Supplement to Expression of Interest in Joining the Forest Carbon Partnership Facility (FCPF)

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1 Supplement to Expression of Interest in Joining the Forest Carbon Partnership Facility (FCPF) December 6, 2011 Guidelines: 1. The information requested in this form is to follow up on your expression of interest in the FCPF and assess your country s interest in relation to the importance of REDD+ (reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation, conservation of forest carbon stocks, sustainable management of forests and enhancement of forest carbon stocks in developing countries) for the country. The governing body of the FCPF, the Participants Committee (PC), requested the Facility Management Team to solicit additional information from countries having expressed interest in the FCPF, propose criteria and a process for the possible selection of more countries into the FCPF, and analyze the cost implications of such a selection, given that the participation of new countries is subject to available resources (see paragraph 11 of Resolution PC/10/2011/1 available at F/Oct2011/Final%20PC10%20Resolution%201%20-%20strategic%20direction.pdf. 2. Please keep the length of your response to 5 pages, as this is not meant to be a national Readiness Preparation Proposal (R-PP). 3. Please forward the completed form to the FCPF Facility Management Team by at fcpfsecretariat@worldbank.org no later than January 31, Additional information about the FCPF is available at 1. General information Country submitting the form: South Sudan Date submitted: 15/01/2013 Name of submitting person and institution: Jaden Tongun Emilio Wani Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, cooperatives and Rural Development. Title: Undersecretary for Forestry Address: Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, cooperatives and Rural Development, Ministries Complex Juba-South Sudan Telephone: / jtemil53@gmail.com Website: 1

2 2. Background 2.1 In what capacity would your country participate in the FCPF? Choose one of the five categories of participation below and briefly explain. Participation in the FCPF could be in different capacities, ranging from no support to full support and to be determined by PC subject to available resources, as listed below: South Sudan prefers category (iv) Participation with full financial support for REDD+ Readiness preparation: As full member of the FCPF, participation would include financial and technical support for REDD+ readiness (total financial support is $3.6 million in two stages: $200,000 grant to help formulate a Readiness Preparation Proposal (R-PP), and $3.4 million preparation grant to implement the R-PP), and for one country representative to attend FCPF meetings, subject to available resources. 2.2 Should your country preference be category (iii) or (iv) above, have you already identified or had discussion with a potential Delivery Partner for channeling FCPF resources and providing REDD+ readiness Services? If so, which one (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Inter- American Development Bank, United Nations Development Programme or World Bank)? We have not yet identified a delivery partner for channeling the CFPF resources. 2.3 Does the World Bank have an active portfolio on forests and natural resource management in your country? If so, briefly explain. The World Bank currently has no active portfolio on forests and natural resources management in South Sudan but the World Bank administered the Support for Agriculture and Forestry Development Project (SAFDP) since 2008 as one of the MDTF projects in South Sudan. The project components included support to Agriculture and Forestry research and extension services; institutional capacity building and policy formulation and has come to an end by Dec2012. In 2009 the World Bank provided funds for two years Emergency food prices crisis response project (EFCRP) and currently provided additional funds up to end of June 2013.This project objective is to enhance Agriculture production and productivity and safety nets. However the World Bank engagement in South Sudan will be closely aligned with the South Sudan Development Plan (SSDP) which focuses on sustainable development programs and sustainable use of natural resources. REDD+ activities are consistent with SSDP and seeks to reduce deforestation and forest degradation and combat poverty. 2.4 Have you received, or are you expecting to receive in the near future, technical or financial support for REDD+ from the UN-REDD Programme or any other multilateral or bilateral assistance program for REDD+? If yes, provide the details and also mention for what areas of REDD+ Readiness would you request the FCPF support? The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, cooperatives and Rural Development established a national Forest Governance Task Force to develop the framework for REDD+ strategic plan. Financial support for the inception workshop was provided by UNDP. The Task Force recommended for a gap analysis workshop, UNDP also provided funds for this workshop which targeted participants from the States Governments, the local development partner s offices UNDP, FAO UNEP, WB several NGOS and relevant ministries, intuitions and civil society participated to identify gaps in the Forest sector in South Sudan. We are expecting UNDP to continue supporting financially the Forest 2

