Forest Industry Sector in Sub-Saharan Tropical Africa”
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PD 337/05 Rev.3 (F) “INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP ON CLEAN DEVELOPMENT MECHANISM – OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES FOR THE FOREST INDUSTRY SECTOR IN SUB-SAHARAN TROPICAL AFRICA” WORKSHOP PROCEEDINGS 2ND – 5TH OCTOBER 2006 FUNDING AGENCIES 1 Table of Content Page FOREWORD OPENING SESSION SESSION 1: BACKGROUND, PROCEDURES AND INSTITUTIONAL AGREEMENTS Background paper: Forestry Options for Developing Countries within the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Mitigation and Adaptation as means for Sustainable Development, with special consideration of the conditions in Africa Carmenza Robledo, Intercooperation Climate Change and Forests: Impact of international forestry processes on CDM forestry and on reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation Jürgen Blaser; Intercooperation The Relationship Between CDMs and National Forest Programmes Francois Wencelius; FAO. The Role of CDM Forestry Projects in Poverty Alleviation David F Karnosky; Michigan Technological University. Procedures, modalities and legal aspects Carmenza Robledo; Intercooperation. and Approved Methodologies and EB clarifications for CDM Forestry Projects, with special consideration of the simplified methodology for small-scale project activities. Wojciech Galinski; UNFCCC Secretariat. SESSION 2: EXPERIENCES, LESSONS AND CHALLENGES FROM CDM PROJECTS The UNDP’s CDM Forestry-related Activities in Africa Julie Fischer; UNDP Defining “forest” for the Clean Development Dieter Schoene; FAO Past Afforestation and Reforestation Activities in Africa: Insights and Lessons for the CDM – Peter Lowe; FAO, South Africa Case from Asia-Pacific Facilitating Reforestation for Guangxi Watershed Management in Pearl River Basin Xiaoquan Zhang; Chinese Academy of Forestry Bernhard Schlamadinger; Joanneum Research ....Neil Bird; Joanneum Research Case from Latin America: Alternative financing model for sustainable management in the San Nicolas forest Carmenza Robledo; Intercooperation Javier Blanco; Ecoversa An analysis of the opportunities of Afforestation/Reforestation CDM projects in Ghana: Case study in the Upper West Region 2 Elisa Grieco; University of Tuscia, Italy An analysis of the opportunities for CDM Afforestation/Reforestation Projects in Ghana. A case study from the Upper West Region Elisa Grieco, Lucia Perugini, Riccardo Valentini;University of Tuscia, Italy CDM Bio-energy Projects in Africa – Alois P Mhlanga; African Development Bank SESSION 3: MARKETS FOR CARBON CREDITS FROM CDM PROJECTS Supply and Demand of Emissions Credits from CDM Forestry Projects Robert Tipmann; Ecosecurities Resources for CDM Forestry Projects Development in Africa: ITTO’s Capacity Building Programme Dr. Ma Hwan Ok; ITTO MDG: Carbon Facility. Increasing Access of Developing Countries to Carbon Finance Maryam Niamir-Fuller; UNDP/GEF Interest in CERs from CDM Forestry Projects in the EU Region Aulikki Kaupilla; Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Finland Carbon Credit Markets in the Asia-Pacific Tatsushi Hemmi; Pacific Consultant Co., Japan Carbon Market in South America Javier Blanco; Ecoversa SESSION 4: REDUCING EMISSIONS FROM DEFORESTATION Deforestation under the UNFCCC: Future opportunities Claudio Forner; CIFOR Reduction of GHG Emissions through Avoiding Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD): Committing forests as Carbon Reservoir Jürgen Blaser; Intercooperation Carmenza Robledo; Intercooperation Reducing emissions from deforestation: Methodological issues Dieter Schoene; FAO COMIFAC Submission on avoiding emissions from deforestation Sébastien Malele ; Directeur de la Gestion Forestière, RDC Financial and investment issues related to avoided deforestation Robert Tipmann; Ecosecurities RECOMMENDATIONS ANNEXES Agenda List of participants Glossary Abbreviations 3 Opening Session 4 Welcome Speech by the Honourable A. Adjei-Yeboah (MP), Deputy Minister for Lands, Forestry and Mines Ghana Your Excellencies and Members of the Diplomatic Corps, Distinguished Representatives of Sponsoring Governments and Agencies Distinguished Speakers and Delegates, Ladies and Gentlemen. On behalf of the people and Government of Ghana I welcome you warmly to our country. As a nation, we are indeed honoured that our country has been chosen as the venue for this important meeting. I am informed that there are 50 Delegates from 30 countries attending the workshop. I trust that the available facilities and support from the Forestry Commission will provide the congenial atmosphere necessary for your deliberations on the opportunities that the Kyoto Protocol’s Clean Development Mechanism can offer to African Countries, for new investment in sustainable management of our natural resources to assist the