GCF Task Force Exchange of Experiences in San Martin, Peru
Notes from the Field
From October 10-13, 2022, the Governors’ Climate and Forests Task Force (GCF Task Force) – a project of the Emmett Institute on Climate Change and the Environment at UCLA School of Law and UCLA’s Institute of the Environment and Sustainability, in partnership with the Institute of Behavioral Science on the University of Colorado, Boulder – and the Regional Government of San Martin, Peru, organized a Technical Exchange of Experiences in and across the towns of Tarapoto and Moyobamba, situated on the western fringe of the Peruvian Amazon.
In the course of the first two days of this technical exchange, nearly 500 participants from throughout the GCF Task Force network and beyond participated in field visits to greater than 60 sustainable production, ecotourism, ecosystem services, indigenous cooperatives, women’s cooperatives, carbon reduction projects, and other initiatives focused on reducing tropical deforestation and increasing local economic development. A full field visit brochure (in Spanish) is out there here. Summaries of Day 1 and Day 2 can be found from the GCF Task Force webpage.
The aim of this technical exchange was to share on-the-ground discussions with local communities, businesses, and farmers, in order that participants could experience first-hand the successes, challenges, and realities of developing and supporting alternative livelihood initiatives on this a part of Peru.
The second half of the exchange focused on sharing out these experiences and comparing them to programs from other GCF Task Force member jurisdictions in Peru, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Indonesia, Mexico, and the USA, in addition to from other participants from Bolivia, Europe, Guatemala, and elsewhere. These experiences were framed inside the Manaus Motion Plan, a GCF Task Force-wide call to motion initiated earlier this 12 months for added financing and support to implement jurisdictional approaches throughout the 39 member governments of the GCF Task Force to tackle the climate, poverty, and biodiversity crises.
The ultimate two days included technical presentations, policy discussions, and political dialogue at every level. From Indigenous leaders, community representatives, Governors and vice-governors from Peru, Brazil, Ecuador, and Bolivia, delegates from throughout the GCF Task Force network, private sector actors, non-profit and scientific partners, donor governments (corresponding to Norway, which is the principal sponsor of the GCF Task Force), youth, and even the President of Peru, this was a full series of exchanges. See Day 3 and Day 4 posts on the GCF Task Force webpage for more information.
Importantly, this exchange also served as a possibility for incoming governors in Peru (every Region of Peru held gubernatorial elections in October) to learn from and integrate into the GCF Task Force network. These exchanges be certain that these kind of networks withstand the test of time through multiple administrations.
Efforts to cut back deforestation and its impact on the climate, biodiversity, and folks – particularly Indigenous Peoples and native communities – are more needed and demanding than ever. The work underway in San Martin was shared, questioned, expanded on, and ultimately, will proceed as participants built lasting relationships in Peru and beyond to debate and incorporate best practices and achieve real results.
The GCF Task Force will proceed to foster and support this network and these exchanges, including at upcoming meetings on the 27th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt in November and at the subsequent GCF Task Force Annual Meeting in Yucatan, Mexico in February 2023.
Stay tuned for added Legal-Planet posts during and following these upcoming events.
