USAID Conserve’s Post

Namibia making strides in global environment agreements: Namibia has finalised efforts to participate in the Africa Forest Landscape Restoration Initiative (AFRO 100), which aims to restore 100 million ha of land in Africa by 2030. This is according to a senior official in the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism. Natalia Nakashona says the roadmap for Namibia to take part in this initiative was submitted to the AFRO 100 secretariat in Pretoria last year. The AFRO 100 is set to complement the Bonn Challenge, which is a global goal aimed at restoring 150 million ha of degraded and deforested land by 2020, and 350 million ha by 2030, as well as the African Union-led Great Green Wall Initiative, which aims to restore 100 million ha of land, sequester 250 million tonnes of carbon, and create 10 million jobs in Africa. Participating in the AFRO 100 is one of the goals Namibia has achieved towards the implementation of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), says Nakashona. She made a presentation at the two-day second bi-annual meeting of the national committee on the Rio Conventions i Windhoek last week. The meeting was on the progress Namibia has made during 2023/24 under the UNCCD. Nakashona said a working group to coordinate the implementation of this endeavour is yet to be established. She said Namibia has secured US$150 000 to implement the Great Green Wall Innovation Programme from the Global Environment Facility, in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme. Namibia has also secured US$20 000 from the secretariat of the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity for the implementation of a bio-bridge project, focusing on the little unfinished work on land degradation and knowledge management in the Ohangwena and Kunene regions. This is in an effort to attain land degradation neutrality (LDN) in Namibia. Thus far, the environment ministry has appointed a consultant to do LND data analysis, and has secured two interns to assist with LDN soil samples and data processing. Nakashona said Namibia has also completed its national action plan for the implementation of the Great Grean Wall Initiative. She said some of the challenges the ministry is experiencing are a lack of interest from development partners to support projects related to these issues, and lack of national data to update the UNCCD reporting and progress. Meanwhile, Sion Shifa, who deals with climate change issues in the environment ministry, said Namibia has a national framework on carbon markets, and the country is now in the process of establishing a carbon market fund. He said the ministry, with the financial support from the World Bank, has hired a consultant to work on this. Shifa said the ministry has also hired a national climate financial adviser, while Namibia’s updated national determined contributions have been approved…

"Ireland consistently ranks among the lowest within the European Union (EU) across a range of environmental indicators. The country is not on track to meet its commitments under the Paris Agreement, and emissions are increasing rather than decreasing in some key areas, including agriculture and transportation. In addition to GHG emissions, Ireland has multiple other troubling environmental indicators. It holds the dubious record of being the country with the worst wetlands depletion of any nation in the world over the past three centuries. Ireland also scores below the EU average on multiple metrics including air quality, the percentage of river water that is unpolluted, and the proportion of land that is protected. "A small European island-nation with a population of just over 5 million, the Republic of Ireland has a comparatively small fossil fuel industry and a strong cultural tradition of agriculture and burning high-carbon-emitting peat for home heating in rural areas. Ireland also has a long history of eco- logical exploitation and extraction derived from its colonial past as part of the British Empire. This legacy continued post-independence with successive national policies that incentivized draining wetlands to intensify food production and planting non-native monoculture forestry." A great read from one of my DCU CASTeL research centre colleagues Orla Kelly et al.

🌍 **New Law on Nature Restoration: A Giant Step for Europe!** 🌱 On August 18, Europe takes a crucial step for the future of our planet with the entry into force of the Law on Nature Restoration. This historic legislation aims to restore degraded ecosystems on 20% of the EU's land and sea by 2030, with full coverage by 2050. 🔄 **Key Objectives:** - Restore forests, peatlands, marine areas, agricultural land, and freshwater. - Develop urban green spaces to purify the air and cool cities. - Restore at least 25,000 km of free-flowing rivers by 2030. 🌊 - Halt the decline of pollinators and restore populations of farmland birds. 🐝🌾 - Contribute to the commitment to plant 3 billion trees by 2030. 🌳 🚀 **Why is this important?** The EU's biodiversity is in alarming decline, with more than 80% of European habitats in poor condition. This law is essential to reverse this trend, achieve climate neutrality, and ensure food and water security for citizens. It aligns with the Global Biodiversity Framework Kunming-Montreal adopted at COP15. 🌍🌱 🌱 **Next Steps:** Each Member State must develop a national restoration plan within two years, with milestones set for 2030, 2040, and 2050. These plans, developed transparently with public participation, will define specific measures tailored to each country to achieve the set objectives. 🇪🇺✍️ 💡 **Funding:** Member States can mobilize public and private funds, including European funds such as the CAP, regional funds, the LIFE program, Horizon Europe, and the European Maritime, Fisheries, and Aquaculture Fund. 💶 💬 **A Restored Nature, A Secure Future!** Healthy ecosystems are essential for a resilient Europe in the face of climate and economic challenges. By restoring nature, we invest in our future and that of future generations. **📚 Learn more:** [Law on Nature Restoration](https://lnkd.in/epQEMTCk) 👉 **#Biodiversity #Climate #RestoreNature #GreenDeal #NatureInEurope #EcologicalTransition**

