GEF-5 Focal Area Strategies

GEF-5 Focal Area Strategies The mandate of the GEF covers four strategic goals: Strategic Goal 1 – Conserve, sustainably use, and manage biodiversity, ecosystems, and natural resources globally, taking into account the anticipated impacts of climate change. Strategic Goal 2 – Reduce global climate change risks by: (1) stabilizing atmospheric GHG concentrations through emission-reduction actions; and (2) assisting countries in adapting to climate change, including variability. Strategic Goal 3 – Promote the sound management of chemicals throughout their lifecycle to minimize the effect on human health and the global environment. Strategic Goal 4 – Build national and regional capacities and enabling conditions for protection and sustainable development of the global environment. The focal areas are: (i) biodiversity; (ii) climate change (mitigation); (iii) international waters; (iv) land degradation; and (v) chemicals, including POPs & ODS Cross-cutting theme: Sustainable forest management

Sustainable Forest Management (1) The goal is to achieve multiple environmental benefits from improved management of all types of forests (from sub-tropical forests to wetlands). To achieve this goal, the strategy has two objectives: Reduce pressures on forest resources and generate sustainable flows of forest ecosystem services; and Strengthen an enabling environment to reduce GHG emissions from deforestation and forest degradation and enhance carbon sinks from LULUCF activities. Financing will not be provided for the substitution of native forests with artificial forests, despite the fact that the latter could produce potential carbon sink benefits.

Sustainable Forest Management (2) Countries that present projects that combine resources and objectives in at least two focal areas subject to the STAR could receive additional resources as an incentive, in addition to indicative resources allocated to them (3:1). Countries could use a maximum of US$30 million (and receive up to US$10 million) and a minimum of US$2 million (and receive US$666,666).