As part of a U.S. Department of State-funded project, Winrock International has published a report – Financing Land Use Mitigation: A Practical Guide for Decision-Makers – that provides guidance to policy-makers to help them understand and facilitate the connection between emission reducing activities that require finance, instruments, and sources of funds. The report also targets land managers at the local level seeking finance for specific sustainable land use programs.
The report is the third in a series of high-profile analytic papers that Winrock’s Ecosystem Services unit is leading on key topics on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation (REDD+) and Low Emissions Development (LED), including verification, future options for land-based mitigation and financing strategies.
By connecting activities undertaken to reduce emissions and promote sustainable land management with potential instruments and sources of funding, the report offers practical guidance to support informed decision-making. In addition, the report features an in-depth exploration of relevant experiences raising finance for low emission, sustainable land use activities in Mexico and Ethiopia. While these countries share ambitious REDD+ and LED goals, their natural environment, macroeconomic conditions and institutional experience are very distinct. These conditions allow Mexico and Ethiopia to offer important lessons to other countries seeking to develop low emissions and sustainable land use strategies.
The report was authored by a team of international experts on financing emissions reductions from land use change, including: Charlotte Streck, Climate Focus; Brian Murray, Duke University; Andre Aquino, World Bank; Leslie Durschinger, Terra Global; Manuel Estrada; Charlie Parker, Climate Focus; and Alemayehu Zeleke, Climate Focus.
The full report, as well as an executive summary in English, Spanish and French, can be accessed here.