global effort in addressing the impacts of human-induced climate change. Your presence here is an affirmation of the confidence the international community has in Africa’s ability and the continent’s potential to make a significant contribution to this important global challenge of our time. Mr. Chairman, the Government of Ghana ratified the United Nations Framework Convention of Climate Change (UNFCCC) in 1995 and also acceded to the Kyoto Protocol (KP) in the year 2002. By taking this bold step, Ghana joined the Global Community in addressing this environmental catastrophe. Although as a developing country we do not have binding obligations under the Protocol, the people and Government of Ghana are committed, as part of the global community, to play our part in reducing the impacts of climate change by hosting projects under the Clean Development Mechanism. Based on the available scientific information and the unusual weather patterns being experienced globally, there is little doubt that our planet’s climate is undergoing some change. Many African Countries, including Ghana, are unable to cope with current climate variability. Climate change increases the vulnerability of poor people by adversely affecting their health and livelihoods and undermining growth opportunities, which are crucial for poverty reduction. For example, in recent years in Ghana, there has been a noticeable increase in the frequency of drought conditions. These dry conditions affect the water level of the Akosombo dam, which is the main source of electrical energy for the country and its industries. Mr. Chairman, it is noted that there is still a section of the climate science community yet to be convinced that the climate of our planet is changing, and in my view, it will be reckless not to take steps now in line with the cautionary principle. 5 In 1999, the Plantation Development Programme which aims to plant up 20,000 ha. of trees per annum was launched by the Government of Ghana to cover 10 percent of our land area within the next five years to help bridge anticipated future supply deficit in the timber industry and to safeguard the environment. Some individuals, Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and business concerns have also over the years invested in reforestation and other projects in line with the Government’s agenda to achieve sustainable development. However, none of these projects and programmes benefited from the CDM opportunities available under the Kyoto Protocol for Developing Countries. Mr. Chairman, Ghana has officially nominated the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as the Designated National Authority (DNA) as required under the Kyoto Protocol for the purpose of implementing the relevant provisions of the Kyoto Protocol including taking advantage of additional investment opportunities in climate change-related activities. To assist the EPA in carrying out its DNA functions under the Protocol, the government has established a DNA Governing Council. The membership of the governing council includes the following agencies: the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Environment; the Ministry of Energy; the Ministry for Finance and Economic Planning; the Ministry of Lands, Forestry and Mines; and the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Presidential Special Initiatives. Ghana’s Climate Change programme has many facets, which include the following: Mitigation Assessment Technology Transfer Research and Systematic Observation of Climate Change Phenomena Education, Training and Public awareness Vehicular Emission programme and Vulnerability Assessment For Ghana, Climate Change related activities present the opportunity to address poverty as well as contribute to the mitigation of global warming. Mr. Chairman, Ghana is also involved in several collaborative activities on carbon sequestration such as the Spatially Explicit Modelling of Soil Organic Carbon (SEMSOC). Ghana signed the SEMSOC contract Agreement in April 2005 to commence the project. The objectives of SEMSOC are to identify adaptation and mitigation opportunities derived from changes in land use and natural resources (including carbon stocks), the response of appropriate land management options and the opportunities that shall lead to enhanced soil fertility, agricultural sustainability and increased food security, as well as to evaluate the need for adaptation responses to climate change. 6 Additionally, Ghana is a participant in a project entitled "Information for African Climate Technology Transfer" (IACTT) which is supported by the United States EPA. The project is an effort to provide African stakeholders with easy access to tools for up-to-date climate change information resources. Ladies and Gentlemen, according to “the State and Trends of the Carbon Market Report (May 2006)” published by the World Bank, Africa