GIZ support to Fiji Forestry

1. GIZ support to Fiji Forestry Christine Fung Land Use Planning Specialist / Deputy Team Leader SPC/GIZ Coping with Climate Change in the Pacific Island Region

2. giz - Deutsche GesellschaftfürInternationaleZusammenarbeit (German Agency for International Cooperation) • Is a federally-owned enterprise that supports the German government in the field of international development cooperation. • Is an implementing agency providing support through technical cooperation with partners • Has been cooperating with Pacific Island partners for more than 30 years • Has been supporting Fiji Forestry Department since 1985

3. History of partnership: Fiji

7. Experiences and lessons learned SFM (and SLM) Project support • The Regional Project developed from useful outcomes of the Fiji Nakavu SFM research site • The Pacific-German Regional Project went through 3 extensions (4 Project phases: 1994 - 2008) • The development of pilots sites and capacity building of all involved required long project timeframe • Importance of multi-stakeholder approach not only for implementation but for buy-in and political support as well

8. Experiences Collaborations and partnerships – national level • Progress in Fiji better than other Pacific Island Countries due to: • Strong enabling environment (Policy, Legislation, Institutional support, budget contribution) • SFM activities entrenched in the Ministry’s work plans and programmes • Good pool of human resources (as compared to other PICs) • Dedicated officers • Commitment from other sectors

9. Experiences Collaborations and partnerships – NATIONAL LEVEL • Fiji supported with REDD+ (under a then climate change “adaptation” project) because: • Good track record of Fiji Forestry Department • Recognised that all the work invested in SFM and in the capacity development of the Forestry Department can be further utilised for REDD+ • Strong commitment from the Government of Fiji • The Fiji REDD+ programme is currently contracting landowners who were trained in the SFM Project to carry out field inventory

10. Experiences Collaborations and partnerships – REGIONAL LEVEL • Partnership with the Secretariat of the Pacific Community: • Necessary for formally linking to the countries at the political level • Necessary for regional alignment and national coordination • SPC played coordination role for development partners in the forestry sector • SPC strengthened support to countries through provision of added technical expertise and funding • Conduit for communicating information and messages at the international arena

11. Current initiatives Collaborations and partnerships – PROJECT LEVEL • Collaboration between the two GIZ projects (& other development partners): REDD+ & climate change adaptation SFM & SLM ? • Ridge-to-Reef, integrated approach being applied in the Solomon Islands Choiseul Province (entire island) • Brings together various donors and implementing partners – USAID, UNDP, JICA, GIZ • Whole-of-island approach induces a multi-stakeholder involvement • Coordination of funds and interventions

12. German innovative funding • The SPC/GIZ “Climate Protection through Forest Conservation” project funded through the German International Climate Initiative (ICI) • The ICI receives funding from emissions trading • ICI active in four areas: • promoting climate-friendly economies • fostering measures to adapt to the effects of climate change • ensuring the conservation and sustainable use of natural carbon reservoirs, and • conservation of biodiversity • See Karl (GIZ) for more information

13. VINAKA