the global warming goal of 1.5°C without nature, nor without
communities and governments. This is what Forests4Peace is about: driving
climate action, strengthening local solutions like the ones Raquel, Yennifer and
Carmen are carrying out together with the Government that make a vital
contribution from Colombia to the planet.”- Jessica Faieta, UNDP Resident
Representative in Colombia
Catalyzing forest solutions to the climate emergency (UN-REDD Programme): This event was moderated
by Ms. Mette Wilkie, Director, Forestry Policy and Resources Division, FAO, in which she highlighted the
importance of recognizing forests as a requisite front of action in the global fight against climate change
– thanks to their unparalleled capacity to absorb and store carbon. The event demonstrated ways in which
UN-REDD continues to support countries in increasing and mainstreaming forests within Nationally
Determined Contributions (NDCs) and national development plans. Read more here.
“Awareness of the need for forest action has never been greater. We are seeing positive momentum and opportunity to take action on forests
worldwide – driven by governments, civil-society organizations and businesses. We can best face and overcome crises through joint, creative action.”- Mette
Wilkie, Director, Forestry Policy and Resources Division, FAO
Tasting the flavour of the Amazonia: Green forests, green businesses (Ecuador): The Ministers of
Agriculture, Environment and Production, together with representatives of international cooperation,
communities and the private sector, highlighted achievements of the PROAmazonía programto a
community of experts, and international organizations and companies linked to sustainable development.
Read more here and watch the full video coverage of the event here.
Integrating nature-based solutions in the NDCs to enhance ambition and impact (UNDP): Maximizing
the potential of nature-based solutions (NBS) to enhance NDCs and accelerate implementation will be
critical to meeting the Paris Agreement goals. This event presented the current and potential contribution
of NBS to deliver on the climate mitigation and adaptation goals represented in countries’ NDCs, as well
as showcased how nature-based actions contribute to achievement of the SDGs and national
development priorities. The event presented opportunities to increase national climate mitigation and
adaptation action and ambition through integration of other NBS-related commitments, strategies and
plans into the NDCs in order to scale cost-effective, proven nature-based solutions that have multiple co-
benefits. REDD+ was highlighted as an example of a key, high-mitigation potential NBS and countries
shared their experiences on integrating REDD+ into their NDCs and NDC implementation plans. Lessons
learned from the utilization of spatial data and development of forest monitoring systems as well as
experiences with accessing REDD+ finance were also featured. Resource: Pathway for Increasing Nature-
Based Solutions in the NDCs
5 great forests of Mesoamerica — A regional initiative for climate, biodiversity and sustainable
development (WCS): Representatives from the 8 Central American countries are developing a joint
initiative to conserve the 5 Great Forests of Mesoamerica: the Maya Forest between Belize, Guatemala,
and Mexico, La Moskitia between Honduras and Nicaragua, Indio Maíz-Tortuguero between Nicaragua
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and Costa Rica, Talamanca between Costa Rica and Panama, and the Darién that extends from Panama to
Colombia. The initiative will: 1. Address the drivers of deforestation – especially illegal cattle ranching, 2.
Improve forest governance by strengthening management of protected areas, community forests, and
indigenous territories; and 3. Improve livelihoods with forest-friendly and climate resilient economic
alternatives. In the event, Costa Rica Minister of Environment and Energy Carlos Manuel Rodríguez, a
champion for the initiative, discussed the importance of the initiative and progress to date;
donors/funders identified commitments that are worth investing in; and civil society, Indigenous Peoples,
private sector and other stakeholders discussed their engagement on the ground and reflected on the
importance of and threats to these amazing forests. Read more here. Watch a video here.
Indigenous Peoples, Local Communities, and Local Action: Frontline climate and conservation stories from Equator prize winners (The Nature Conservancy):
Representatives of indigenous and local communities spoke of their local, nature-based solutions for
fighting climate change through traditional land, water and watershed management; fighting degradation
and generating income through carbon sales; empowering indigenous communities; and improving near
shore fisheries and food security.
