About GLF Peatlands 2024

Peatlands cover 3-4% of Earth’s land but store a third of global soil carbon. Despite their importance, 12% are degraded, contributing 4% of human-induced emissions.

Degradation, driven by agriculture and forestry, causes environmental and social issues like fires and economic damage. Managing peatlands effectively requires collaboration across sectors.

The Global Landscapes Forum (GLF) Peatlands 2024 Hybrid Conference brought together global stakeholders to address gaps in peatland science, policy, and practice. Held alongside the UNFCCC Bonn Climate Change Conference, it explored peatlands’ roles in carbon storage, biodiversity, and water regulation.

Global Significance and Challenges of Peatland Management

This plenary session explored the multifaceted significance of peatlands, examining their diverse meanings across sectors and scales. It addressed the complex challenges of peatland management, emphasizing constructive dialogue and deliberative governance. Global perspectives highlighted the imperative of peatland conservation amid transboundary impacts, calling for inclusive management models. The session also tackled financing challenges associated with peatland restoration and sustainable alternatives.

Speakers

Moderator: Juan Pablo Sarmiento Barletti, CIFOR-ICRAF.

Speakers: Daniel Murdiyarso, Principal Scientist at CIFOR-ICRAF; Berioska Quispe, General Director of Climate Change and Desertification at the Ministry of Environment, Peru; Heike Henn, Director for Climate, Energy and Environment at BMZ; Franziska Tanneberger, Director of the Greifswald Mire Centre; Vera Songwe, Chair and Founder of the Liquidity and Sustainability Facility; Bethany Copsey, Member of RE-PEAT; and Eka Cahyaningrum, Founder of Himba Raya Indonesia (HIRAI).

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Among the three largest tropical rainforests globally, only the Congo Basin has remained a strong net carbon sink, absorbing about 0.61 GtCO2e each year (approximately equivalent to Canada’s total GHG emissions annually).  

Although relatively undisturbed compared to other tropical forests, the Congo Basin is at significant risk today, with deforestation and forest degradation increasing quickly. These trends call for protective measures.

Congo Basin countries need to strike a balance between economic growth and natural resource conservation. Additionally, governance and public debt challenges hinder the implementation of regulations or green investments that could protect these forests. 

While several efforts to scale up green finance for forest conservation exist, finance has been largely insufficient to date and does not reflect the ecosystem and climate services it provides. 

Key messages   

This discussion paper, Increasing International Finance Flow to Sustain the Congo Basin’s Forests, proposes six strategies to mobilize public and private finance for sustainable development and forest conservation tailored to the Congo Basin’s characteristics, needs, and priorities:

1. Scaling public finance: Establishing a sustainable forest trust for the Congo Basin. 
2. Increasing fiscal space in Congo Basin countries: Assigning value to the Congo Basin’s natural assets to encourage long-term investments. 
3. Stimulating investments in conservation: Issuing a forest bond linked to new ecosystem payments. 
4. De-risking private investment: Enhancing the use of guarantees in the context of climate finance and green growth. 
5. Investing in pipeline development: Creating an investment and technical assistance facility for environmental markets. 
6. Attracting foreign direct investment: Establishing environmental markets investment promotion agencies in the countries of the Congo Basin. 

Climate Focus developed this discussion paper in collaboration with WWF and the Commission des Forêts d’Afrique Centrale (COMIFAC).  

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Adopting a landscape approach to investing in peatlands

This paper details the importance of strategically investing in the conservation and restoration of peatlands, illuminating the wide-ranging positive impacts of such investments for climate, nature, local communities and investors.

 

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About the Restoration Experiences Digital Forum

The climate and biodiversity crises are already affecting people and landscapes around the world. But there’s one natural remedy that can tackle them both: restoring degraded and damaged landscapes.

There are already countless restoration projects that are turning degraded landscapes into beacons of hope and resilience. At the Restoration Experiences Digital Forum, we got the chance to get to know some of these projects and meet the people behind them.

Discover how local restoration projects are reshaping landscapes globally, and get inspired to start your own!

Project Presentations Unveiled

These slides showcase the presentations delivered by each restoration experience project. Get to know these amazing restoration champions, and discover the valuable lessons embedded in their successes and challenges. Dive into the milestones that define their journey, and embrace the friendly calls to action they passionately support.

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Learn how we can protect our food, water, carbon stocks and biodiversity by restoring landscapes

The climate and biodiversity crises are already affecting people and landscapes around the world. But there’s one natural remedy that can tackle them both: restoring degraded and damaged landscapes.

There are already countless restoration projects that are turning degraded landscapes into beacons of hope and resilience. At the Restoration Experiences Digital Forum, we got the chance to get to know some of these projects and meet the people behind them.

Discover how local restoration projects are reshaping landscapes globally, and get inspired to start your own!

Timestamps

0:00 Loop intro

5:26 Opening remarks

13:23 Harvesting restoration experiences

1:56:58 How policy and finance can support restoration

2:46:13 Announcement of the 2024 Restoration Stewards

2:50:33 Closing statement

Resources

Project presentations

7 steps to launch your own restoration project

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About GLF Nairobi 2023: ‘A new Vision for Earth’

The GLF Nairobi 2023 Hybrid Conference, held on October 11 and 12, convened global thought leaders to set the stage for COP28, the upcoming UN Climate Change Conference. This pivotal event mobilised action on critical issues affecting humanity, biodiversity, and our planet.