The EU has narrowly approved a new "#Nature Restoration Law." What's in it? And what might that mean for Europe? Many of my European connections are celebrating (and lamenting) a narrow victory for the Nature Restoration Law. Many thanks to Euronews for this timely summary. Of note: 🌳 The law "aims to restore at least 20% of EU's land and sea areas by 2030 and all degraded ecosystems by 2050." 🌳 The law is the first of it's kind, both in scope (continent-wide) and also in the binding targets and obligations for member states. 🌳 The goals are to increase #biodiversity, pollinate crops and improve food security, and prevent and reduce the impact of natural disasters. 🌲 The hope is that this law will help Europe meet the Paris Agreement Pledge to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. Of course, I'm curious about how this bold law will translate into action. ❓ Especially given the narrow victory... and... 🚜 Especially given the resistance we've seen from key EU groups (like #farmers) to similar #sustainability -style laws. I'd love to hear from any sustainability connections in Europe. --> How are you feeling about the implementation of this law? --> Are you anticipating a bumpy ride? * https://lnkd.in/gRCuT7HX

Agricultural, forestry, and other land use sectors are responsible for 22% of global greenhouse gas emissions. These investments not only contribute to climate change but are also vulnerable to its impacts, leading to land degradation, water scarcity, and related social issues like food insecurity and conflict, particularly in the Global South. To respond to these threats, several governments are proactively integrating climate considerations into their Investment Assessment Processes (IAPs). By doing so, they are mitigating the social, economic, and environmental costs of the realization of local and global climate risks. Read more about these innovative governance mechanisms in CCSI’s blog (https://lnkd.in/d2sS7u-a) and report (https://lnkd.in/eGd_rHkX) on the topic

Deforestation in Myanmar Timelines 2022 December 15 Myanmar lost 703kha of humid primary forest, making up 16% of its total tree cover loss in the same period. The total area of humid primary forest in Myanmar decreased by 5.0% in this period. 2021 February 13 While the period of peace and economic liberalization was accompanied by rapid development in Myanmar, the resurgence of conflict following the ousting of the civilian government in February 2021 has cast uncertainty across the country. 2019 June 05 The National Environmental Policy was adopted in 2019. The policy builds on Myanmar’s 1994 National Environmental Policy and has three core values acknowledging preserving the environment and natural resources for present and future generations. The policy recognizes and integrates Myanmar’s commitments to multilateral environmental agreements, including the Paris Agreement. 2018 September 20 Myanmar’s Forest Law, revised in 2018 based on the former Forest Law of 1992, is the main legal framework to implement the government’s forest and environmental conservation policies effectively. It is also consistent with the international agreement. The new Forest Law covers sustainable forest management principles while partly liberalizing property rights for timber, particularly teak, subject to ministerial instructions. It also aims to promote people’s participation in forest management while contributing to their basic needs. Currently, the government is drafting new Forest Rules. 2016 January 20 To be systematic and harmonized in all land and tenure rights at the National level, Myanmar developed a National Land Use Policy in 2016. It will be the guiding document for the enactment of the National Land Law, which will harmonize existing land-related laws and solve issues related to land use and tenure rights among all relevant institutions. 1992 The SLORC passed a new Forest Law that, for the first time, emphasized environmental conservation and 1993, shut down the Thai logging deals (Bryant). 1989 The Burmese state made deals with 42 Thai logging companies to log within the Thai-Burmese border resulting in the destructive deforestation of up to 18,000 square kilometers (7,000 sq mi). https://lnkd.in/dDymzTR3

👏The European Union Parliament has voted to restore 20% of the EU's land and sea- TLDR A new EU restoration law has passed in parliament this last week stating that degraded ecosystems will be restored in all states to help achieve the EU #climate and #biodiversity objectives and enhance food security. 🌲 Member states must restore at least 30% of habitats covered by the new law (from forests, grasslands and wetlands to rivers, lakes and coral beds) from a poor to a good condition by 2030, increasing to 60% by 2040, and 90% by 2050. 🌲Priority should be given to Natura 2000 areas until 2030. Once in a good condition, they shall ensure an area does not significantly deteriorate. 🌲Restoration of at least 30% of drained peatlands by 2030 (at least a quarter shall be rewetted), 40% by 2040 and 50% by 2050 (where at least one-third shall be rewetted). “Today is an important day for Europe, as we move from protecting and conserving nature to restoring it. The new law will also help us to fulfil many of our international environmental commitments. The regulation will restore degraded ecosystems while respecting the agricultural sector by giving flexibility to member states."- César Luena (S&D, ES) We applaud the EU Parliament for taking succinct and proactive steps to protect our shared home and allow for mass restoration. With over 80% of European habitats in poor shape, this will pave the way for future growth and abundance within natural systems and land areas. Read more 👇 https://lnkd.in/dCwN9VzP #nature #EU #europe #parliament #green #sustainability #tech #solutions #greentech #environment #climate #climatechange #climateaction

