Unlocking the Potential of Guyana's Inland And

Unlocking the Potential of Guyana’s Inland and Mangrove Forests to further Reduce Emissions and to Build Resilience to Climate Change (‘the Project’) | Guyana Conservation International 28 June 2018 Unlocking the Potential of Guyana’s Inland and Mangrove Forests Project/Programme Title: to further Reduce Emissions and to Build Resilience to Climate Change (‘the Project’) Country(ies): Guyana National Designated Minister Joseph Harmon, Minister of State Authority(ies) (NDA): Accredited Entity(ies) (AE): Conservation International Date of first submission/ 2018-06-28 V.1.0 version number: Date of current submission/ 2018-06-28 V.1.0 version number Please submit the completed form to [email protected], using the following name convention in the subject line and file name: “CN-[Accredited Entity or Country]-YYYYMMDD” PROJECT / PROGRAMME CONCEPT NOTE Template V.2.2 Notes • The maximum number of pages should not exceed 12 pages, excluding annexes. Proposals exceeding the prescribed length will not be assessed within the indicative service standard time of 30 days. • As per the Information Disclosure Policy, the concept note, and additional documents provided to the Secretariat can be disclosed unless marked by the Accredited Entity(ies) (or NDAs) as confidential. • The relevant National Designated Authority(ies) will be informed by the Secretariat of the concept note upon receipt. • NDA can also submit the concept note directly with or without an identified accredited entity at this stage. In this case, they can leave blank the section related to the accredited entity. The Secretariat will inform the accredited entity(ies) nominated by the NDA, if any. • Accredited Entities and/or NDAs are encouraged to submit a Concept Note before making a request for project preparation support from the Project Preparation Facility (PPF). • Further information on GCF concept note preparation can be found on GCF website Funding Projects Fine Print. PROJECT / PROGRAMME CONCEPT NOTE Template V.2.2 GREEN CLIMATE FUND | PAGE 1 OF 15 A. Project/Programme Summary (max. 1 page) ☒ Project A.2. Public or ☒ Public sector A.1. Project or programme private sector ☐ Programme ☐ Private sector Yes ☐ No ☒ A.3. Is the CN submitted in Confidential If yes, specify the RFP: A.4. Confidentiality1 ☐ response to an RFP? ☒ Not confidential ______________ Mitigation: Reduced emissions from: ☐ Energy access and power generation ☐ Low emission transport ☐ Buildings, cities and industries and appliances A.5. Indicate the result ☒ Forestry and land use areas for the Adaptation: Increased resilience of: project/programme ☒ Most vulnerable people and communities ☐ Health and well-being, and food and water security ☐ Infrastructure and built environment ☒ Ecosystem and ecosystem services A.7. Estimated A.6. Estimated mitigation adaptation impact 465,000; 60% of impact (tCO2eq over 12 MtCO2e (number of direct national population lifespan) beneficiaries and % of population) A.8. Indicative total project Amount: ~ USD 45 M A.9. Indicative GCF Amount: ~ USD 35 M cost (GCF + co-finance) funding requested A.10. Mark the type of financial instrument ☒ Grant ☐ Reimbursable grant ☐ Guarantees ☐ Equity requested for the GCF ☐ Subordinated loan ☐ Senior Loan ☐ Other: specify___________________ funding A.12. Estimated A.11. Estimated duration a) disbursement period: 2020-2024 project/ Programme 5 years of project/ programme: b) repayment period, if applicable: lifespan A.13. Is funding from the Yes ☒ No ☐ ☐ A or I-1 Project Preparation Other support received ☐ If so, by A.14. ESS category3 ☐ B or I-2 Facility requested?2 who: ☒ C or I-3 A.15. Is the CN aligned A.16. Has the CN been with your accreditation Yes ☒ No ☐ Yes ☒ No ☐ shared with the NDA? standard? Yes ☒ No ☐ A.18. Is the CN A.17. AMA signed (if If no, specify the status of AMA included in the Entity Yes ☒ No ☐ submitted by AE) negotiations and expected date of Work Programme? signing: Guyana’s forests have a critical role to play in mitigating climate change and underpinning A.19. Project/Programme ecosystem-based adaptation. The Project will support measures detailed in Guyana’s rationale, objectives and Nationally Determined Contributions to reduce emissions from forests and to increase approach of resilience against coastal zone flooding by scaling-up mangrove restoration and protection. programme/project (max The Project will be executed primarily by the government agencies responsible for the 100 words) forest and mining sectors, working closely with civil society organizations. The Project will deliver 12 MtCO2e avoided emissions and make 465,000 people more resilient to floods. 1 Concept notes (or sections of) not marked as confidential may be published in accordance with the Information Disclosure Policy (Decision B.12/35) and the Review of the Initial Proposal Approval Process (Decision B.17/18). 