The conference featured two focused days: Day 1 centered on “Africa’s Sovereign Solutions,” exploring pathways to a sustainable and prosperous future for the continent. Day 2, dedicated to climate, aimed to craft a “Survival Guide for a Planet in Crisis,” paving the way for a fairer world ahead of COP28.

GLF Nairobi brought together a diverse coalition of influential voices, ranging from scientists, activists, and Indigenous leaders to financiers, women, youth, policymakers, and private sector representatives. As a united front, we collectively championed change and passionately advocated for meaningful action in these pivotal times.

About Sandrine Dixson-Declève

Sandrine Dixson-Decleve is Co-President of the Club of Rome and divides her time between leading the Club of Rome, advising, lecturing, and facilitating difficult conversations. She shares her vision for Earth:

 

“By investing in a specific sector without actually changing the current system that perpetuates poverty and inequality, we will not solve our climate crisis. The two key aspects that emerged from all our analyses indicate that poverty and inequality will continue to be the greatest existential threat.”

 

Learn more about the GLF Nairobi 2023 Hybrid Conference here 

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About GLF Nairobi 2023: ‘A new Vision for Earth’

The GLF Nairobi 2023 Hybrid Conference, held on October 11 and 12, convened global thought leaders to set the stage for COP28, the upcoming UN Climate Change Conference. This pivotal event mobilised action on critical issues affecting humanity, biodiversity, and our planet.

The conference featured two focused days: Day 1 centered on “Africa’s Sovereign Solutions,” exploring pathways to a sustainable and prosperous future for the continent. Day 2, dedicated to climate, aimed to craft a “Survival Guide for a Planet in Crisis,” paving the way for a fairer world ahead of COP28.

GLF Nairobi brought together a diverse coalition of influential voices, ranging from scientists, activists, and Indigenous leaders to financiers, women, youth, policymakers, and private sector representatives. As a united front, we collectively championed change and passionately advocated for meaningful action in these pivotal times.

About Dragons Den Plenary

The Dragons Den Plenary  featured innovative nature-based solution companies presenting their initiatives to a panel of expert judges, focusing on environmental impact, financial viability, and scalability. The meeting stressed the existential threat of biodiversity loss and the climate crisis, advocating for a new vision for Earth prioritizing all life forms. Speakers called for radical measures, including habitat restoration and reducing carbon emissions, with an emphasis on reforming access to climate finance through multilateral banks.

The East African Development Bank was proposed as a partner for action, emphasizing the need for tangible steps over mere rhetoric. The meeting underlined the importance of collective action to address environmental challenges and transition away from fossil fuels toward renewable energy sources.

The post Dragons’ Den: Moving towards landscape investments appeared first on Global Landscapes Forum.

About GLF Nairobi 2023: ‘A new Vision for Earth’

The GLF Nairobi 2023 Hybrid Conference, held on October 11 and 12, convened global thought leaders to set the stage for COP28, the upcoming UN Climate Change Conference. This pivotal event mobilised action on critical issues affecting humanity, biodiversity, and our planet.

The conference featured two focused days: Day 1 centered on “Africa’s Sovereign Solutions,” exploring pathways to a sustainable and prosperous future for the continent. Day 2, dedicated to climate, aimed to craft a “Survival Guide for a Planet in Crisis,” paving the way for a fairer world ahead of COP28.

GLF Nairobi brought together a diverse coalition of influential voices, ranging from scientists, activists, and Indigenous leaders to financiers, women, youth, policymakers, and private sector representatives. As a united front, we collectively championed change and passionately advocated for meaningful action in these pivotal times.

About this session

Hosted by the East African Development Bank. The session explored climate finance access for local communities and featured expert panelists discussing climate challenges and the role of multilateral banks. They emphasized the urgency of climate action, discussed innovative solutions like small-scale renewable energy projects, and stressed the importance of financial collaboration. The meeting also highlighted the impact of climate change on agriculture and the need for practical solutions.local

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About the FOLUR Annual Meeting

The FOLUR Impact Program brought together over 100 country projects and core partners in São Paulo, Brazil, to discuss topics surrounding land restoration and sustainable value chain implementation over the course of four days.

In this video, the GLF’s Eden Flaherty sits down with Hannah Simmons, Founder and CEO, Ecosystem Regeneration Associates.

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This report, commissioned by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) in support of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, assesses funding sources for local non-profit organizations engaged in ecosystem restoration in Central America and Africa. Ecosystem restoration is crucial for addressing climate and biodiversity issues and can generate substantial economic and environmental benefits.

Local non-profit organizations play a vital role in restoration efforts, given their knowledge of local needs and solutions. However, they face challenges accessing funding due to limited options and mismatches in project sizes and funders’ expectations. Three key actors in restoration funding are public funders, private investors, and civil society organizations.

Key Recommendations for non-profits, funders, and development partners

For non-profit implementers, common funding options are grants and public sector policies like subsidies. The report outlines 14 relevant funding options, including target groups, geographic scope, thematic areas, and eligibility criteria. Intermediaries, such as national environmental funds, can help connect local implementers with funding sources:

• Familiarize with national restoration funding infrastructure.
• Understand donor language, eligibility criteria, and application processes.
• Partner with international NGOs, UN Agencies, and development partners.
• Explore results-based finance instruments for long-term funding.
• Utilize matchmaking platforms to navigate the funding landscape.
• Develop the capacity of national environmental funds in Central America and Africa.
• Foster knowledge exchange and networks among local implementers for funding accessibility.
• Build an economic case for ecosystem restoration through valuation assessments.
• Expand small-grants programs for local non-profits.
• Diversify funding streams for long-term sustainability.

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