Landscape and Resource Management to Increase Carbon Reserves in Central America (REDD+ Landscape / CCAD-GIZ) Initial Situation Central America covers only 0.5% of the earth's surface, but it is home to approximately 8% of the world's biodiversity. Additionally, it is one of the tropical regions most affected by climate change. The high population growth in the region, combined with poverty and weak political structures, has exerted pressure on the existing forest resources. Agricultural initiatives have been increasingly linked with natural forests, and further solutions and approaches are needed for the ecosystems and agricultural areas that border the forests. All of these factors together have led to a drastic reduction in forest surface area. Given these trends, negotiations are currently underway in the context of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), to debate the extent to which economic and institutional incentives can be generated for the reduction of emissions from deforestation and environmental degradation. Despite interest expressed by different countries, there is still a lack of appropriate framework conditions for the effective implementation of compensation mechanisms for the reduction of CO2 emissions from deforestation and forest degradation.
Program Name
Landscape and Resource Management to Increase Carbon Reserves in Central America (REDD+ Landscape / CCAD-GIZ
Contracter:
German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety (BMUB)
Program Region
Central America
Implementing Organization
Deutsche Gesellschaft fĂźr Internationale Zusammentarbeit (GIZ) GmbH
Duration
4 years (2014 - 2017)
Strategy The program contributes to planning new forms of land use for agriculture and forest exploitation in order to increase carbon reserves. These actions will produce emissions reduction as a result of avoided deforestation and carbon enrichment. The establishment and expansion of financing mechanisms for ecosystem services enables compensation payments for land users who employ sustainable and silvicultural methods, thus improving their long-term income.
Partners and Allies
Objective The objective of the program is the reconstruction of forest resources in landscapes within the framework of the REDD+ approach in Central America. The program also seeks to improve the environmental services of the region in the context of Forest Landscape Restoration efforts.
The program is executed under the auspices of the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety (BMUB) of the Federal Republic of Germany. The political counterpart for the project is the Central American Commission on Environment and Development (CCAD), which is part of the Central American Integration System (SICA).
Photographies description: Left: chain of volcanoes in Guatemala, volcanoes Santiaguito and Santa Maria. Credit: Sergio Izquierdo. Central: Artisanal fisherman in La Libertad, El Salvador. Credit: Omar Carbonero. Right: Dawn in Nosara, Guanacaste, Costa Rica. Credit: Sergio Pucci.
Program Structure Specific objectives: - Data collection and assessment on ecological dynamics and potential CO2 fixing in diverse land uses in pilot regions - Improvement of environmental services in the context of forest landscape restoration - Establishment and implementation of payment mechanisms for compensation and carbon sequestration - Actions to increase carbon reserves in soils and vegetation through improved agriculture and forest management in the pilot regions.
Program Area The countries that make up the Central American Commission on Environment and Development (CCAD) include: Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama and the Dominican Republic.
Credit: Alan Cubero
Forested Areas in the Region Forest Surface (1,000 hectares)
Country
1990
2000
2005
2010
Belize
1,586
1,489
1,441
1,393
Costa Rica
2,564
2,376
2,491
2,605
El Salvador
377
332
309
287
Guatemala
4,748
4,208
3,938
3,657
Honduras
8,136
6,392
5,792
5,192
Nicaragua
4,514
3,814
3,464
3,114
Panama
3,792
3,369
3,310
3,251
Dominican Republic TOTAL
1,972
1,972
1,972
1,972
27,689
23,952
22,717
21,471
Trends in forested area and annual change rates for 1990 - 2000 in Central America (FAO, 2010)
Publication
Deutsche Gesellschaft fĂźr Internationale Zusammentarbeit (GIZ) GmbH
In cooperation with:
REDD+ Landscape / CCAD-GIZ Program Apartado Postal 755 Boulevard Orden de Malta, Casa de la CooperaciĂłn Alemana, Urbanizacion Santa Elena, Antiguo Cuscatlan, La Libertad, El Salvador Tel +503 2121-5100 www.reddlandscape.org www.giz.de
Contracter:
Author
Dr. Laszlo Pancel
Graphic Design
Dr. Laszlo Pancel
Date
October 2016
Responsible for the content of this publication: Agency GIZ San Salvador
Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety of the Federal Republic of Germany This project is part of the International Climate Initiative (IKI). The German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety (BMUB) supports this initiative on the basis of a decision adopted by the German Parliament. www.international-climate-initiative.com