As a sweeping change is pushed through to marshal in a highly permissive fast track consenting regime, New Zealand's need to manage the impacts on the environment from development does not fade away. https://lnkd.in/gK85ZTdw Through this regime, we can expect to see more hurried consideration of harms and looser, weakly secured mitigation efforts...deeply concerning for species and ecosystems already in deep trouble given failures elsewhere in the system. Vanishing Nature noted in 2015 that we needed to do a very much better job of managing direct impacts of development, as they occur against a background of cumulative loss. Biodiversity offsets are commonly employed at the juncture of development and environmental protection in New Zealand and around the world. Offsetting is ostensibly intended to be a backstop - difficult, expensive and rarely called upon. Experience tells us that is not what happens in practice. Offsets are frequently used to limit the likelihood a development won't proceed. New Zealand has done some of the seminal research on the outcomes of these arrangements, see here: https://lnkd.in/gRmymPJA https://lnkd.in/gQTgf6uT Much literature has appeared in the last decade here and overseas, including the development of a regional guidance framework and the integration of offset frameworks into regional and national policy. How have we tracked and how does it compare to other jurisdictions? Does it mirror the Australian experience of poor trades and poorer implementation, demonstrated by the likes of Megan Evans (various, see here for a brief list) https://lnkd.in/g7CwsfYv and this recent research from the Australian Conservation Foundation - https://lnkd.in/gFkR6Rsc What has the last decade taught us about how we manage the 'unavoidable' impacts of development in Aotearoa - particularly as we enter a phase where the threshold for what needs to be avoided will likely be very much higher? ********************************************************************************* In 2015, the Environmental Defence Society (EDS) released Vanishing Nature: facing New Zealand's biodiversity crisis. You can find it available as a free PDF download on the link below. A keystone project for Mātaki Environmental over the coming year, in association with EDS and Dr Theo Stephens is to undertake a comprehensive review of the book. As part of the review, and to share the journey, Mātaki will highlight areas of change over the past near-decade... https://lnkd.in/g3f5phKA

Voting for Environmental Finance’s Voluntary Carbon Market Rankings 2024 is open until THIS Friday. Which means you still have a chance to vote for us! We offer high-integrity and high-value carbon offsets that make a real difference in where it matters the most. We want to show the World again what Zambia is doing for climate mitigation and adaptation using REDD+ as a robust, valuable, and sustainable form of climate finance in 2024. Together, with our community partners, the Forestry Department, The Ministry of Green Economy and Environment - Zambia, the DNPW, and the Ministry of Agriculture, we are helping to build resilience within the communities that partner with BCP against climate change at a time when we need to take action. The exposure and prestige of being ranked in Environmental Finance’s Voluntary Carbon Market Rankings will help us share the work we are doing with the carbon industry; giving us the badge of honor that we deserve, plus the recognition and respect to continue to make positive changes and show the World that Zambia is a proud African nation bringing the fight against climate change home to the people who need it the most! We are asking for just 5 minutes of your time (that’s right – we timed it) to vote for us in the Annual Environmental Finance’s Voluntary Carbon Market Rankings. After all of the support we received last year, this year we hope to feature in as many categories as we can - Awards we are aiming for in 2024: BCP- BioCarbon Partners for: Best Project Developer – Forestry and Land-Use Best Project Developer - Biodiversity Best Project Developer – Overall. LCFP – Luangwa Community Forests Project for: Best Individual Offsetting Project. Head over to https://lnkd.in/eKbSFBaA to vote for the LCFP and BCP today. #vote #carbonmarketrankings #BCP #LCFP #carboncredits #carbonoffsets #climatechange #climateimpacts

The EU nature restoration law, agreed upon with member states, will restore degraded ecosystems in all member states, help achieve the EU’s climate and biodiversity objectives, and enhance food security. To reach the overall EU targets, member states must restore at least 30% of habitats covered by the new law (from forests, grasslands, and wetlands to rivers, lakes, and coral beds) from poor to good condition by 2030, increasing 60% by 2040, and 90% by 2050. In line with Parliament’s position, EU countries should give priority to Natura 2000 areas until 2030. Once in good condition, EU countries shall ensure an area does not significantly deteriorate. Member states must also adopt national restoration plans detailing how they intend to achieve these targets. Restoration law includes legally binding targets for forest, marine, urban and agricultural ecosystems. Protecting and increasing biodiversity is seen as an essential step to limit global warming, and ultimately building up Europe’s resilience and strategic autonomy. The deal agreed with member states was adopted with 329 votes in favour, 275 against and 24 abstentions. It now also has to be adopted by Council, before being published in the EU Official Journal and entering into force 20 days later. 👉  For more info, visit the website: https://lnkd.in/dCwN9VzP 💭 If you want to learn more about #ecologicaljustice #rigthsofnature and #biodiversityconservation and be always up to date on our upcoming events and publications, follow Speak4Nature on Linkedin, Facebook, Instagram and X and keep an eye on our site speak4nature.ue 🍃 #speakfornature #speak4nature #environmentalproject #nature #rightsofnature #environmentalprotection #environmentalissues #environment #climatechange #climatecrisis