INTERNATIONAL TROPICAL TIMBER ORGANISATION ITTO PROJECT COMPLETION REPORT 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” ACCRA, GHANA FUNDING AGENCIES Project Identification Title: “International Workshop On Clean Development Mechanism – Opportunities And Challenges For The Forest Industry Sector In Sub-Saharan Tropical Africa” Serial Number: PD 337/05 Rev. 3 (F) Executing Agency: Forestry Commission Host Government: Government of Ghana Starting Date: March 2006 Actual Duration (Months): Fourteen Months Actual Project Costs (US $): 279,160.00 1 TABLE OF CONTENTS PART I: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .......................................................................... 3 1.0 Background Information ................................................................................ 3 1.1 Specific Objective And Outputs ................................................................ 4 1.2 Project Duration And Overall Cost ............................................................ 5 2.0 Project Achievements .................................................................................... 5 2.1 Outputs Achieved ....................................................................................... 5 2.2 Specific Objective(s) Achieved ................................................................. 7 2.3 Contribution to the Achievement of the Development Objective ............. 7 2.4 Situation after Project Completion ............................................................. 7 3.0 Lessons Learned ............................................................................................. 8 3.1 Operational Lessons ................................................................................... 8 3.2 Post-workshop Lessons .............................................................................. 8 4.0 Recommendations .......................................................................................... 8 PART II: MAIN TEXT ............................................................................................... 9 1.0 Project (Workshop) Results ........................................................................... 9 1.1 Workshop Results ...................................................................................... 9 1.2 Workshop Conclusion and Recommendation .......................................... 10 1.3 Pre-Project Situation ................................................................................ 12 1.4 Post-workshop Situation .......................................................................... 12 1.5 Project Sustainability after Project Completion ....................................... 13 2.0 SYNTHESIS OF THE ANALYSIS ............................................................ 13 PART III: CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS ................................ 14 3.0 Conclusions .................................................................................................. 14 3.1 Recommendations for future Projects ...................................................... 14 2 PART I: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1.0 Background Information The Kyoto Protocol signed in 1997 provides opportunities for the forest and wood products industries to make a significant contribution to the mitigation of global warming because of the ability of sustainably managed forests and plantations to sequester large quantities of atmospheric carbon. The Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) involving joint activities between Annex 1 parties (developed countries) and non-Annex 1 parties (mainly developing countries) provides one of cost-effective mechanisms for Annex 1 parties to meet their obligations under the Kyoto Protocol. For the purposes of the Workshop, CDM is defined as outlined in Article 12 of the Kyoto Protocol i.e. a project-based mechanism that allows public and private entities to invest in greenhouse gas (GHG) mitigating activities in developing countries and earn abatement credits, which can be applied against their own GHG emissions or sold on the open market. In addition to reducing emissions, CDM projects have the dual objective of contributing to the sustainable development of the host country. Although Africa’s forest and wood products industry sector can make a significant contribution through mitigating global warming, very little activity has taken place on the continent to explore this potential. Indeed, Africa is the only continent where there are currently no CDM projects. In November 2005, the International Tropical Timber Council (ITTC) approved and financed Project PD 337/05 Rev.3 (F), submitted by the Government of Ghana to be executed by the Ghana Forestry Commission (GFC) on organizing an international workshop on Clean Development Mechanism – Opportunities and Challenges for the Forest Industry Sector in Sub-Saharan Tropical Africa. The CDM workshop took place in Ghana, from the 2nd to 5th of October 2006, at Cresta Royale Hotel, Motorway Extension, North Dzorwulu, Accra – Ghana. The Workshop was organized under the auspices of the International Tropical Timber Organisation (ITTO) with funding from the Swiss, Finnish and Ghana Governments and the Common Fund for Commodities (CFC) with the Forestry Commission as the Executing Agency. Fifty (50) delegates were invited as participants to attend the CDM Workshop. The invited delegates were from ten (10) ITTO member countries in Africa and twenty- nine (29) CFC African member countries. Two (2) delegates each from ITTO member countries [one (1) forestry and one (1) from Designated National Authority 3 (DNA)] and one (1) delegate from each CFC African member country were invited to attend the workshop. Invited International Speakers who are experienced in CDM programmes were invited to make presentations on various topics at the workshop. 1.1 Specific Objective And Outputs .The specific objectives of the CDM Workshop Project among others were to: create awareness in Clean Development Mechanism opportunities for Africa identify current trends and potential impacts of carbon forestry on the global forest sector, with an emphasis on Sub-Saharan African tropical timber producing countries; explore opportunities and challenges for the effective participation of Sub- Saharan African tropical timber producing countries in CDM projects and other carbon forestry activities; develop carbon accounting models for sub-Saharan African tropical forest ecosystems and other carbon credits verification and certification systems; explore the potential for establishing carbon emissions trading markets for Africa; and consider emerging issues such as reducing carbon emissions from deforestation. The major outcome expected from the Workshop was to create awareness for CDM projects in Africa, as well as an analysis and understanding of the opportunities and challenges for the effective participation of Sub-Saharan African tropical timber producing countries in CDM projects and carbon forestry activities, including building appropriate capacity and strategic alliances with energy producing and ethical investment companies in northern countries. The project had two specific outputs which is as follows: 1. Output 1: Planning and organising the International Workshop on Climate Change – Opportunities for the forest and wood products industries in tropical Sub-Saharan Africa 2. Output 2: Prepare and disseminate workshop proceedings 4 1.2 Project Duration And Overall Cost The planned duration of the project was 14 months (1 year 2months). The project overall cost was US $279,160. ITTO contributed an amount of US $179,160.00 (United States dollars one hundred and seventy-nine thousand one hundred and sixty only) being 64.18% of the total cost. CFC the second major contributor provided US$100,000.00 (United States dollars one hundred thousand only) being 35.82% of the total cost. The government of Ghana provided US$14,875.00 (United States fourteen thousand hundred and seventy-five only) in the form of project personnel, office accommodation and utilities to support the project. 2.0 Project Achievements The project made significant achievements toward the realisation of the project objectives. Among the achievements are the following; 2.1 Outputs Achieved Output 1: Planning And Organising The International Workshop All the activities under output 1 have been completed which led to the establishment of a Project Steering Committee, the appointment of Consultants for the workshop and development of the workshop programme. Keynote speakers and other presenters were identified and invited to submit Papers for review prior to the workshop. Under this output, a Website was created for the workshop under the name www.carbontradinginafrica.com . The venue for the workshop was selected after negotiating with various hotels in Accra which was posted on website. This was followed by inviting delegates for the workshop and the making of appropriate travel arrangements through a Travel Agency. The National Designated Authority in Ghana i.e. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was invited to be present at the Project Sub-committee meetings. Selection of field sites was completed with the Assistance of Forestry Research Institute of Ghana (FORIG) and also the appropriate local contractors to assist in various aspects of organising the workshop were identified and their contracts signed. 5 Below is the summary of activities executed under output 1: Activities