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Adaptation to Climate Change in the Pacific Island Region
Leading Organization:
Implementing Agency and Partnering Organizations:
Summary:
Adaptation to Climate
Change in the Pacific
Island Region is a programme designed to strengthen the capacities of Pacific member countries and regional organizations, to adapt to, and mitigate climate change. The project will more particularly work on developing and subsequently implementing national adaptation strategies and integrating climate change issues into existing land use strategies and policies in Tonga and Vanuatu and Fiji. It also assists SPC-LRD in integrating climate change adaptation and mitigation concerns in SPC-LRD strategic approaches and advisory services. Finally, the project aims to connecting the Fijian forest sector to international carbon market instruments on certificates for avoided deforestation.
The SPC/GTZ (German Technical Cooperation) Project is the first climate change-specific project for SPC LRD. The Project has its origins from the Pacific Heads of Agriculture and Forestry Services (HOAFS) meeting of September 2006 where it was strongly recommended that the SPC Land Resources Division develop a regional project proposal on climate change. The Heads of the sectors recognised the urgent need to respond to the growing impacts of climate change and it was recommended that SPC LRD:
* support local communities of member countries to manage and adapt to climate change,
* support vulnerable communities to improve food and nutritional security, and
* focus on areas of land-based resource management (such as sustainable forest management, sustainable land management, sustainable agriculture) that can serve as climate change adaptation and mitigation.
Following the HOAFS meeting a proposal was drawn up by the Land Resources Division and in March 2007, the proposal was submitted to the Government of the Federal Republic Germany. The goal of the proposal was to strengthen the capacities of Pacific communities to adapt to and mitigate climate change through sustainable land based resource management. Drawing from the recommendations of the Heads of Agriculture and Forestry meeting, two components of the proposal were developed:
1. Climate change adaptation and mitigation through sustainable management of land-based natural resources, and
2. Climate change issues mainstreamed into regional and national policies and plans
In December 2007, the Government of Germany formally stated its financial commitment to work with the Secretariat of the Pacific Community on the proposed Project.
An appraisal mission carried out in late 2007 and early 2008 saw 3 countries selected for the regional programme. These are Fiji, Tonga and Vanuatu. Out of the 3, Fiji is the only country with a mitigating component, which is REDD (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation). This focus is in response to the consultations carried out with stakeholders in Fiji.
As seen from the sequence of events above, this regional programme is in some ways a reflection of the continued commitment of SPC in responding to the changing needs of our member states.
Project Components:
The overall objective of the programme is that:
“The capacities of the SPC member countries to cope with the adverse effects of climate change and to avoid deforestation are strengthened, with sustainable management of land based natural resources as a fundamental element”
Expected Outputs:
The following outcomes are expected:
- The sector programmes and working teams of SPC Land Resources Division systematically integrate climate change adaptation and mitigation concerns into its strategic approach and advisory services
Verification: LRD Strategy, advisory service offer, documentation of mainstreaming process
- At least 3 member countries access and utilize the new services and knowledge provided by SPC-LRD as a regional knowledge hub to develop and subsequently implement (at least 1 member country) efficient and effective national adaptation strategies
Verification: strategy documents in member countries, survey, documentation of pilot projects
- Existing strategies, planning documents and related processes on land use planning in Tonga and Vanuatu integrate climate change issues, with gender aspects taken into consideration, and the subsequent first steps in implementing these land use plans are carried out
Verification: Land use plans, reports on implementation of LUP, gender analysis of LUP
- Fiji signs at least one contract using international carbon market instruments on certificates for avoided deforestation
Verification: contract document (voluntary market, CDM, international fund)
Project Status:
Cofinancing Total:
Total Amounts:
Contacts:
Project Contacts
Dr Hermann Fickinger
Chief Adviser / Team Leader
Email: Hermann.Fickinger@gtz.de
Tel: +679-3305 983
Fax: +679-3315 446
Secretariat of the Pacific Community
Aleki Sasifa
Email: alekiS@spc.int