3 Governance Task Force and covering as its secretariat. UNDP also provided financial support to South Sudan delegates to attend the UNREDD+ policy board (PB7 andpb9).unep provided financial support for a community forestry workshop and study tour. The FCPF funds, if provided will be used for awareness workshops, Capacity building, quick assessments of the forest resources including review and overview of the forest inventory to set out the status of South Sudan Forests. 3. REDD+ and National Development (Please answer each question in ½ page maximum. If accepted into the FCPF, under categories (iii) or (iv) above in 2.1, the country will be expected to provide further information and analysis in the Readiness Preparation Proposal). 3.1 How important are forests in your country, including for poverty reduction, the well-being of forest-dependent Indigenous Peoples and other forest dwellers, and biological diversity? Please use quantitative data, if available. South Sudan has an area of 650,000sq KMs and with an estimated population of 8.2Mn inhabitants according to the National census of Dense forests occupy about 25% of the total land area, mainly in the Equatoria and Bahr El Ghazal states which borders the Democratic Republic of Congo and in Upper Nile state.the economy of the country is predominately based on agriculture sector including agricultural production, livestock, forestry and fisheries. South Sudan has seven Agroecological zones. The economic potential of forest resources is significant though data on the resources are not available as records were lost during the war. In addition to Teak plantations area of an estimated 5,000 to 8,000 ha, there are large areas of natural indigenous forests with Mahogany and other commercial species. Forests in South Sudan can be classified broadly into, Protection forests - water catchment areas; wildlife sanctuaries/game reserves; on-farm trees; riparian forests and gallery forests. Industrial forests comprising of plantations which provide employment of communities within vicinity of forest plantations provide timber (building & agricultural hand tool handles) and non-timber (NTFPs) Acacia gums, lattices, honey, fruits, nuts and fibers, grasses (building & grazing for both domestic & wildlife). 3.2 What are the current situation and trends in deforestation and forest degradation? What are the main causes of deforestation and forest degradation? South Sudan forest cover constitute about25 % of its total surface area. The main factor s responsible for forest deforestation and degradation in South Sudan include Agricultural expansion, shifting cultivation, energy consumption, forest fires and natural disturbances especially in semi-arid areas of Kapoeta County in Eastern Equatoria. The annual deforestation rate is estimated to be 2%. The biggest direct cause of deforestation is the conversion of natural forests to cropland and pasture. Demand for wood fuel increased since after independence of South Sudan due to increase population because of the return of refugees, urbanization and shortage in supply of forms of energy. Fire caused by gatherers and hunters is a serious problem in nearly all forest areas in South Sudan. 3.3 Does your country currently have a forest monitoring system, including estimates of greenhouse gas emissions from deforestation and forest degradation 3

4 South Sudan has no regular forest monitory and data collection systems, but the directorate of forestry together with some development partners e.g. NFG (Norwegian Forestry Group), WCS( Wild life conservation Society), did limited inventories of plantations and natural forests guard and patrolling. 3.4 What is the current thinking on what would be needed to reduce deforestation and forest degradation in your country (e.g., potential programs, policies, capacity building, etc.)? Deforestation maybe reduced through robust communities sensitization/awareness creation/ forestry extension services; provision of alternative source of livelihood for forest products dependence communities; continuous zoning/protection of priced Gum acacia producing natural woodlands annual fire lines and patrolling of natural forest reserves; periodic remotely sensed data capturing. Increase in plantation area through Agro forestry practices will encourage expansion of plantations to release the pressure from the natural forests. Combating environmental degradation and rehabilitation of degraded forest lands should be an integrated strategy in natural resource sectors within the SSDP (South Sudan Development Plan ) which focuses on forest and other natural resources conservation, environmental protection and poverty alleviation at national and community levels. Because of over dependant on wood fuel for energy, policies and plans at different levels are indispensable for adoption of alternative energy such as LPG and enhancement of efficient use of energy technologies such as improved cook stoves, brick ovens and efficient charcoal kilns should be promoted as a matter of policy 3.5 What are the key potential challenges for REDD+ in your country (e.g., lack of financing, lack of technical capacity, governance issues)? South Sudan has been at war with Sudan for the last 50 years until independence on 9 th July The country not only was destroyed but lost human resources as well.in this phase of reconstruction, programs and projects formulated need financial resources, including REDD+ activities. Capacity building of local staff to implement REDD+ activities is also a challenge. South Sudan has a decentralized governance system, the Central Government and ten states Governments. The central government manages the central reserves and the other are by the states. There are institutional and policy issues in relation to forest governance; forest tenure; land-use planning; forest management; forest revenues and incentives? The issue of ownership is also a problem. Lack of data, REDD+ readiness requires an assessment of both forest land use change and carbon stock change assessment.indigenous peoples engagement and assessment of rural livelihoods, conservation of biodiversity and ecosystem services, are key factors directly pertinent to REDD+ implementation 3.6 How does REDD+ fit in your country s national low-carbon development strategy/plan, if any, or in the strategy/plan for the forest and other relevant sectors (e.g., agriculture, water, energy, transportation)? South Sudan forestry, agriculture, water and biodiversity, policies and strategies recognized the important roles forests play and the need for their conservation.with the current high rate of 4

5 deforestation and forest degradation for energy, crop cultivation and other important livelihood needs make forest sector one of the highest priority areas for South Sudan to contribute to the global climate change mitigation. REDD+ plus activities have been recognized by the government as national low-carbon development strategy and a practical example of building national capacity and gaining experience. 3.7 Please briefly describe the envisaged national management arrangements for REDD+, explaining at what level of government REDD+ would be steered. The institutional framework of management of REDD+ is yet involving. But it is envisaged, that a national structure will be in place in due course. The Forest Governance Task Force is designated as the national body for REDD+. The Forest Governance Task Force is acting as a catalyst for REDD+ and is positioned to initiate, develop and improve inter-sectoral coordination. The Forest Governance Task Force includes representation from other related governmental sector, civil societies, local communities, private sector and universities. REDD+ national technical unit from concerned Ministries is already established with the participation of the concerned Ministries (agriculture energy, livestock etc) State REDD+ Committees, with the participation of the States authorities, civil societies and local communities, will be established in all States of the country 3.8 Please briefly describe the proposed consultations that would be conducted to design the REDD+ strategy. The Forest Governance Task Force has already conducted a gap analysis in the areas of Forest Governance and institutional set up. This analysis will form the baseline for designing the REDD+ National strategy. The REDD+ National Strategy will be prepared in a participatory approach where all stakeholders will be consulted and involved including related Government institutions, civil society, the universities, indigenous people, including Farmers, pastoralists and professional unions, NGOs and Private sector. 5