The IKI project “The Paris Agreement in action: upscaling forest and landscape restoration to achieve nationally determined contributions (NDCs)” has a regional component focusing on strengthening regional platforms, networks and initiatives to efficiently promote the preparation and implementation of forest and landscape restoration (FLR) programmes to achieve the Paris Agreement and Bonn Challenge.

A Technical Assistance Facility (TAF) is providing support to countries in the targeted regions for the development and implementation of large-scale FLR programmes linked to the achievement of their nationally determined contributions (NDCs). The goal is to provide specialized technical assistance to integrate FLR/land use and land-use change and forestry (LULUCF) in the investment frameworks of the NDCs and to build capacity on the preparation of concept notes and project proposals for dedicated land degradation and climate financing instruments (e.g. Green Climate Fund (GCF) and Land Degradation Neutrality Fund).

In the Pacific Islands region, the TAF was officially launched for the subregional exchange on FLR for the Pacific, organized jointly with the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in Nadi, Fiji, from 28 to 30 May 2019.

In this context, the Forest and Landscape Restoration Mechanism (FLRM) team initiated its support to the review of Vanuatu’s forest and landscape restoration strategy (FLRS), following the first request received from Vanuatu’s Forestry Department in October 2019 for a total amount of EUR 75 000. 

Vanuatu started to work on a national FLRS after launching the Decade of Reforestation in March 2016. The idea had been circulated and discussed within government circles and non-governmental organizations, from whom it received unanimous support. Forest restoration is an important component of sustainable forest management and a core objective of the forestry sector policy in Vanuatu. The Vanuatu forest restoration strategy is intended to drive the forestry sector towards self-sufficiency over the next ten years by building on strong interest from community groups to participate in tree planting.

The strategy is intended to be implemented with the participation of all groups in society. Specifically, it seeks to:

• control soil erosion and siltation to protect rivers, streams and the ocean;
• maintain or improve the fertility of soils and thereby contribute to food security;
• address the socio-economic needs of forest dwellers and forest-dependent communities;
• reduce pressure on natural forests and the vital services they provide;
• reduce the drivers of climate change.

The goal of the strategy is to unleash the productivity of Vanuatu’s green wealth, increase the social and economic wealth and create an environment that will improve the well-being of the Vanuatu people.

Between 2016 and 2018, three stakeholder consultations were conducted on Efate, Malekula and Santo to collect views and inputs from stakeholders. The results of these consultations have been incorporated into the first version of the strategy delivered in 2019. In order to ensure that this strategy was up to international standards, Vanuatu’ s Forestry Department asked FAO to review it.

After a desk review from October to December 2019, two FLRM experts went to Vanuatu in February 2020 to lead a two-day workshop to validate the possible improvements to the strategy and meet the partners involved in this initiative (including UNIQUE partner currently supporting the preparation of the REDD+ strategy in Vanuatu).

The workshop demonstrated that the current version of the FLRS is a solid basis for the implementation of FLR in Vanuatu. The strategy shows strong government commitment and the need to involve a broad range of stakeholders. Nevertheless, some elements might be currently missing to reach its ambitious goal. The key themes for improvement are as follow:

• drivers of deforestation and degradation and activities to counter them;
• identification of restoration opportunities;
• existing land-use plans and FLR;
• logical framework: organization, indicators, and monitoring and evaluation;
• budget and sustainable financing strategy;
• awareness-raising and communication;
• more emphasis on the multiple benefits from the FLRS: carbon benefits, biodiversity benefits (both marine and terrestrial), participation in international commitments (e.g. NDCs, Bonn Challenge and UN DECADE target).

The FLRS will be reviewed before the summer and a final validation workshop will take place in autumn 2020. The technical assistance is expected to support fundraising for this strategy to ensure its implementation.

For more information contact: [email protected]

Mathilde Iweins and Christophe Besacier (FAO)