Strengthening Conservation of Primary Forests through Partnership Enhancement and Coordination of Support The objective of this project is to prevent the loss of tropical primary forests worldwide by strengthening their protection and conservation, which will in turn contribute to mitigating climate change, preventing biodiversity loss and land degradation, while improving the livelihoods of the communities that depend upon them.  

Problem and issues to be addressed:

Primary forests play a critical role in carbon storage and sequestration, biodiversity conservation and other ecosystem services, as well as livelihoods support. Their conservation is fundamental for achieving multiple global goals, including the UNSPF Global Forest Goals and the objectives of the CBD, UNFCCC, UNCCD and several SDGs. 

Currently, there is insufficient recognition and conservation of primary forests globally, especially tropical primary forests. The lack of understanding and integration of the values and benefits of primary forests in global policy agendas and forest financing strategies has led to their inadequate prioritization, contributing to ongoing deforestation and loss of these vital ecosystems. Lack of coordination and information-sharing mechanisms has further hindered donor engagement and resulted in a funding gap that hampers effective conservation efforts. 

The objective of this project will be accomplished through knowledge packaging and dissemination and capacity development that will raise the visibility of tropical primary forests among stakeholders, policymakers, and the public, transforming how they are perceived and ensuring their inclusion in forest financing strategies, conservation initiatives, and the global policy agenda. The project will also facilitate and stimulate financing for tropical primary forest conservation by establishing robust donor-recipient dialogue and coordination mechanisms and providing information on financing opportunities. The project seeks to enhance the work of the GFFFN, supporting countries in developing forest finance strategies that prioritize intact tropical primary forests. This transformative approach will strengthen financing mechanisms, foster innovative approaches, and mobilize resources towards the conservation of tropical primary forests. 
 
