Project profile — Forests and Landscapes Program

• Asia, regional (40.00%)
• America, regional (60.00%)

• Forestry policy and administrative management:
Forestry policy and administrative management (31210) (50.00%)
Forestry development (31220) (50.00%)

• Climate change mitigation (principal objective)
• Environmental sustainability (cross-cutting) (principal objective)
• Gender equality (significant objective)

This project supports the transition to sustainable land use and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from forests and landscapes in targeted countries. The Forests and Landscapes program is one of four programs under the Canada-World Bank Clean Energy and Forest Climate Facility (CCEFCF) and focuses on leveraging public and private finance to reduce deforestation, forest degradation, restore and enhance forest resources. It also focuses on establishing benefit-sharing mechanisms and gender-responsive commitments. The program provides funding alongside credit financing from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development or International Development Association. Canada's contribution to the Program expects to leverage more than US$100 million in private and public investments and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by more than 15 million tonnes.

The expected outcome for this project is the increased area of sustainably managed forests and landscapes and enhanced livelihoods for women and men.

Results to date include: (1) committed US$16 million to the Lao Landscapes and Livelihoods Project, the Facility's most advanced operation, with roughly three-quarters of its financing already disbursed, and allocated a further US$17 million to a pipeline operation in Mexico advancing toward World Bank Board approval; (2) brought about 611,950 hectares of forest and landscape under sustainable management with improved capacity to reduce, remove, or avoid greenhouse gas emissions across five priority landscapes in Lao PDR; (3) delivered job-focused and livelihood support to more than 40,000 people, nearly 9,630 of them women, including 8,615 revolving-fund loans worth US$3.5 million for farm and non-farm enterprises; and (4) supported the adoption of 12 laws, policies, and regulations for sustainable land use, alongside strengthened protected-area management and law enforcement across eight protected areas. Over its lifetime, the FAL window is expected to reduce approximately 15 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions and bring around 7.5 million hectares under sustainable management, an area larger than the province of New Brunswick.

• Proactive disclosure
• Related activities:
• Energy Transition Program
• Gender Equality in the Renewable Energy Sector in Small Island Developing States Program
• Renewable Energy in Small Island Developing States Program