Objectives

Build the capacity of The Bahamas to meet the reporting requirements of the enhanced transparency framework of the Paris Agreement

Other

Note: Disbursement data provided is cumulative and covers disbursement made by the project Agency.

Target Groups

The project is aligned with GEF focal area CCM-3-8, i.e., “Foster enabling conditions for mainstreaming mitigation concerns into sustainable development strategies through capacity building initiative for transparency.”The socio-economic benefits of this project are indirect and long term; as such, it is not possible to attribute clear causalities (either positive or negative) to the scope of work. However, if the project achieves its stated aims, then it will contribute - again indirectly - to investment in climate-focused projects in support of future NDC ambitions, which in turn will lead to technology transfer and job creation in priority sectors. Assuming this transition to sustainable production and consumption is based on models of equitable and gender-sensitive development, this will result in strong socio-economic benefits, in line with the ambition of the national Vision 2040. The project will in fact contribute to the improvement of local and global environmental conditions through enhancing transparency related to GHG emissions, impacts of climate change, and mitigation and adaptation actions in the country.The created data and knowledge platform will improve The Bahamas's knowledge of its own efforts to curb emissions and build resilience. Moreover, as the system is developed, its linkages with other environmental data will also be analysed, established and / or improved. Crucially, its relationship to the transparency system for the National Development Strategy, Vision 2040 and the progress on the SDGs, will prove to be a powerful tool to track and evaluate policies. In fact, this project will also assist The Bahamas in achieving its Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 13 by supporting the integration of climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning; building knowledge and improving education, awareness-raising and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction and early warning, and promotion of mechanisms for raising capacity for effective climate change-related planning and management in the country. The project will additionally contribute to achieving SDG 5 by supporting the empowerment of women in decision-making, land ownership and through gender-sensitive budgeting.The strengthened national transparency system will enable The Bahamas to better track and manage its resources. Thus, it will allow for interventions to be planned, executed and evaluated quicker. The better knowledge around adaptation, and the M&E system established will serve to provide information about climate change impacts on these sectors. For agriculture, for example, this can mean better evidence on increasing droughts that could help farmers make informed decisions about irrigation practices and enable the government to prioritise sector resources toward drought management programmes for those affected.The Bahamas' planned climate actions will require public intervention in the form of investments. With better climate data systems, The Bahamas will be able to better track and evaluate the impact of the policies, introducing adjustments to achieve better outcomes. This increased efficiency can free up resources for other public investments and interventions, which in turn could benefit Bahamas socio-economically and this aspect of the system is expected to increase political buy-in for climate policy.Another important benefit lays on the linkage with the national planning processes. The wide array of data compiled throughout the data and knowledge platform will provide a solid basis for informed national policymaking on climate and other related matters, an element that will be fully developed as part of Output 1.1. A virtuous cycle is expected to result from the combination of coherent data that improves the consistency of climate projections and business-as-usual scenarios and leads to the further refinement of the country’s NDCs.

Objectives

To conserve forest biodiversity and maintain or improve the flow of ecosystem services through sustainable forest management embedded in a coordinated landscape-level approach across Ba River basin

Other

Note: Disbursement data provided is cumulative and covers disbursement made by the project Agency.

Target Groups

The socio-economic benefits in the project will be observed at the individual (household level) as well as at the collective community level for economic groups like farmers, industrial plantation and forest concession groups as follows: The project will generate important socio-economic benefits, including benefits for COVID-19 recovery and climate resilience, at local level in the communities in the Ba River basin. First, it will capacitate at least 1,200 beneficiaries and including Ethnic Minorities to practice improved community forest management covering about 3 communes adjacent to boundaries of PAs and/or protection forests who will benefit from sustainable non-forest product collection, forest vegetable collection, mushroom collection, firewood collection, etc. The project will strengthen or create biodiversity-friendly livelihoods, with a strong emphasis on supporting women and ethnic minorities. The project livelihood and value chain interventions are expected to result in at least 500 beneficiaries (at least 30% ethnic minorities), contributing to COVID-19 recovery and leading to an anticipated increase in income from diversified sustainable livelihoods by participating households. The project will also benefit around 800 people (at least 20% EMs) in the selected project sites from improved and sustainable management of production lands, such as agricultural and grazing lands, home gardens, organic farming and locally owned industrial plantations (coffee, macadamia, pepper, cashew, etc.) and livestock management through linkages with cooperatives and private sector to provide technical support, extension, market access, new varities, etc. Finally around 500 will benefit from improved and efficient PFES monitoring, management and investments linked to conservation actions. Through these interventions, the project will promote green recovery/green livelihood such as in ecotourism enterprises, agroforestry product marketing, and forest resource uses. Overall, through these activities it is expected that at least 3,000 people (50 % women) in the target Ba River basin will directly benefit through improved forest management, improved ecosystem services, SLM and SFM activities and improved livelihoods and incomes. As a result of initiatives on improved forest and PA conservation activities additional people living in target river basin will indirectly benefit from improved and sustainable land management, reduced erosion and water flows. This strategy/initiative would also promote non-destructive livelihood activities among the local communities to minimize their dependence on unsustainable resource extraction-based sources of livelihood. Instead,the initiative is linked to sustainable land and resource use as well as in promoting conservation of resources which is given priority, including ecotourism and the introduction of sustainable agriculturaltechnologies in upland farming communities Improved access to basic goods and technical services, technology and improved agricultural, forestry and livelihood, grazing, as well as diversification of livelihoods in agriculture, forestry and non-farm sector including tourism and agri-based products will ensure more livelihood options and better prices and income with the expectation that this will lead to improved tolereance of local communities to wildlife and an increased willingness and acceoptance of the need to protect and conserve forests and biodiversity for the benefit of mankind The focus on addressing gender inequality wherein various initiatives, such as promotion of alternative livelihood options, participation of women in various local committees are proposed. The project envisages more gender equality in context of sex ratio, decision making powers, ownership and control on resources and women leadership as well as participation. It is anticipated that through this approach women will become strewards of conservation and be an influencing voice in the community A reduction in the resource use conflicts and increase in effective implementation of sustainable practices would enable better appreciation of the value and importance of the need for coolaboartion, cooperation and collective approaches to conservation. Incremental funding through new and improved conservation and SFM practices and a sustainability of such investments beyond the life of the project would enable the continued and sustainable use of the forest resources within the Ba River basin; Advancement of multi-cropping systems (including agroforestry) in community lands and small holder lands will enhance ecological benefits as well as provide an increased and diversified source of income to local communities, including ethnic minorities. The diversification of resources and livelihoods through sustainable management of forests, improved product development and small scale enterprises with help communities better adapt to the risks posed by climate change Stable or improved populations of native species and improved forest environments will greatly enhance visitor experiences for increasing potential for ecotourism, that contributing to improved livelihood opportunities to local communities and enhance benefits to the local economy. Implementation of strategies and mainstreaming of biodiversity conservation and SFM actions in forested areas will result into sustainable practices on forest production lands, agriculture, water conservation, value chain products and services. This will collectively result in better conservation and livelihoods outcomes Overall the economic benefits generated through sustainable forest and land management practices and improved livelihoods will be expected to translate into global benefits within the Ba River basin landscape, reduce threats and pressures on biodiversity and minimize forest and land degradation. Sustainable agro-ecosystem services that help sustain food production and local livelihoods will be maintained or enhanced. Sustainable agriculture, agroforestry, forest co-management and forest product benefit sharing, ecotourism and other economic activities will likely help ensure food availability and sustainable incomes to local communities.