The parallel event was an adequate space to highlight the role mountain forests and ecosystems play in the provision of water services and the enormous costs associated to their loss due to degradation of forests and deforestation.
The parallel event “Incentive mechanisms to improve Green infrastructure: water services and sustainable forest management in mountain scenarios” was held on November 29, 2017. The purpose was to present the current investment status in green infrastructure for the conservation of mountain forests and their potential for sustainable forest management.
This event took place within the framework of the “53rd period of sessions of the International Tropical Timber Organization and the corresponding session periods of its Committees”, with the participation of more than 100 guests from different countries.
Kaspar Schmidt, of HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation, opened the presentation offering a global overview of the current status of investment in Green infrastructure for the conservation of mountain forests and its relevance for sustainable forest management (Asia, Africa and Latin America).
Pedro Lerner, CEO of CELEPSA, Peru, mentioned the contribution of the private sector to the conservation of ecosystemic services, specifically from the perspective of the hydroelectric power industry. “Rationality to invest in green infrastructure means having a long-term vision for the context”, he said.
In turn, Ana Milena Joya, Environmental Sustainability Manager for Public Companies of Medellin, Colombia, spoke about incentive structures based on the community for agriculture and livestock activities, considering mountain ecosystem conservation and forest sustainable management. Joya mentioned that “The greatest challenge of the incentives is that they really reach the persons who are working on conservation and monitoring is key to that effect”.
“The idea is that the payment for ecosystemic services should not be altruistic, but with a logic to adapt to climate change”, stated Luis Rosa-Pérez, Director General of Environmental Economy and Finance of the Ministry of the Environment – Peru. He also presented the opportunities to incorporate incentive structures for green infrastructure in the planning and investment of the sector development. “water harvesting projects and irrigation projects have great potential for natural infrastructure”, he pointed out..
Albert Bokkestijn, Director of the Andean Forests Program closed the session giving the final recommendations on incentive mechanisms and stated that “the challenge for the public and private sector is measuring the benefits of the incentives through both quantitative and qualitative monitoring”.
This parallel event was organized by the Andean Forests Program of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (COSUDE) facilitated by HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation and the Consortium for Sustainable Development of the Andean Ecoregion (CONDESAN) in alliance with the International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO) and the Forest and Wild Fauna Service of Peru.
Andean Forests combines specialized knowledge, practical relevance and the establishment of regional and international guidelines on the matter. It contributes and builds upon existing and successful experiences of specialized actors in international agendas on the subject of forests and climate change.
The event was transmitted live through the Facebook platform of the Andean Forests Program. Below we share the video and some images of the event.
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Video of event |
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