Fiji’s ER Program Continues as Readiness Phase Ends
As a member of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and signatory to the Paris Agreement, Fiji commenced with the National REDD+ Programme in 2009 through the Readiness phase of which the following have been produced: a National REDD+ Policy, a National REDD+ Strategy to address the main drivers of deforestation and forest degradation and ensure sustainable forest management; Safeguards policies like the Environment Social and Management Framework, the Resettlement Policy Framework and Measuring Results Verification (MRV) components which included the development of a National Forest Management System (NFMS) and a Safeguards Information System (SIS). The setting up of these systems facilitate easier referencing and reporting to the UNFCCC, the National Determined Contributions (NDCs), the United Nations Convention to Combat Drought, Desertification and Degradation (UNCCD) and other related reporting like the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Forestry Outlook and the Global Forest Assessment Report.
Following the REDD+ readiness is the implementation phase and on January 28, 2021, Fiji signed an agreement with the Forest Carbon Partnership Facility (FCPF), a global partnership of the World Bank, of US$12.5 million (approx. FJ$26 million) in results-based payments for increasing carbon sequestration and reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation. Fiji is the first small island developing state to sign an Emission Reductions Payment Agreement (ERPA) with the World Bank’s FCPF. The five-year agreement will reward efforts to reduce carbon emissions from deforestation and forest degradation under Fiji’s Forest Emission Reductions (ER) program. Both the Ministry of Economy and the Ministry of Forestry play leading roles in this initiative with support from Ministries, statutory bodies, academia, private sector and civil society organisations.
EMISSION REDUCTION PROGRAM AGREEMENT
Fiji became a participant country in the World Bank’s Forest Carbon Partnership Facility (FCPF) in 2013 and a year later in December 2014, the FCPF authorized a grant funding of US$3.8 million to support Fiji’s preparations in engaging in a future REDD+ performance-based system.
The grant agreement for the Fiji’s Readiness-Preparation Proposal (R-PP) readiness fund was signed in May 2015. An additional $2million was provided in 2017 and ends 31 December 2022. This additional funding was to assist the Fiji National REDD+ Programme to carry out more awareness programmes to stakeholders and to strengthen the capacity of existing institutions in the forestry and agriculture related sectors dealing with sustainable land management and sustainable forest management. Fiji now prepares for the second phase which involves the implementation of the Emissions Reduction Program in 20 districts in three islands only – Vanua Levu, Viti Levu and Taveuni.
Late January 2021, the Fijian Government
signed a landmark agreement with the FCPF, a global of up to US$12.5 million (approx. FJ$26 million) in results-based payments for increasing carbon sequestration and reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation.
Fiji is the first small island developing state to sign an Emission Reductions Payment Agreement (ERPA) with the FCPF. The fiveyear agreement will reward efforts to reduce carbon emissions from deforestation and forest degradation under Fiji’s ambitious emission reductions program. Both the Ministry of Economy and the Ministry of Forestry play leading roles in this initiative.
The Attorney General and Minister for Economy, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum who had signed the agreement said that Fiji is at the frontlines of addressing climate change; coastal erosion and sea level rise threaten the very existence of some of our seaside communities and strengthening cyclones can decimate our economy overnight.
“So, we know first-hand the importance of reducing emissions. Our forests have a critical role to play in building not only a more resilient nation, but a more habitable planet. By strengthening our natural environment — reducing deforestation and degradation — Fiji is continuing to lead in the global fight against climate change,” he said.
Fiji’s forestry emission reductions program will address the main drivers of deforestation and forest degradation through integrated land use planning, native forest conservation, and sustainable pine and mahogany plantations. Other aspects will focus on communitydriven afforestation, climate-smart agroforestry, and alternative livelihoods initiatives. These efforts are designed to provide job opportunities and improve livelihoods for local communities. The program will also include training and agricultural extension services to establish community plantations and woodlots as well as improving kava and vanilla agro-forestry systems. These sustainable land-use techniques
help to boost incomes while also reducing pressure on forests.
CARBON TRADE
The carbon trade agreement (ERPA) with the World Bank FCPFCarbon Fund over the five-year period is basically consists of a framework of key elements, systems and processes developed during Fiji’s REDD+ Readiness programme and based on national situations and capabilities, can be rigidly tested, in preparation for trade with the compliance and voluntary carbon markets.
The key elements include a national monitoring, verification and reporting system that is capable of accurately accounting for the changes in forest cover in a given period , level of carbon stocks and the resultant net emission level; a benefit sharing plan, which guides the equitably sharing of the carbon payments received from the carbon trade agreement and its distribution to the rightful beneficiaries and participants that support and are addressing the underlying causes of deforestation and forest degradation, including the welfare and livelihood programmes of the forest dwelling communities; and finally a robust information system that capably assesses and reports on the level of compliance with the UNFCCC standards during the implementation of the emission reduction program.
BENEFITS OF FIJI’S ER PROGRAM
Communities in Fiji are highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change and these are projected to further intensify and threaten Fiji’s sustainable growth. These impacts will place large economic, social and environmental stress on local communities and ecosystems. The Program is designed to maximize the climate co-benefits and integrate initiatives that address the vulnerabilities of local communities, and contribute to building a more climate resilient nation.
“Efforts undertaken to reduce carbon emissions from deforestation and forest degradation will help our local communities take urgent action to adapt to, and mitigate, the effects of climate change. Our urgent actions are, therefore, needed to strengthen our resilience against the impacts of climate change,” says Permanent Secretary for Forestry Mr Pene Baleinabuli..
He said that close consultation with Government Ministries at national level and with those at Divisional level like the Commissioners Offices, Provincial Offices, Districts Offices, the Non-Government Organizations as well as communities will achieve this for our communities and will also embed a good footprint for our next generation.
Fiji’s ER-Program does not prevent nor restrict the forest owners from using their land and forest resources to support their immediate and future needs and communitylevel development plans. Rather, it champions the concept of sustainable development, which means improving the “business as usual” approach to standards that ensure that forests are able to perform its natural ecological function of providing clean water and clean air.
In each of the ER-Program activities, trees will either be reintroduced into degraded land systems or retained in its natural state to support the ecological function of the forest. The benefit for landowners, apart from the ecological services, is that the ER-Program provides an alternative income stream, through the carbon payments, if they wish to participate.
Individuals and organisations, including landowning units, farmers, women, youth, children, private sector, civil society, religious groups, academia and anyone interested in forest conservation, environmental protection and addressing climate change are encouraged to actively participate in Fiji’s Forest ER Program. For more information contact any nearest Forestry Office and/or Provincial Council Office within your vicinity.