Side Event

AN INTERIM MECHANISM TO PROTECT TROPICAL FORESTS (IMPTF) AND SURROUNDING AREAS INCLUDING COASTAL FORESTS - EXPEDITE MARKET TO CAPTURE CARBON CREDITS, SAVE FOREST BIODIVERSITY AND EMISSIONS, AND STRENGTHEN PROTECTED AREAS THROUGH COMMUNITIES WITHIN CONNECTIVITY CONSERVATION INITIATIVES

Organizer
The WILD Foundation

Date and Time
27 October 2010 16:30 - 18:0

Meeting
Tenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP 10)

IMPTF calls for the introduction of a modified mechanism that would provide funding to qualifying projects existing within established and recognized Connectivity Conservation frameworks (or corridors) which can be regional as well as intra-national (with national approval), at least until countries have built up sufficient resources and have prepared national REDD strategies (as is currently being required). Because UNFCCC is committed to the REDD process, it is recommended that this new mechanism (provisionally called the Interim Mechanism to Protect Tropical Forests (IMPTF) be housed within the CBD umbrella, which is appropriate since IMPTF would prioritize areas for funding from a combination of public and private sources (i.e. carbon markets) that are not only high in carbon content, but are high in biodiversity value and community involvement, values not prioritized by REDD. IMPTF has recognized that experiences such as the LifeWeb Initiative can expedite the release of the necessary resources to implement on the ground actions to protect biodiversity via a climate change link. At the Nairobi 2010 SBSTTA meeting the Protected Areas and the Biodiversity and Climate Change working groups agreed to evaluate funding options in conjunction with others and called on various existing initiatives including LifeWeb to mobilize funding for the implementation of programme of work on protected areas. Specific references are contained under The UNEP/CBD/SBSTTA/14/L.5 In-Depth Review of the Implementation of the Programme of Work on Protected Areas; and The UNEP/CBD/SBSTTA/14/L.9 In-Depth Review of the Work on Biodiversity and Climate Change. Following the SBSTTA meeting, the co-chairs of IMPTF agreed to follow up on the actions recommended by the Parties and attend the CBD COP 10 Meeting at Nagoya in October with a view to developing an appropriate funding mechanism in conjunction with others.