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EU-LAC Policy Dialogue on Nature-based Solutions
On June 26th and 27th, the European Commission organised the 1st EU-LAC conference on Nature-based Solutions (NbS) to initiate a policy dialogue between the two regions.
The conference brought together public authorities, local communities, scientists and research institutions, non-governmental organisations, funding organisations, and industry and private investors from across the European Union and Latin America and Caribbean countries. Participants discussed and identified innovative approaches and pragmatic Nature-based Solutions to pressing environmental and societal challenges. Read more
WCS was represented by Arnaud Goessens, Associate Director of EU Policy (WCS EU Office), who presented on the conservation and restoration of forest ecological integrity as nature-based solutions. Research shows that high integrity forests provide higher levels of many forest benefits including: carbon sequestration and storage, healthy watersheds, contribution to local and regional climate, providing a habitat for forest-dependent biodiversity, contributing to pandemic and epidemic prevention as increasing human presence and anthropogenic land-use changes often promote opportunities for pathogen spillover, and food and livelihoods for local communities.
Forest ecological integrity is threatened by deforestation and forest degradation, driven primarily by agricultural expansion and then by extractive activities – logging, mineral and fossil fuel extraction. These drivers are enabled by misaligned financial incentives and governance regimes that fail to recognize the values provided by high integrity forests. This results in land use decisions that favour short-term private gains over public goods. These threats can be addressed through conservation, sustainable management practices, improved project planning for infrastructure and investments, and policies that promote environmental stewardship and resilience.
The High Integrity Forest Investment Initiative (known as HIFOR) aims to mobilize finance for the protection of high integrity tropical forest landscapes and provide tangible incentives for the maintenance of their nature and climate positive attributes, through the issuance of tradeable HIFOR units. Read more
The EU-funded Five Great Forests of Mesoamerica initiative is a great example of a successful partnership between the EU and LAC. This initiative brings together governments, civil society, research partners, and Indigenous Peoples to transform agriculture and food systems and protect the last remaining high-integrity forests in the Mesoamerica region, in order to adapt to and mitigate climate change, protect biodiversity, and improve livelihoods. This project is part of the EU Global Gateway Initiative. Read more