Latin America and the Caribbean are invaluable havens of biodiversity in the world. They harbor the greatest diversity of species and ecosystems on the planet, a quarter of the mangrove forests, and half of the tropical forests (UNEP-WCMC, 2016; Bovarnick et al., 2010). According to FAO, the region has a total of 935.5 million hectares of forest land.
Forests are true guardians of the environment and indispensable allies in the fight against climate change. On one hand, they are powerful carbon sinks and climate regulators. Trees absorb around two billion tons of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere every year and store it in their bark, leaves, and soil, helping to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the main contributor of global warming.
Additionally, forests also play a critical role as regulators of the water cycle. They intercept and evaporate more water than any other type of vegetation or surface through their deep roots. Studies even suggest that this particular function helps to reduce the risks of extreme weather events, such as floods. Moreover, tree transpiration contributes to cloud formation and rainfall generation, mitigating the effects of climate change and preventing the progression of drought.
Forests also contribute to the livelihoods of millions of people in rural areas, especially those living in poverty (by supplying food and other products such as energy and medicine) and drive the socio-economic development of the region’s countries (through timber sales).
However, forests currently face significant challenges. According to a FAO report, between 1990 and 2015, the forest area of Latin America and the Caribbean decreased from 51% to 46.3% of its land area, at a rate twice the global average. This represents the loss of 96.9 million hectares.
Although protected areas have increased in all regions worldwide in the last two decades, forest extent has decreased by 4% globally and by 7% in Latin America and the Caribbean, mainly due to forest conversion for agriculture and other land uses (Lange et al., 2018).
Sustainable forest management and forest conservation are essential for achieving several Sustainable Development Goals set by the UN and also play a strategic role in enabling countries to meet their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), a mechanism set out in the Paris Agreement where countries establish short and medium-term targets to reduce their carbon emissions.
For the IDB, forest conservation and protection in Latin America and the Caribbean are fundamental, especially in the current context of climate change. The region holds almost 35% of the world’s total forest areas and around 50% of terrestrial species, making it a vital organ pumping life and sustenance into the planet. From 2006 to 2019, the IDB Group has approved nearly US$1.5 billion in forest-related activities, strengthening sustainable forest management in the region.
Controlling and reversing illegal deforestation to zero is a challenge that the IDB has been supporting in the region through loan operations and other types of mechanisms, such as technical cooperation. The Decarbonize Pará project (BR-L1613) is one such example. Aligned and backed by the program Amazonia Forever, the project is designed to support the progressive transition of the State of Pará to net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. This will be achieved, among many measures, by changing the land use model and promoting nature-based solutions to increase forest cover and preserve forests and riparian areas.
In line with the 2024 International Day of Forests theme “Forests and Innovation: New Solutions for a Better World”, the Decarbonize Pará program will support new technological advancements to improve digital connectivity, especially in remote and hard-to-reach areas, facilitating communication, knowledge dissemination, and state control over illegal forest degradation activities.
—
References:
UNEP-WCMC (2016). The State of Biodiversity in Latin America and the Caribbean: A Mid-term Review of Progress Towards the Aichi Biodiversity Targets. Cambridge, United Nations Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre.
Bovarnick, A., F. Alpízar, and C. Schnell. 2010. Latin America and the Caribbean: A biodiversity superpower. United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
Lange, G.-M., Wodon, Q., & Carey, K. (Eds.). 2018. The Changing Wealth of Nations 2018: Building a Sustainable Future. Washington DC. World Bank
—
Image credit: Shutterstock
Leave a Reply