GIZ support to Fiji Forestry

Christine FungLand Use Planning Specialist / Deputy Team Leader

SPC/GIZ Coping with Climate Change in the Pacific Island Region

giz - Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (German Agency for International Cooperation)

Is a federally-owned enterprise that supports the German government in the field of international development cooperation.

Is an implementing agency providing support through technical cooperation with partners

Has been cooperating with Pacific Island partners for more than 30 years

Has been supporting Fiji Forestry Department since 1985

History of partnership: FijiDate Project development Information

1985 (Jan) –1989 (Jun)

Fiji - German Forestry Project(Funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation & Development)

Pine Extension (with Forestry Department and Fiji Pine – handed over to Fiji Pine)

Agroforestry/Extension Trials & Awareness (with the Ministry of Agriculture)

1990 (Mar) –1994 (Dec)

Fiji - German Forestry Project

The Nakavu Sustainable Forest Management Pilot Project is established and research work undertaken

1993 - Consultation on a Regional Project

The Pacific Heads of Forestry requests regional assistance in the areas of forestry and agroforestry with particular interest in the SFM prescriptions from Nakavu.

GTZ offers assistance with its past experiences in particular in the bilateral Fiji-German Forestry Project

1994 (October)

The Pacific-German Regional Forestry Project (PGRFP) is established1994 – 1996: 1st Phase

The FAO/UNDP South Pacific Forestry Development Programme (SPFDP) is selected as an interim co-operation partner

1995 1995 – 1st regional planning workshop

For Fiji Drawa is identified as a pilot site for sustainable forest management

Fiji Drawa pilot site to apply the SFM prescriptions derived from the Nakavu research site (application)

SPC becomes regional partner; Project now called:

SPC/GTZ Pacific German Regional Forestry Project

MoU signed between GTZ and SPC.

MoU states…“SPC will undertake all possible efforts to sustain the activities in SIFM and agroforestry beyond the duration of this joint project and expand them to other Pacific Island Countries not covered by this Minutes of Meeting”…

1997 - 2000 SPC/GTZ Pacific German Regional Forestry Project 2nd phase

Review (March 2000) recommend Project phase to continue for another 4 years due to work in progress

2000 - 2003 3rd Project phase2002 – Project Evaluation

Evaluation in 2002 recommend Project continuation and increased activities in SLM

2003 – 2006 (later extended to 2007 + 2008)

4th Project phase Increased involvement of SPC-LRD and other agencies (increased membership from other sectors in SFM Working Committee) in Project activities.

2009 SPC/GTZ Adaptation to Climate Change in the Pacific Island Region Project (ACCPIR) established

4.2 milEuro for Jan 2009 – Dec 2012

-“Adaptation” exception made for Fiji: REDD+

2010 (Nov) SPC/GIZ Climate Protection through Forest Protection in Pacific Island Countries project begins

Funded by the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nulcear Safety, International Climate Initiative (ICI): EUR 4.9 million from November 2010 to the March 2015.

2011 (Jan) ACCPIR expanded to SPC/GIZ Coping with Climate Change in the Pacific Island Region

Additional 13mil Euro and extended to Dec 2015

Experiences and lessons learned

1. The Regional Project developed from useful outcomes of the Fiji Nakavu SFM research site

2. The Pacific-German Regional Project went through 3 extensions (4 Project phases: 1994 - 2008)– The development of pilots sites and capacity building of

all involved required long project timeframe

3. Importance of multi-stakeholder approach not only for implementation but for buy-in and political support as well

SFM (and SLM) Project support

Experiences

1. Progress in Fiji better than other Pacific Island Countries due to:

a. Strong enabling environment (Policy, Legislation, Institutional support, budget contribution)

b. SFM activities entrenched in the Ministry’s work plans and programmes

c. Good pool of human resources (as compared to other PICs)

d. Dedicated officerse. Commitment from other sectors

Collaborations and partnerships – national level

Experiences

1. Fiji supported with REDD+ (under a then climate change “adaptation” project) because:

a. Good track record of Fiji Forestry Departmentb. Recognised that all the work invested in SFM and in the

capacity development of the Forestry Department can be further utilised for REDD+

c. Strong commitment from the Government of Fiji

2. The Fiji REDD+ programme is currently contracting landowners who were trained in the SFM Project to carry out field inventory

Collaborations and partnerships – NATIONAL LEVEL

Experiences1. Partnership with the Secretariat of the Pacific Community:

a. Necessary for formally linking to the countries at the political level

b. Necessary for regional alignment and national coordination

c. SPC played coordination role for development partners in the forestry sector

d. SPC strengthened support to countries through provision of added technical expertise and funding

e. Conduit for communicating information and messages at the international arena

Collaborations and partnerships – REGIONAL LEVEL

Current initiatives

1. Collaboration between the two GIZ projects (& other development partners): REDD+ & climate change adaptation SFM & SLM ?

2. Ridge-to-Reef, integrated approach being applied in the Solomon Islands Choiseul Province (entire island)

a. Brings together various donors and implementing partners – USAID, UNDP, JICA, GIZ

b. Whole-of-island approach induces a multi-stakeholder involvement

c. Coordination of funds and interventions

Collaborations and partnerships – PROJECT LEVEL

German innovative funding The SPC/GIZ “Climate Protection through Forest

Conservation” project funded through the German International Climate Initiative (ICI)

The ICI receives funding from emissions trading ICI active in four areas:

– promoting climate-friendly economies– fostering measures to adapt to the effects of climate

change– ensuring the conservation and sustainable use of

natural carbon reservoirs, and – conservation of biodiversity

See Karl (GIZ) for more information

VINAKA