Securing Rights to Secure Nature-Based Solutions to Climate Change (IPMG, RRI, Tenure Facility):
Research shows that lands managed by Indigenous Peoples and local communities with secure rights
experience lower rates of deforestation, store more carbon, hold more biodiversity, and benefit more
people than lands managed by either public or private entities. This event demonstrated how securing
community land rights is a scalable nature-based solution to climate change. Panelists shared evidence of
where investing in community land rights has had sustainable environmental and social impact; and
highlighted pathways for scaling-up implementation. Panelists included: Rukka Sombolinggi, Secretary
General of AMAN, Indonesia; Julio Cusurichi, President of FENAMAD, Peru; Candida Derek, Vice President
of MASTA, Honduras; David Silakan, Coordinator of the PARAN Alliance, Kenya; and Alain Frechette,
Director of Strategic Analysis and Global Engagement at RRI.
Beyond forest-based solutions: The forest communities, a neglected asset (COICA, AMAN, AMPB, APIB):
Representative organizations of forest territories were among the signatories of the New York Forest
Declaration in 2014, committing to protect 400 million hectares of tropical forests, with the objective of
mitigating climate change. Some of these organizations have been consolidating into a Global Alliance of
Territorial Communities, representing 17 countries, which aims to demonstrate the capacities of the
communities that populate the tropical forest territories of the planet. Its members are the Coordination
of Indigenous Organizations of the Amazon Basin (COICA), the Alliance of Indigenous Communities of the
Archipelago (AMAN), the Mesoamerican Alliance of Forests and Peoples (AMPB), the Articulation of
Indigenous Peoples of Brazil (APIB), and REPALEC from DRC.
In order to fulfill their commitment, these organizations have been working at the community level,
including strengthening their capacities to take advantage of new technology. During the event, a panel
presented examples of these experiences:
ORPIO, in Peru, has a network of monitors that use satellite alerts on their smartphones to discover illegal logging.
ACOFOP, in Guatemala, has a fleet of 15 drones to monitor fires in community forests, whose information it shares with the state entity in charge of the Maya Biosphere Reserve.
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AMAN has BRWA, an organization dedicated to the mapping of indigenous territories, which already has 9 million hectares mapped.
The Tembé people in Brazil have set up a system to listen to the sounds of the forests with recycled cell phones to detect loggers.
Finally, Gregorio Mirabal, head of COICA and Rukka Sombolinghi, head of AMAN, summarized the conclusions from these initiatives and proposed scaling up these capacities to contribute more efficiently to fight climate change.
Inclusive forest action for the climate crisis: Mainstreaming gender and the rights of indigenous peoples
and local communities (UN-REDD Programme, UNDP Climate and Forests): Through sharing personal
experiences, concrete cases and films this UN-REDD event demonstrated how marginalized groups, such
as women and indigenous peoples, meaningfully engage and participate in national REDD+ processes and
action. It discussed concrete approaches of participation that are aimed at ensuring that sustainable
management of forests through policies, actions, and financial mechanisms is inclusive, notably in terms
of mainstreaming gender and promoting indigenous peoples and forest-based communities’ rights. The
session achieved the following:
combined thought-provoking perspectives with innovative bottom-up approaches and engaging
discussion;
addressed the key role that women, indigenous peoples, and local communities play in land and
forest management;
highlighted how to go beyond ‘doing no harm’, and instead achieve a gender-responsive
approach of ‘doing better’;
underlined the importance of an inclusive and rights-based approach in order to achieve the
transformational change needed in climate action, while contributing to multiple SDGs; and
aimed to inspire stakeholders to harness the opportunities of policy and finance not only for
climate action but also for advancing the rights of indigenous peoples and promoting gender
equality.