The project aligns with the Collaborative Partnership on Forests (CPF) in enhancing coordination on global forest issues among relevant international forest-related organizations. Note: Disbursement data provided is cumulative and covers disbursement made by the project Agency. Knowledge management and learning planThe knowledge Management and learning (KM&amp;L) plan intends to be a guidance document for stakeholders and project partners for use as an aid for effective knowledge use, dissemination, and action, not only limited to the archiving of knowledge generated by the project.The KM&amp;L plan has the following main goals –1. To create awareness regarding the need for primary forest conservation.2. To contribute to evidence-based policy, and to build a shared understanding for the need for improved policies and practices for primary forest conservation.3. To mobilise actions and resources from countries, donors, GEF agencies, NGOs, Indigenous Peoples &amp; Local Communities, women, youth, and other relevant stakeholders for primary forest conservation.Overall KM&amp;L will be coordinated by IUCN. The Programme Associate part of the project management team at IUCN will coordinate the knowledge management of this project together with the Global Programme Manager with the support of the Executing Agencies (EAs). IUCN will develop a knowledge repository via a dedicated project website &amp; will continue to maintain it even after project completion as part of IUCN’s work on Primary Forests including Intact Forest Landscapes. All the reports, policy guidance documents and workshop outcomes will be housed under this website. IUCN and EAs will also use innovative methods such as story maps, information videos and blogs to communicate the issues surrounding primary forests and lessons learnt from this project. This coordination has been outlined as IUCN’s role under Component 2 and in the Terms of Reference of the Programme Associate. Each executing agency will also ensure proper communication and dissemination of knowledge generated by this project via their own dissemination channels. Furthermore, the Collaborative Partnership on Forests (CPF) will also be leveraged to support the knowledge management and learning plan, with selected deliverables shared and promoted within the CPF website and networks.A draft KML plan with key deliverables, budget and the responsible executing agency(ies) has been proposed below which will be further refined during the inception phase:Knowledge Management and Learning (KML) Plan deliverables and budgetActivitiesDeliverablesBudgetExecuting agencyTimelineOutcome 1: Profile of primary forests raised globally and financing for their conservation facilitated, promoted and stimulated.Activity 1.1.1: Prepare policy recommendations targeting key policy sessions and conventions.Activity 1.1.2: Compile and disseminate analyses on the values of primary forests.Policy guidance documents100,00040,000GRIFFITH UNIVERSITYGRIFFITH UNIVERSITYYear 1-2Year 1-2Activity 1.2.2: Conduct a survey and map the existing climate global and regional financing frameworks to identify their priorities, opportunities, and challenges for financing conservation of primary forests.Report on Donor financing priorities and existing frameworks30,000UNFFSYear 1Activity 1.2.3: Coordinate and exchange lessons learned and experiences with existing and emerging initiatives in the area of conservation finance, such as CPIC and Project Finance for Permanence.Activity 1.3.2: Coordinate and exchange lessons on conservation finance on existing climate financing platforms.Report on lessons learned in the area of conservation management20,00020,000UNFFSUNFFSYear 1-2Year1-2Activity 1.4.2: Case studies in 2 HFLDs on financing options.2 case studies20,000GRIFFITH UNIVERSITYYear 1Activity 1.5.1: Organize donor-investment recipient dialogues and events in conjunction with UNFF or other relevant international meetings to match the interests of donors and the needs of countries with significant coverage of primary forests.Report on current financing pathways for primary forest conservation.20,000UNFFSYear1-2Activity 1.5.2: Convene dialogue with donors and High Forest Cover Low Deforestation (HFLD) countries building on the HFLD Platform, paying particular attention to investment opportunities that support primary forest champions especially among Indigenous Peoples, Women and Youth.Workshop reports on donor dialogues20,000UNFFSYear1-2Component Subtotal270,000Outcome 2: Values of primary forests recognized more strongly in global policy arenas and integrated into capacity building and monitoring.Activity 2.1.1: Develop multi-media communication products and a major report on primary forests.Videos, infographics, social media posts on the importance of primary forest conservation100,00050,00050,000GRIFFITH UNIVERSITYUNFFSIUCNYear 1-2Activity 2.1.2: Organize workshops for key leaders to integrate primary forests into MEAs.Activity 2.1.3: Work with civil society to promote primary forests in MEAs.Proceedings of the regional workshops100,000100,000GRIFFITH UNIVERSITYGRIFFITH UNIVERSITYYear 1-2Year 1-2Activity 2.2.2: Develop and test geospatial tools for primary forest area assessment.Activity 2.2.3: Organize regional capacity-building workshops.Activity 2.3.2: Organize regional workshops for updates on primary forest data in reports.Primary forest data incorporated within Forest Resource Assessment by FAO40,00070,00070,000FAOFAOFAOYear 1Year1-2Year1-2Activity 2.2.1: Develop biome-specific guidance on reporting primary forests status and trends.Activity 2.3.3: Publish a brief on the status and trends of primary forests.Publication of a brief on the current status and trends of primary forests.40,00040,000FAOFAOYear 1Year 1Activity 2.5.1: Organize virtual meetings with the 5 Regional Programs of CFB IPs, and the project design teams.Activity 2.5.2: Develop a proposal for enhanced linkages, learning, and visibility across the CFB IPs.Activity 2.6.1: Develop a project event for UNFCCC COP30.A proposal for enhanced linkages, learning and visibility across the GEF8 Critical Forest Biomes IP5,0005,00015,000IUCNIUCNIUCNYear 1Year 1-2Year 2Activity 2.6.2: Create a knowledge repository web page.Project website5,000IUCNYear 1-2Component Subtotal690,000Outcome 3: Increased capacity of stakeholders to develop and implement national forest financing strategies for primary forest conservation.Activity 3.1.1: Organize regional and national workshops on forest financing strategies.Activity 3.1.3: Provide guidance on integrating innovative financing mechanisms.Activity 3.3.1: Develop training modules for capacity gaps in primary forests financing.Activity 3.3.2: Organize workshops for sharing information and validating training modules.Activity 3.3.3: Organize training workshops based on the modules.Activity 3.3.5: Organize regional dialogues and roundtable meetings for UN Major Groups and philanthropic organizations with interest in financing the conservation of primary forests.Proceedings of workshops on forest financing strategies organized by UNFF.Training modules developed by UNFF and Griffith University.30,00020,00010,00010,00040,00020,00020,000UNFFSUNFFSGRIFFITH UNIVERSITYUNFFSUNFFSUNFFSUNFFSYear 1-2Year 1Year 1-2Year 1-2Year 1-2Year 1-2Activity 3.1.4: Organize side events at international forums to present success stories.Photos, news articles on events10,000UNFFSYear 1-2Activity 3.2.2: Develop, administer and launch on-line and in-person training courses and events to disseminate the toolkits and user guides to relevant stakeholders.Up and running on-line courses on forest financing40,000UNFFSYear 1-2Component Subtotal200,000Total1,160,000