International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development

Kathmandu, Nepal

International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development

Kathmandu, Nepal

Youth Perspectives on Promoting Green Economy in Asia Pacific Mountains: Options and Opportunities

Tek Jung Mahat Node Manager

Asia Pacific Mountain Network (APMN) tmahat@icimod.org

Outline of the presentation

•  Regional contexts of the HKH, SEAP and CA regions

•  Assessment process and methods •  Key Messages

HKH Region: the key features

Four global biodiversity hotspots, two mega-diversity countries, and 12 global eco-regions.

Region with 40% of the global poor; poor progress in meeting MDGs; weak institutions in LDCs; good governance largely missing; lack of political commitment to SMD;

HKH glaciers – the third pole - are sources of freshwater reserves

providing head waters for 10 major river

systems in Asia – a lifeline for almost one

third of humanity

Central Asia

A majority of the people earn a living by herding livestock. Industrial activity centers in the region's cities.

Varied geography (high passes and mountains (Tian Shan), vast deserts (Kara Kum, Kyzyl Kum, Taklamakan), and especially treeless, grassy steppes.

South East Asia and Pacific

Source: http://www.world-maps.co.uk/continent-map-of-south-east-asia.htm (Accessed on 2 September 2011)

One of earth’s mega diverse regions; vast

reserves of unique floras and faunas;

source of rich timber, mineral and water

resources and destination of global private investors and

bioprospectors.

Home of diverse indigenous peoples and

cultures but are marginalized, poor, and

neglected.

Mountains not mainstreamed in the governance system,

policies are inadequate to strengthen sustainable

development.

Process and steps: Virtual (e-conference) consultations Table I: Summary information of ICIMOD’s organized three e-Conferences (Stakeholder Consultation on Rio+20 Conference) e-conference event

Event duration

No. of stakeholders participated

Countries represented with major concentration

Total contributions and eye catchers

HKH 4-24 April 2011

296 20 countries in AP, Europe, North & Latin America (mostly from HKH)

Over 210 Key topics: shifting cultivation, water & other drivers of change

South and Central Asia (Youth Perspective)

9-29 May 2011

550 38 countries AP, Europe, North & Latin America (mostly from HKH & Central Asia)

Over 400 Key topics: green jobs, technology transfer and alternative energy, mainstreaming youth in Rio+20 process

Southeast Asia and Pacific

1-30 June 2011

150 20 countries AP, Europe, North & Latin America (mostly from South and Southeast Asia)

Over 100 Key topics: NR conflicts, indigenous community rights over NRs,

Process and steps: Commissioning of case studies Table II: Distribution of case studies by countries and themes Event Countries

covered No. of case studies and purpose

Thematic focus

HKH (covered by commissioned case studies)

India, Bhutan, Nepal, and Pakistan

10 ( assess balance between three pillars – economic, ecological and social/institutional – of SD/SMD); policy review implementation status).

Biodiversity, Community Forestry; Eco-tourism; Micro-hydro; Bio-gas; Organic Agriculture; Watershed; CBNRM; REDD+

South East Asia and Pacific (case studies done)

Indonesia, Philippines, PNG and Vietnam

4 (examination of what worked and what did not and what are the policy weaknesses)

Watershed management, forest conservation, Beekeeping and bio-resources conservation

HKH (key informant’s sharing)

Bangladesh, China, Myanmar, Afghanistan

General overview on country’s policy priority to SD/SMD

Capacity building, implementation of conventions and climate change

Process and steps Activities in the HKH and AP region

Table III: AP regional capacity building & knowledge sharing workshops Event Participating countries Key highlights Major outputs

Asia-Pacific Youth Forum on Climate Actions and Mountain Issues (convened as Asia Pacific Youth meeting on Rio+20), 8-12 August 2011

43 YOUTH from 17 countries

HKH: AFG, BAN, BHU, CHI, IND, MYA, NEP & PAK

SEAP/CA: Cambodia, Indonesia, Japan, Kazakhstan, Korea, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam

•  Capacity building sessions

•  Motivational sessions •  Sustainability

exercises •  Team works

developing youth statements for Rio+20

• Asia Pacific Youth Declaration on Climate Change and Sustainable Development

• Asia Pacific Youth Position paper on Rio+20

Regional Sharing Workshop on Assessment of Challenges and Opportunities in the Asia Pacific region for Rio +20, 23-25 August 2011

50 participants from 10 countries

HKH: AFG, BAN, BHU, CHI, IND, MYA, NEP & PAK

SEAP: Indonesia, Philippines, PNG and Vietnam

• Presentation of and discussion on case studies

•  Presentation of Key Informants

• Sub/regional group works to assess key issues, challenges and opportunities and develop recommendations