Indigenuity: Unlocking Indigenous Solutions to the Climate Crisis (Center for Native Peoples and the
Environment at State University of New York, Haudenosaunee Environmental Task Force, The Nature
Conservancy, Natural Resources Defense Fund): Underpinning our climate crisis is a societal belief that
economic growth at all costs is acceptable and that any negative long-term impacts of this approach can
be ameliorated through future ingenuity. The world needs both concrete solutions to immediate threats
as well as a paradigm shift to embrace greater relationship and responsibility to the natural world and
future generations. Both of these can be found in Indigenous approaches to lands and waters stewardship.
80% of biodiversity remaining in the world is now located on Indigenous lands, showing the importance
of their cultures and traditional knowledge that have maintained resilient ecological systems. This session
grounded participants in indigenous worldviews of people’s reciprocity and interconnectedness with
nature. It highlighted more sustainable, Indigenous-led paradigms and presented concrete examples
where Indigenous worldviews, stewardship approaches, and on-the-ground guardians are protecting
carbon-rich forests from entrenched short-term economic interests. It made the case for more inclusive
collaborations that engage Indigenous leaders. This panel provided a foundation for attendees to design
concrete actions that will help advance climate solutions in their sectors. Read more here.
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World Premiere: Protecting the Heart of Mexico - Subnational Climate Action to Re-Green the Planet (World Land Trust, Grupo Ecológico Sierra Gorda): World Land Trust and Grupo Ecológico Sierra Gorda IAP co-organized three screenings and panel discussions on September 22, 23 and 25th. The world premiere of the documentary film was met with emotion and surprise, as well as the insights from our guest speakers. World Land Trust will release the film online after the first public showing in London in October. Read more here.
Tribes on the Edge, a documentary by Céline Cousteau
(CauseCentric Productions, Céline Cousteau): Tribes on
the Edge is a documentary produced by CauseCentric Productions, directed, produced, and co-written by
Céline Cousteau. The film explores the timely topics of land threats, health crises, and human rights issues
of the indigenous peoples of the Vale do Javari in the Brazilian Amazon, demonstrating that the survival
of these communities is critical to the planet’s fight against climate change. This is a story that exemplifies
the founding principles of Nature’s Climate Hub as it invokes the critical importance of respect and care –
for land, culture, and humanity. More than a film, Tribes on the Edge has grown into a movement driven
by a passionate effort to enact tangible impact through Action, Communication and Education (ACE)
initiatives. Cousteau’s presentation of Tribes on the Edge at Nature’s Climate Hub reminded us all that
our survival depends on our actions – to support and protect the people and the ecosystems they
safeguard for the benefit of us all. Read more here.
Meet the Equator Prize 2019 Winners (UNDP, Equator Initiative): At this informal Meet & Greet, Hub
participants had the chance to meet this year’s inspiring Equator Prize winners. A few of the winners
briefly presented the impact of their organization’s work, and explained how they contribute to the
protection, sustainable management, and restoration of the forests we all need to avert the climate crisis.
This interactive session gave participants an opportunity to talk with the winners ahead of their big
moment, the Equator Prize 2019 Award Ceremony on 24 September. The Equator Prize is awarded to
outstanding indigenous peoples and local communities that address climate change and reduce poverty
through the conservation and sustainable use of nature. The 22 Equator Prize 2019 winners are
protecting, restoring and sustainably managing forest, marine, grassland, dryland and wetland
ecosystems to address climate and environmental crises. In the process, they have created several
thousand jobs and livelihoods, improved food and water security for hundreds of communities, protected
endangered wildlife, and decreased risks from natural disasters. The communities reinvest revenues
generated by their initiatives into water supply, education, women’s economic training and other
development goals. For more information, visit www.equatorinitiative.org.
