13 million USD to Ecuador for reduced deforestation

– I am impressed by Ecuador's determination to protect its pristine forests. This effort will benefit the people of Ecuador and all of us. Preserving forests is one of the most important ways to fight global warming and to protect the world's irreplaceable biodiversity, said Norway's Minister og Climate and Environment, Mr. Ola Elvestuen.

The announcement of this first disbursal was made in Quito, Ecuador, on Wednesday 5 December by Ms. Marianne Hagen, the Norwegian vice minister of Foreign Affairs.

– I want to highlight that a major part of these resources will be addressed to the actors at a local level and to the benefit of projects from indigenous and Afro-Ecuadorian organizations, Vice Minister Hagen said during her meeting with Equador's Environment Minister Mr. Marcelo Mata.

6 months since signing of agreement

Germany and Norway signed the cooperation agreement with Ecuador in June 2018. The agreement has a total value of up to USD 50 million USD conditional on progress in reducing deforestation.

To halt and stop tropical deforestation is essential to fight climate change. It is not possible to reach neither the Paris Agreement goals or the Sustainable Development Goals without a massive effort to protect the Amazon and other tropical forests.

Early Mover

Ecuador is considered a so-called early Mover in reducing emissions from deforestation because of its political commitment to protect its forest ecosystems, e.g. through the Socio Bosque Program. This is an innovative program to incentivize forest conservation and create alternative income sources to rural communities.

Ecuador has also advanced significantly in the establishment of the REDD+ architecture agreed upon under the UNFCCC. In 2016, Ecuador launched its REDD Action Plan. The country has a national system to monitor, report and verify deforestation and emissions from deforestation (MRV), and is in the development of a national Safeguards Information System for REDD+. Since 2009 deforestation in Ecuador has continuously declined.

Funding for sustainable development and local communities

At least 70% of the Programme’s resources will be invested at local level to support sustainable development of communities, their production system and local organizations. The investments includes both support to activities that reduce deforestation on the agrarian frontier as well as to activities that reward the protection of standing forests. Key stakeholders to the programme are indigenous, afro-ecuadorian and other forest-dependent communities as well as smallholders and farmers.