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Dear reader,
I am thrilled to share with you the summer edition of the PROGREEN newsletter, ripe with news and updates from our team at the World Bank’s Environment Department.
First off - allow me to introduce myself. My name is Siet Meijer and I am the new program manager for PROGREEN. I’ve taken over the reins from Tim Brown, who has embarked on an exciting new adventure – retirement. I am very excited to build on the successes of PROGREEN and continue delivering impact through investments in sustainable and resilient forests and landscapes.
In June, I had the pleasure of engaging with PROGREEN's Partnership Council and other partners at the Oslo Tropical Forest Forum. On the sidelines of the forum, the PROGREEN team participated at the REDD+ Knowledge Day, where we had some timely discussions on the future of carbon crediting in the context of helping countries deliver on their nature, climate, and development goals.
As we head into a busy triple-COP Fall season, I hope you enjoy reading this summer edition of the PROGREEN newsletter as much as we enjoyed compiling it.
Kind regards,
Siet Meijer
Program Manager, PROGREEN
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The World Bank Land Conference, held in Washington, DC on May 13-17, 2024, brought together government, academia, and civil society partners to showcase the latest research, discuss best practices, and inform policy dialogue under the theme "Securing Land Tenure and Access for Climate Action."
PROGREEN’s program manager, Siet Meijer, provided reflections on PROGREEN’s ongoing policy dialogue in support of land tenure across East Asia at a session titled "Securing Forest Tenure - Strengthening Multistakeholder Action." In her intervention, Siet emphasized the importance of secure land tenure for sustainable
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forest management. Additionally, PROGREEN had a booth at the event to highlight our latest knowledge products.
To learn more about how the World Bank, through PROGREEN, is working with governments and communities in East Asia to improve land tenure, click here. For more details on the conference, visit the official World Bank Land Conference website.
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The Sahel pilot of the 8Billion project, launched in 2023 by the Resilient Foundation in partnership with the World Bank Group’s Connect4Climate program and supported by the PROGREEN-funded Sahel Landscape Restoration Program, is concluding. The pilot included community screenings and panel discussions in Chad and Niger to facilitate education and knowledge-sharing on environmental issues and solutions among climate-affected communities.
The pilot aimed to amplify the voices of young people and share stories of community-led climate resilience and adaptation. It taught young participants from Burkina Faso, Mali, Chad, and Niger the basics of storytelling and filmmaking, inspiring many to pursue filmmaking as a career. The project’s launch included a broader media campaign across LinkedIn, Facebook, partner newsletters, and outreach efforts. A Climate Documentary Guide was also disseminated to encourage more young people to start making their own films.
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The Kyrgyz Republic Resilient Landscape Restoration Project (KG RESILAND) was signed on April 2, 2024. The project leverages $45 million of regional IDA resources, and a $5 million grant from PROGREEN, and a $2.4 million grant from KWPF. The operation has emerged from an integrated multi-sectoral and innovative design to protect communities and landscapes and enhance their resilience to climate shocks. | |
The project will aim to improve national monitoring systems for glaciers, snow cover, and mudflows to guide longer-term mitigation and adaptation efforts. The project has regional spillover effects to neighboring countries and will support regional initiatives and knowledge exchange on nature-based solutions (NBS) and climate-induced risks. |
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Since June 2021, the Biodiversity, Ecosystems, and Landscape Assessment (BELA) initiative promoted the use of ecosystem-services-informed landscape analytics and project planning to enhance the effectiveness and long-term sustainability of investments in agriculture, water resources, forestry, nature-based tourism, and infrastructure, while boosting countries’ resilience to climate change. BELA provided tailored support to World Bank teams and national governments in eight countries, delivering ecosystem-based landscape assessments, capacity-building activities, and scenario analyses. The initiative concluded with the compilation of lessons learned and case studies to facilitate future replication.
Learn more about the BELA initiative's legacy.
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Forests for Us: Game Changers for a Livable Planet
Forests are a game changer for ending poverty and ensuring a livable planet. They sequester carbon, clean the air we breathe, enrich the soil for farmers to grow crops, create jobs locally, and drive industries globally. Investing in our forests can reduce poverty, unlock inclusive economies, and promote nature-resilient futures.
