GM to facilitate enhanced UNCCD implementation in the Latin American and Caribbean region
25 February, 2008
The Forum of Ministers of the Environment of Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), organized by the Dominican Republic through the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), from 27 January to 1 February 2008, requested the GM to prepare a proposal for the LAC region to facilitate the mobilization of financial resources for UNCCD implementation at regional, sub-regional and national levels, including specific actions and modalities, in line with the UNCCD’s 10 Year Strategic Plan and Framework. This proposal will be developed in conjunction with UNEP and the Interagency Technical Committee, comprising the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Economic Commission for Latin America (ECLAC), and Inter-American Development Bank (IADB).
The Forum was an opportunity for the GM to promote its issues in the context of the priority areas of the UNCCD Regional Action Plan (RAP) and to interact with government officials on opportunities for mainstreaming and financing sustainable land management (SLM). The GM has been working with several countries in the region to design Integrated Financing Strategies to increase investment flows for UNCCD implementation, promote innovative funding sources, harmonize public policies and conduct cost analyses of the failure to effectively combat land degradation.
The Ministers and Heads of Delegations of the Governments requested that UNCCD issues be positioned higher on LAC development agendas, promoted linkages with mitigation and adaptation to climate change-related initiatives and integrated ecosystems management, and called for a review of available financing opportunities.
Mr Alejandro Kilpatrick, the GM’s Programme Coordinator for LAC, presented the GM’s activities in the region including the Platform to Promote Investment in Central America and the Partnership Initiative for Sustainable Land Management (PISLM) in the Caribbean, to the Ministerial Segment. The GM also contributed to the Ministerial Dialogue on Integrated Ecosystem Management focusing on the integration of UNCCD issues into development agendas and in terms of policy harmonization.
The Forum called for the GM to continue its support of PISLM as part of the Caribbean Small Island Developing States (SIDS) Initiative and as a vehicle for enhancing synergistic implementation of the Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs).
Other Forum decisions included, a request for the GM to enhance coordination with other international cooperation agencies, in particular with multilateral development banks, international financial facilities and the Global Environment Facility (GEF) to establish programmes and budgetary provisions for SLM.
The government of the Dominican Republic, the GM and the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), agreed to develop an initiative. "SLM as a tool for adapting to climate change", building on similar actions being undertaken by the GM and FAO in Honduras.
For more information:
Mr Alejandro Kilpatrick, Programme Coordinator, Latin America and the Caribbean
Tel. +39 06 5459 2524
a.kilpatrick (at) global-mechanism.org
Related Links
Read more about Partnership Initiative for Sustainable Land Management (PISLM)