Insider Observations: Go deep and catalyze
Go deep and catalyze national REDD+ programs in a few strategic places sums up the strategy for TNC’s forest carbon strategy. To explain this strategy, Greg Fishbein (The Nature Conservancy) kicked off the session by taking stock of The Nature Conservancy’s strengths that can be leveraged for REDD+, as well as an honest assessment of where others are in the lead. Two areas that differentiate TNC from peer organizations are the ability to translate lessons from the ground into policy, and the integrated platform that allow us to take good science and field experiences to Capitol Hill, not to mention on-the-ground expertise. Leaders in other areas include CI and WWF in reducing demand for high-carbon products, and the World Bank and McKinsey in developing low carbon growth plans. Building on these strengths, TNC’s forest carbon work is focusing on jurisdictional approaches across multiple land uses working closely with government partners.
In her review of WWF’s forest carbon strategy, Liliana Davila Stern (WWF Mexico) pointed out the many areas of overlap including the development of learning platforms on pathways to REDD+ success. There are clearly many opportunities for TNC, WWF and other environmental and development NGOs to collaborate.
There is certainly plenty of work to be done, and there are increasingly more resources being brought to bear on the issue. Ulrich Apel (GEF) reminded us that the GEF is the largest financier of forests and is focusing 25% of the next replenishment on REDD+ and sustainable forest management.