General

United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) is a legally binding international agreement linking environment and development to sustainable land management. The Convention aims to combat desertification and mitigate the effects of drought e specially in Africa. The Convention entered into force in 1996 and has currently 195 Parties. Finland ratifed the agreement in 1995.The Sessions of the Conference of the Parties (COP) are held on a biennial basis. The COP approves the budget of the Convent ion and the indicative scale of contributions to the core budget. The achievement of the UNCCD workplan objectives is dependent on voluntary support. The year 2014 is important for the UNCCD in preparing for the meetings for 2015 including the 3rd UNCCD sc ientific conference to be held in March 2015 and the COP 12 to be held in September 2015. The issues of combatting desertification and drought are also reflected in the global discussions on Post 2015 process as well as in the negotiations for a new global climate change agreement. The UNCCD Secretariat has made a proposal for the 2014 voluntary support by Finland. With the allocation of 400 000 euros Finland will support activies taken by the secretariat to enhance scientific knowledge on land-based adapta tion to organise the 3rd UNCCD scientific conference in Mexico in March 2015 to prepare a publication on drought to enhance rights-based approach to sustainable land management to prepare advocacy material on equitable access to land and to organise a Gend er Forum to be held at COP 12. In addition Finland will support developing country participation in the sessions of the COP and its subsidiary bodies. A significant part of Finland's previous support for the UNCCD has been targeted to regional coordination in developing countries and to support to developing country participation in the decision-making in the Convention processes. As a result the inclusion of the special needs of developing countries in the UNCCD negotiations has strengthened.

General

Unterstützung traditioneller Landgemeinden in der Verteidigung ihrer Territorien und der Biodiversität in der Zielregion

Objectives

In der Zielregion sind die Biome durch Zerstörung durch Monokulturen und Großprojekte im Bereich Bergbau und Energieerzeugung bedroht und die kleinbäuerliche Landbevölkerung aus dem gleichen Grund aufgrund fehlender Landbesitztitel von Vertreibung. Die Fachstelle für Landfragen der brasilianischen Bischofskonferenz unterstützt traditionelle Landgemeinden bei der Verteidigung ihrer Territorien und der Biodiversität.

General

This project represents Canada's sixth replenishment of the Global Environment Facility (GEF), which is the single biggest source of funding for the global environment. Due to administrative reasons, this project is separated into two profiles for a total amount of $216,570,000. Canada is the sixth largest contributor to the GEF under its Sixth Replenishment (GEF-6), covering the period of 2014-2018 (Canada's contribution was recorded as $233.09 million as a result of the accelerated payment). By supporting the GEF, Canada helps developing countries implement their multilateral environmental agreements and environmental priorities in a way that supports national sustainable development priorities and ensures benefits for local development. Through the GEF, Canada supports work in areas such as climate change, biodiversity, chemicals and waste (including mercury), land degradation, international waters, and sustainable forest management. Under GEF-6, the GEF and its partner agencies continue to provide financing for new and improved environmental policies, legislation and regulatory frameworks, and capacity development in developing countries. As a member of the 32-member GEF Council, Canada works toward implementing its priorities for GEF-6, which are to: (1) leverage scarce donor resources, including through enhanced private sector engagement and greater use of non-grant instruments; (2) strengthen programming results, from an integrated approach pilot to address drivers of environmental degradation, better gender mainstreaming and enhanced country and civil society engagement; and (3) improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the GEF by focusing on operational reforms, including improving the efficiency of the project cycle and strengthening the results-based management and the knowledge management systems. For the first profile for this project, as well as previous support to GEF, see related information below.