North & South: Two indigenous leaders share their perspectives on nature, forests and climate (Tribal
Link Foundation): People’s perspectives are often transformed by others through storytelling. Stories
provide an opportunity to empathize with and better understand difficult or uncomfortable subjects. This
session highlighted the wisdom of indigenous leaders from the South and the North who shared their
perspectives on relationships with nature, forest initiatives, and climate change. This session featured a
conversation with Chief Tashka Yawanawa of the Yawanawa peoples of Brazil’s Amazon rainforest and
Chief Robert HawkStorm Birch of the Schaghticoke First Nation from the Northeastern US. Michael
Ventura, CEO of Sub Rosa and author of “Applied Empathy,” facilitated the conversation. A talkback
Photo by Grupo
Ecológico Sierra Gorda
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segment engaged and encouraged audience members to share why they were at the event, why they care
about forests, and how they feel about the indigenous perspectives shared. Click here for full video
coverage of the session. Here are specific clips from the event focusing on Amazon mobilization and
“maybe we needed this crisis.”
Mobilizing Finance: #GreenYourWallet: A Financial Response to the Climate Crisis (UNDP): This #GreenYourWallet event was
the start of a call to action, beginning with those who walk the talk on mobilizing green finance. It was the
catalyst needed to accelerate and amplify industry-wide demand and commitment. The panel inspired
participants to rethink and redirect capital to help deliver on the promise of a climate-smart future. Here
is the full video of the session as well as quotes galore from the panel.
Emergent and ART: A new structure for scaling finance for tropical forest protection (EDF, NICFI, Climate
and Forest Capital, Meridian Institute): Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) publicly launched two parallel
initiatives to help scale finance for tropical forest conservation: Emergent Forest Finance Accelerator
(Emergent), and the Architecture for REDD+ Transactions (ART). Emergent is a new nonprofit finance
facility established by EDF in partnership with the Rockefeller Foundation, the government of Norway,
and other partners that will help corporations and other buyers to easily access credits from jurisdictional
level forest protection programs that meet the highest environmental and social standards, while
providing guaranteed long-term demand to forest jurisdictions and facilitating access to a range of private
buyers. Emergent will rely on the ART, which will provide a rigorous standard comprehensive process to
transparently register, verify and issue emission reduction credits that will be fungible in carbon offset
markets, to assure the quality of good credits. Emergent and ART are dedicated to mobilizing large-scale
finance for national and subnational tropical forest and climate protection programs at the speed required
to combat the climate crisis. Resources: Emergent website, ART website.
Private Sector Action and Deforestation-free Commodities: Pathway to Achieving Deforestation-Free Commitments, a Public and Private Sector Perspective (WWF,
Climate Focus): During this session, representatives from civil society, governments and leading
companies took stock of the progress on commitments and discussed what needs to happen to accelerate
the pace of halting deforestation and ecosystem conversion. Shortly before the event WWF and Climate
Focus published a Discussion paper on the critical role of policies for deforestation and conversion-free
supply chains. Participants agreed that more
meaningful public-private sector
collaborations are needed to achieve this as
well as the need for joint monitoring
mechanisms, including maps and tools such
as the Accountability Framework.
Resources: WWF statement on New York
Declaration on Forests Progress Assessment,
Turning the New York Declaration on Forests
to New York Action on Forests.
Photo by WWF
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“How do we push not for incremental improvements but a full transformation has been missing from the dialogue,” said Kevin Rabinovitch, Global VP
Sustainability and Chief Climate Officer, Mars
Produce, Conserve, Include: Corporate engagement in a jurisdictional approach in Mato Grosso
(Environmental Defense Fund): Environmental Defense Fund organized an event to highlight corporate
actions to support the Produce, Conserve, Include initiative (PCI)—Mato Grosso, Brazil’s sustainable
development strategy. Through the PCI, Mato Grosso has committed to a robust set of goals that will
increase agricultural productivity while reducing deforestation. These goals could avoid over 6 gigatons of
emissions by 2030. During the event, Governor Mauro Mendes of Mato Grosso reaffirmed his support for
the PCI, and shared his plan to eliminate illegal deforestation through investment in a satellite monitoring
system to enable real-time environmental law enforcement. Corporate leaders from Amaggi and Marfrig
spoke about how they are supporting the PCI by linking investments in their supply chain to the state’s
broader goals. The session sent a clear message that development does not need to come at the expense
of forests, and that public-private partnerships such as those in Mato Grosso can be scaled to drive
transformative change. Resources: Produce, Conserve, Include overview page; PCI Pitchbook: an overview
of projects ripe for corporate engagement in Mato Grosso that layer into PCI’s goals; Video on the
Araguaia League, one of the PCI Pitchbook Priority Projects; and an animated video about the jurisdictional
approach.