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Read the immersive story and learn how the World Bank works to build sustainable forest economies around the world, from the Colombian Amazon to Ghana, and from the Democratic Republic of the Congo to Indonesia. | | | | |
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Forest for People, Nature, and Climate
Forests are a game changer for ending poverty and ensuring a livable planet. They sequester carbon, clean the air we breathe, enrich the soil for farmers to grow crops, create jobs locally, and drive industries globally. They are also a lifeline for communities living in some of the poorest pockets of the world. Investments in forests are crucial to ending poverty on a
livable planet.
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The World Bank Group is helping countries build forest economies that deliver jobs and social services that work for people and deliver for nature and climate. | | | | |
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A Game Changer for Mole
National Park
Mole National Park’s control room operates 24/7, using real-time data to monitor human and wildlife activity across its 4,600 square kilometers. Located in Ghana’s Northern Savannah, Mole is the largest protected area in the country and a vital habitat for elephants, home to over 90 animal and 300 bird species.
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Forest and Land Tenure in East Asia: PROGREEN Gathers Changemakers for a Regional Dialogue
This feature story highlights the PROGREEN-backed conference which showcased the benefits of formalizing land rights in Southeast Asia. Representatives from Lao PDR, the Philippines, and Indonesia came together in March, 2024, to share their experiences. The discussions highlighted challenges including
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global demand for resources, youth involvement, and funding. There was an emphasis on the continued investment in sustainable forest management and inclusive ecotourism. | | | |
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Workshop in Cambodia Highlights Sustainable Wood Product Strategies for the Lower Mekong Subregion | On June 4-6, 2024, in Sihanouk Ville, Cambodia, a gathering of World Bank staff, policymakers, and experts from academia and the private sector met to discuss the findings of a forthcoming report, “Enhancing the Contribution of Wood Products to the Products to the | |
Economies of the Lower Mekong Subregion (LMS).” Supported by PROGREEN and the Forest Carbon Partnership Facility (FCPF), this report will provide recommendations for meeting the projected increase in demand for wood products in a sustainable way. With representatives from Cambodia, Lao PDR, and Vietnam in attendance, the workshop provided a great opportunity for knowledge sharing and collaboration in an industry area which is critical to the development path of LMS countries. | | |
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Managing Fire Risks - Algeria and Lebanon share Lessons during World Fire Congress | On May 7-8, 2024, the United States Fire Administration hosted the inaugural World Fire Congress, establishing a global fire service leadership network. | |
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The World Bank organized a side event titled “Supporting Sustainable Forest Management to Manage Wildfire Risks in the Mediterranean Region,” featuring Mr. Saîd Fritas from Algeria and Mr. George Mitri from Lebanon.
The session highlighted the development of PROGREEN-funded Forest Engagement Notes for Algeria and Lebanon and capacity-building activities related to wildfire risk management. The focus was on managing wildfire risks as a global threat, particularly in the Mediterranean region, a recent fire hotspot. The event emphasized the integration of wildfire considerations into forest conservation and sustainable management, supported by the World Bank's projects.
Ms. Andrea Kutter, Senior Natural Resources Management Specialist, provided an overview of the World Bank’s forestry sector engagement, while Ms. Sandrine Jauffret, Senior Natural Resources Management Specialist, led a discussion with about 25 participants from various countries and organizations.
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Central Asia Climate Change Conference 2024: Fostering Regional Cooperation for Climate Resilience | On May 27-30, 2024 the Central Asia Climate Change Conference 2024 (CACCC-24) in Almaty aimed to evaluate regional progress in climate change mitigation and adaptation and explore new initiatives for climate resilience. | |
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It also aimed to bolster regional cooperation to address climate change impacts and transboundary climate risks in five Central Asia countries: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. The conference gathered over 400 policy- and decision-makers from Central Asia countries, international development partners, civil society, the private sector, and academia.
Participants reviewed progress, challenges, and gaps in the implementation of climate commitments by Central Asian countries; discussed issues of carbon neutrality, green transition, and security; and explored collective action to reduce climate-related disaster risks. The conference was preceded by a day-long training session for 30+ media representatives from five countries. The training provided a platform for the exchange of knowledge on climate and environmental topics and helped the journalists hone their skills in digital content development.
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Burkina Faso Agro-Silvo-Pastoral Sector Public Expenditure | |
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PROGREEN and the Global
Biodiversity Framework
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Trees, Cities, and Green Future. Knowledge Exchange Series:
A Compendium of Proceedings
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