Sustainable Forestry and Local Value Chains

Overview

This flagship project includes two initiatives: the "Great Forests of Mesoamerica" and the “Amazon Green Transition”.

The Team Europe Initiative "Great Forests of Mesoamerica" focuses on:

• data for transparency and decision-making
• promoting transboundary governance and fostering collaboration
• deforestation-free production and sustainable trade
• environmental rights and defenders

The initiative is aligned with the trilateral Calakmul declaration between Mexico, Guatemala and Belize.

The “Amazon Green Transition” encompasses a range of efforts, including:

• the Amazon Basin Team Europe Initiative (TEI)
• the Amazonia programme
• specific Country Window projects in Guyana, Suriname and Brazil

The Amazon Basin TEI is a coordinated, multi-country effort by the EU, its Member States, and institutions to support tackling deforestation, biodiversity loss, and climate change. It focuses on four pillars: sustainable natural resource management, inclusive green growth, environmental governance and human rights, and sustainable finance.

The Amazonia programme emerged in 2019 as response to a crisis of widespread fires. The programme is working in 8 Amazon countries and is implemented by 3 EU agencies (AICS, EF, FIAP), in collaboration with JRC, and in close partnership with OTCA and COICA.

Under the country window, the Sustainable Forest Livelihoods for Communities in Guyana and Suriname is implemented by AFD and WWF. The country window for Brazil includes three projects in Mato Grosso, Pará, Rondônia, Roraima and Acre, implemented by ISA, IPAM and WWF Brazil.

Milestones

• Energy dialogue with Chile
• Launch of the Five Great Forests of Mesoamerica initiative (cinco bosques).
• Launch of the Guyana/Suriname Forest partnership TEI following signature of the Partnership Forest MoU and VPA FLEGT in December
• Launch of the Amazon Basin TEI and the Amazonia+ programme to prevent deforestation