Closing the accountability loop: assessing progress toward deforestation-free supply chains (Meridian
Institute): This session engaged participants in a robust discussion on measuring and demonstrating
progress against no-deforestation commitments in order to drive accountability across forest-risk
commodity sectors. Panelists representing agricultural commodity producers and buyers as well as
initiatives that track, assess, and facilitate reporting on corporate commitments related to deforestation-
free supply chains reflected on the challenges, opportunities, and upcoming priorities for the reporting
and assessment space.
Science and Technology: Meet the Scientists: Trouble Below the Canopy: the climate costs of unseen forest degradation (WCS,
WWF): During this session, Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) and the University of Queensland
presented exciting new science on the value of intact forests for carbon sequestration and the impact of
their continued deforestation. World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and UNEP-World Conservation Monitoring
Centre presented new research showing an alarming decline of global forest wildlife populations and
made the climate change case for why this matters, using a connected new piece of ground-breaking
global analysis on the role of wildlife in forest regeneration and carbon storage. Read the reports here:
Below the Canopy: plotting global trends in forest wildlife populations & Quantifying the impacts of
defaunation on natural forest regeneration in a global meta-analysis.
Using Spatial Data to Advance Nature-based Solutions for Climate Change (UNDP, FAO): How can we
ensure that stakeholders at the local, national, and international levels take action for nature and climate
using cutting-edge science? During this event, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) explored a sampling of tools and platforms that provide
access to spatial data for forest monitoring and conservation planning purposes. UNDP showcased the UN
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Biodiversity Lab and its tools and key features to support biodiversity reporting and monitoring and the
implementation of national policies. FAO showed how Open Foris can be used to support policymakers to
conduct national-level analyses on forest monitoring for climate action; they also launched the new SEPAL
2.1 Platform. Equator Prize 2019 Winner, Comunidades Nativas de Nuevo Saposoa y Patria Nueva de
Mediación Callería from Peru, explored how communities can effectively use satellite imagery and mobile
phone apps to rapidly detect and respond to illegal deforestation. Read more about this session and see
the presentations here.
Forest Restoration: Beyond tree planting: Unlocking natural regeneration to cost-effectively sequester carbon
(Conservation International): We have less than 10 years. We now know that, in order to avoid
catastrophic climate change, carbon must be actively and rapidly removed from the atmosphere.
Ecosystem restoration is currently the only approach available to do this at scale. Restoration has the
potential to provide over 15% of the climate mitigation solution needed to keep atmospheric
temperatures from rising above 1.5 degrees Celsius. Governments, NGOs, and the private sector are
rallying around restoration as an opportunity to heal a dying planet. But meeting the global need by using
current restoration approaches could cost over USD$800 billion. How do we cost-effectively restore
landscapes, sequester carbon, fix damaged habitats, and provide livelihoods for over 3.2 billion people
who currently suffer the effects of land degradation? This event began to answer these questions by
making the case for assisted natural regeneration, the ability of ecosystems to restore themselves if
they’re given a little help. Leading scientists discussed how countries and organizations can develop cost-
effective approaches to landscape forest restoration in order to rise to the planetary need. The session
ended with a video of the development of the largest restoration program in the Brazilian Amazon.
