By GINNAH MINI
THE Ministry of Foreign Affairs of France has committed K2.5 million to support Papua New Guinea’s Nature Pact initiative, a landmark programme aimed at halting and reversing forest loss and land degradation by 2030.
Speaking at the opening of the three-day workshop at APEC Haus, the Ambassador of France to Papua New Guinea, Pierre Fournier, said the K2.5 million funding had been allocated to support the design of the PNG Nature Pact’s visual identity, the hosting of the workshop, and the engagement of a facilitation team from the International Branch of the French National Forestry Office.
“For over a decade, France has been working on the international stage to forge partnerships between states and between public and private stakeholders, with a view to taking concrete and effective action in crucial areas such as poverty eradication, the climate emergency and nature conservation,” Mr Fournier said.
Mr. Fournier noted that the effects of climate change are already visible in Papua New Guinea and around the world.
“Country Packages represent innovative and alternative ways of funding the conservation of major forest ecosystems, peatlands and mangroves, which are essential reservoirs of carbon and biodiversity. They also support the adaptation and resilience of communities for whom these ecosystems are a primary source of livelihood,” he said.
Amongst other expectations, this pact is expected to increase finance for forest, climate and biodiversity and establish PNG as a leading partner for nature-based investments in the region.
The five pillars of the PNG Nature Pact are as follows:
●Protected areas- support and extend protected areas to achieve 30% protection of land and sea by 2030, including the areas richest in carbon and biodiversity.
●Sustainable Forest Management- investing in sustainable forest management and value chain development by supporting agricultural commodities and improving governance to reduce deforestation and forest degradation by 25% by 2030.
●Sustainable finance mechanism- establishing a long-term sustainable financing opportunity for forest and biodiversity conservation.
●Scientific Research & Education- developing national capacity for environmental & ocean scientific research and education.
●Monitoring- establishing a robust monitoring mechanism in PNG.
The workshop’s objective is to clarify the scope, ambitions and expected outcomes of each pillar of the pact and supporting a shared understanding among stakeholders of existing policies, commitments, and implementation challenges.