(E) is updated not less frequently than 
once every 5 years to account for changing cir-
cumstances in the developing country; 
(F) accounts for the size of forested areas 
based on— 
(i) remaining natural forest land; 
(ii) conversions of other lands to or 
from natural forest land; and 
(iii) any other land-use category esti-
mated to contribute at least 10 percent of 
agriculture, forestry, and other land use 
emissions in the project area; and 
(G) takes into consideration existing or 
planned terrestrial ecosystem services or forest 
conservation or restoration projects as described 
in subsection (e) in a partner developing coun-
try and the effect those projects might have in 
determining protection or restoration activities 
with respect to terrestrial ecosystem services 
and establishing a forest reference level baseline 
for eligible projects funded under this Act. 
SEC. 5. NATURE-BASED SOLUTIONS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator of the United 
States Agency for International Development, in consulta-
tion with the Secretary, shall conduct a program to pro-
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vide technical assistance to build the capacities of partner 
developing countries and appropriate local partners to im-
prove conservation, natural forest management, and res-
toration of natural forests and other terrestrial ecosystems 
for the purposes of— 
(1) enhancing the terrestrial ecosystem services 
and sustainable economic value of such natural re-
sources; and 
(2) facilitating the preparation of eligible 
projects in accordance with section 4. 
(b) ELIGIBLE ACTIVITIES.—In conducting the pro-
gram described in subsection (a), the Administrator of the 
United States Agency for International Development may 
provide technical support to partner developing countries 
and appropriate local partners for the following activities: 
(1) Reducing deforestation related emissions, 
forest fragmentation, and forest degradation of sig-
nificant forests within a partner developing country. 
(2) Enhancing the natural carbon sequestration 
ability of the natural forests and the terrestrial eco-
system services of a potential eligible project within 
a partner developing country, and building resilience. 
(3) Monitoring, reporting, and verification of 
the environmental, social, and financial quality and 
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integrity of the project as an important component 
of the work. 
(4) Assisting governments, willing, legitimate 
landowners, or willing customary use rights holders 
in developing projects to engage in conservation 
credit markets through— 
(A) the implementation of science-based 
metrics for determining that conservation ac-
tivities have generated verifiable environmental 
credits that may be sold to buyers on existing 
conservation compliance markets; or 
(B) projects providing outcome-oriented as-
sistance. 
(5) Developing domestic infrastructure and ca-
pacity building for creating and tracking conserva-
tion credits, such as registries or projects eligible for 
outcome-oriented assistance, and preparing countries 
to implement nature-based solution initiatives. 
(6) Ensuring that women, Indigenous Commu-
nities, and other local stakeholders are empowered 
and enabled to meaningfully participate and share in 
the potential benefits of activities funded under this 
section. 
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(7) Ensuring the additionality of projects, pro-
grams, and other activities made possible by funding 
provided pursuant to this section. 
(c) AUTHORIZATION.—There is authorized to be ap-
propriated $10,000,000 to carry out this section. 
Æ 
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