•  Finalization of structure of Assessment Report

• Documentation of key issues, challenges and opportunities

• Development of key recommendations

Major findings of the case studies

Case study theme Major highlights Trans-boundary Eco-tourism, Bhutan and Sikkim (India)

Important source of income to local community with relatively more distributive effects (higher income equity)

Van Panchayats (Community forestry), Uttarakhand, India

Provides multiple benefits including carbon co-benefits; successful strengthened traditional institution

Development of Forestry CDM, Himachal Pradesh, India

One of the few forestry CDMs in India; helps strengthen/develop traditional as well as new forestry institutions; benefit amounts and sharing are issues

Promotion of Organic Agriculture, Uttarakhand, India

highly people centric, environmental friendly, and remunerative community acceptance. Improved agro-ecosystem resilience, Soil carbon deposits; reduced costs; increased net income;

Major findings of the case studies

Case study theme Major highlights of findings Medicinal Plants/NTFPs, Uttarakhand, India

One of the most important bio-resources; identification and removal of policy barriers can improve access to medicinal plants by local people and double the benefits; can be a model sub-sector for SMD

Community-based NRM, Meghalaya, India

Enabling communities to participate in planning, designing, implementing and monitoring of NRM at local level empower indigenous communities and lead to an improved resource governance

Community forestry and REDD+ , Nepal

Good model of forest resource governance enabling farmers to improve livelihoods and participate in and benefit from REDD+; CF of Nepal is a model case for SMD as in gives “triple dividend” : improved environment in terms watershed management and biodiversity conservation, enhanced local income and carbon sequestration - adaptation, mitigation and poverty reduction

Major findings of the case studies

Case study theme Major highlights Bio-gas promotion Program, Nepal

A model program promoting massive peoples’ participation; significant social and economic benefits (carbon credits being paid) and recognized environmental benefits ( CDM board has awarded CER certificate); excellent global replication

Micro-hydal projects, Gilgit, Pakistan

Low-cost, clean and sustainable source of energy to remote mountain communities (off-grid locations) off-setting carbon emissions and generating and trading CERs under a UNFCCC recognized CDM programme.

Watershed management, KPK, Pakistan

Watershed conservation in catchment areas of a major water storage and hydroelectricity dam has multiple benefits; Policy weaknesses leads to poor sectoral coordination and poor integration of social and environmental pillars; future potentials are high including REDD+

Conservation area project, PNG

Aim was to have equal community participation and self-reliance and development of sustainable alternative livelihoods through conservation; equitable benefit sharing is not possible due to poor policy implementation

Major findings of the case studies

Case study theme Major highlights

Community-based Forest Honey Network, Indonesia

Establishing an effective ‘working’ network is key for sustainable NTFP management; support from government agencies is crucial; Indigenous honey production by the growers empowered community organizations, improved economic gains and enhanced conservation and SD/SMD

Integrated forest and watershed management, Philippines

Effective implementation of Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) can help a large population to escape from poverty, protect and expand forests, restore wildlife, provide health service and eventually utilize the generated revenue to meet the costs of social benefits

Collaborative forest management (CFM), Vietnam

Multi-stakeholder (at all levels) consultation is critical to ensure project sustainability and effective replication or up scaling; Convince all parties about benefits can lead to a win-win situation.

Key issues…

Key messages…

• Capacity building events are needed, that are rich in concepts, as well as the facts and figures related to Rio+20 focus areas. Youths need to advocate with solid facts and figures in hand and a logical argument: “Why we are important in this process?”

• A list of ‘youth expectations from Rio+20’, and the ‘expected role of youth in Rio+20 process’, should be made, and passed to the respective government focal points and UNCSD Secretariat/ UNEP/ UNDESA/ UNGA respectively.

• There should be a call for national meetings of government representatives and development communities to debate the role and realistic expectations of youth as a result of Rio+20; they should be asked how youth engagement can be improved.

• Virtual groups and subgroups would be useful to enhance understanding, communication and collaboration among the youth and promoting institutions.

Key messages…

• shift from ‘assistant’ to ‘managerial’ role in the process as we have the comparative advantage of knowing the latest technologies and emerging issues and have the calibre to manage changed situations.

• The provision of a ‘Green Youth Fund’ at the regional, national and sub-national level will enable many youth to start green businesses/entrepreneurship and to contribute to the green economy.

• This is a good time to demand a separate youth division as part of the proposed World Environmental Organisation or similar entities.

• International mechanisms like UNEP should be asked to start Green Youth Leadership programmes.

Thank you Thank you

"Youth should be given a chance to take an active part in the decision-making of local, national and global levels.“

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.