Speakers included Bronson Griscom (Conservation International), Manuel Guariguata (CIFOR), and
Jennifer Powers (University of Minnesota), moderated by Nikola Alexandre (Conservation International).
New forest landscape restoration initiative in Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia to unlock climate
action (IUCN): Forest landscape restoration (FLR) is a Nature-based Solution that delivers mitigation and
adaptation outcomes. It is at the crux of global goals such as the Bonn Challenge, SDGs, Paris Agreement,
and Land Degradation Neutrality. Multiple efforts are underway to mainstream FLR within land and forest-
based targets in Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) by facilitating action on the ground and
raising ambition for the next round of NDC submissions. Countries as diverse as Azerbaijan, Armenia,
Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Scotland in Europe, the Caucasus, and
Central Asia (ECCA) are rising to the restoration opportunity. The new initiative aims to bring 30 million
hectares of degraded and deforested landscapes in ECCA into restoration by 2030, in support of the Bonn
Challenge, the New York Declaration on Forests and the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration. This
initiative will generate partnerships and promote knowledge sharing on climate change mitigation and
adaptation potential of FLR among governments, private actors, and other stakeholders, to mobilize
financial resources and technical support for implementation. The event featured short TED Flash talks
from restoration champions and a moderated exchange with the audience including live polling. Speakers
included: Madame Minister Svenja Schulze, Germany; Representatives of Kazakhstan, Georgia, Italy and
Poland; Dr Grethel Aguilar, Acting Director General, IUCN; and Karin Kemper, World Bank. Read more
about the initiative here.
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Consultation on the UN decade on ecosystem restoration (2021-2030) (UNEP): The UN Decade of
Ecosystem Restoration 2021-2030 was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) as
resolution A/RES/73/284 on 1st March 2019, following the invitation to the General Assembly by the
Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity at its fourteenth meeting, in its
decisions 14/30. The UNGA invited the United Nations Environment Programme and the Food and
Agriculture Organization of the United Nations to lead the implementation of the Decade, in collaboration
with the secretariats of the Rio conventions, other relevant multilateral environmental agreements and
entities of the United Nations system, including by identifying and developing possible activities and
programmes, within their mandates and existing resources, and through voluntary contributions, as
appropriate. This consultation invited participants to share their views, expectations, advice, and guidance
on how to make the Decade impactful, and how to link with other existing and forthcoming International
Decades, and with relevant International Days.
Multi-stakeholder and Multi-Sectoral Action:
NYDF 5-Year Anniversary and Leadership
event (NYDF Global Platform): The day
concluded with the NYDF 5-Year
Anniversary Event, where endorsers and
NYDF partners gathered to reflect on the
progress and challenges in confronting
deforestation and restoration to date, and
explore emerging solutions and seeds of
hope. The event presented two important
reports that paint a picture of the status of
global deforestation and restoration and
highlight individual and localized progress
to date, setting the stage for the coming
years of much-needed urgent forest action: The NYDF 5-Year Assessment Report, and the NYDF Endorser
Perspectives Report. Gabon and Norway, through the Central African Forest Initiative (CAFI), announced
a historic 150 million US dollar agreement which also raises the per ton price of carbon dioxide equivalent
avoided (CO2e) from USD 5 to USD 10. For a full Summary of the NYDF event, click here.
“It is not enough for indigenous communities to have recognition and title over their land - though of course that is necessary. They also need opportunity. And
that comes from valuing the services of the forest.” –Hon. Lucía Delfina Ruíz Ostoic, Minister of Environment, Peru
Other Resources: Forest Day summary by Nature4Climate: https://nature4climate.org/news/naturenow-wrap-up-
sunday-22nd-september/
To read about the rest of the Hub events, visit the Natural Climate Solutions (NCS) Newsroom:
https://nature4climate.org/news/
UNDP Press Release: Nature’s Climate Hub events at the UN Climate Week
Photo by Meridian Institute