2 See here for access to project preparation support request template and guidelines 3 Refer to the Fund’s environmental and social safeguards (Decision B.07/02) PROJECT / PROGRAMME CONCEPT NOTE Template V.2.2 GREEN CLIMATE FUND | PAGE 2 OF 15 B. Project/Programme Information (max. 8 pages) B.1. Context and baseline (max. 2 pages) Guyana is one of few countries that are highly forested (>85%) with low deforestation rates (<0.1% per annum)4, and is globally significant as a net carbon sink5. Its forests stock an estimated 19.5 GtCO2eq5,6, and the average annual emissions from deforestation between 2001 and 2012 was 8.09 million tCO2eq6. This status is however under threat as gold mining – particularly at the artisanal, small and medium scales – and logging, both economic activities upon which Guyana relies heavily, drives deforestation and forest degradation. Gold mining alone was responsible for 88% of the forest lost between 2009 and 2014. Gold mining and logging activities occur beyond the coastland and mostly in the forested hinterland where the majority of Guyana’s indigenous population reside. Indigenous peoples constitute 10.5% of Guyana’s population and 90% of them live in the forested interior. The indigenous peoples depend on forests and other ecosystems for much of their provisioning such as clean water, food, medicines, recreation, and livelihoods, though many are in transition, interfacing with the mainstream economy and involved themselves in extractive activities. The mining and logging sectors, the former much more than the latter, of Guyana are currently characterized by high levels of inefficiency5 resulting in relatively low yields and high levels of damage to forests. These inefficiencies exist in almost all areas of the sector from land allocation to land management and extraction practices. They are compounded by limited capacity to understand, access, and employ improved practices; by limited data and resultant poor planning within the sector; and by indigenous populations’ limited capacity, opportunity, and resources to represent their interests in various decision-making processes and platforms and limited alternative livelihood opportunities. Importantly also, Guyana’s coastal and riverine mangrove forests play significant roles in carbon sequestration and coastal protection. Guyana’s mangroves sequester and store large amounts of carbon and provide protection for about 400 kilometers of the Atlantic coast. Yet, anthropogenic loss of mangroves continues through land conversion, over-harvesting and other impacts. Current estimates reveal that the mangrove cover has reduced significantly from 80,432 hectares in 1992 to 22,632 hectares over the twenty-year period ending 20097. Guyana’s coast is highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change with a low-lying coastline – on average 1.5 meters below current sea level. Guyana is projected to experience 2-5 times the global average in Sea Level Rise (80cm to 2m) by the end of the century and is the fourth most exposed country to natural disasters in the Latin American and Caribbean region primarily due to the high exposure to and experience of flooding.8,9 With approximately 90% of the population living near the coast and 90% of the agricultural sector concentrated in coastal areas providing livelihoods for some 25,000 households7, mangroves are vital to Guyana’s coastal resilience. Guyana’s coastal zone relies primarily on engineered (hard) and natural mangroves sea defense structures to protect from the Atlantic Ocean. Coastal mangrove fringes are particularly at risk from sea–level rise because their natural response to rising sea levels, moving slowly landward, is hindered by development on the coast including the hard defense infrastructure. Mangrove loss exposes more of the coast to damage from saltwater inundation, storm surges, and reduces the nursery habitat for commercial fishing.10 In addition to functioning as natural breakwaters along the coast and protection for the seawall, mangroves also support fisheries and other sources of livelihoods.11 Climate models project increased storm surges and higher numbers of extreme weather events in Guyana.10 Flooding in 2005 caused damage estimated at US$ 465 million (60% of GDP) and an estimated 10% of GDP is lost each year as a result of flooding.12 Estimates suggest that, by 2030, Guyana could be exposed to cumulative annual flood-related losses totalling 4 Guyana Forestry Commission (2015). Guyana REDD+ Monitoring, Reporting and Verification System (MRVS): 5 Year Interim Measures Report. 1 January 2014-31 December 2014. 5 Government of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana (2015). Guyana’s

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