[{"bbox": [96, 152, 1164, 286], "category": "Text", "text": "Development (StaRs). In 2020, PNG submitted its Enhanced Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The recently adopted NDC implementation plans foresee a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions mostly by reducing deforestation and forest degradation. Initiatives promoting the Forestry-Climate Change-Biodiversity (FCCB) nexus are being pursued in several conservation/protection areas with strong engagement of local traditional landowner communities."}, {"bbox": [96, 296, 1164, 538], "category": "Text", "text": "The importance of FCCB for PNG's policy agenda reflects both severe risks as well as important opportunities. Hosting one of the world's largest primary forests and 7% of the world's biodiversity, PNG is the custodian of an important global public good. Though increasingly important in the global effort to reverse the impact of climate change, PNG's forests - and with it its unique biodiversity - are increasingly at risk through subsistence and commercial agriculture, unsustainable and often illegal logging, destruction of mangroves and the inefficient use of firewood. The sector faces major challenges in governance and law enforcement. On the other hand, PNG's advanced FCCB policies and legislation, the importance of forest for traditional landowner communities, and recent developments in carbon trading, biodiversity offsetting, and land stewardship/ ecosystem services concepts, offer a unique opportunity for substantial EU support and investment, which is highly appreciated by PNG stakeholders."}, {"bbox": [96, 548, 1164, 656], "category": "Text", "text": "FCCB is on top of the EU's domestic and global agenda, notably the EU Cooperation Strategy for the Indo-Pacific, the external component of the EU Green Deal as well as EU policies on forestry, climate change adaptation and mitigation, emission trading, carbon capture, use and storage, and biodiversity², combined with global agreements, notably the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, the conclusions of COP 26 and the global biodiversity framework."}, {"bbox": [96, 666, 1164, 880], "category": "Text", "text": "Responding to EU's and PNG policy priorities, aligned with the EU-PNG MIP 20201-2027 (Priority Area 1) and taking specificities (such as customary and community landownership) of PNG's FCCB space into consideration, this Team Europe Initiative (TEI) \"Our Forest our Future\" - Addressing PNG's Forestry, Climate Change, Biodiversity (FCCB) nexus (in short: FCCB) uses a comprehensive, integrated and strategic approach to help transform PNG's FCCB policies, capacities and actions towards a green economy, as foreseen in PNG's long-term development Vision 2050 and anchored in the current medium term development plan (MDTP III, 2018-2022). The ambitions of the EU's medium - to long term engagement in this sector builds on the possibility to extend and enhance this FCCB phase 1 action with funds from the corresponding priority area in a second phase."}, {"bbox": [96, 890, 1164, 999], "category": "Text", "text": "In response to identified strength, weaknesses and challenges in the sector, and building on the existing progress in PNG's FCCB policies, this action will support a development model (at national/ institutional and at pilot community/conservation area levels) that reconciles climate change, environmental protection and biodiversity with sustainable, inclusive and gender-responsive green growth and jobs, by pursuing three specific objectives:"}, {"bbox": [96, 1009, 1090, 1038], "category": "Text", "text": "SO 1: Effective implementation of evidence-based FCCB policies, governance and institutional frameworks;"}, {"bbox": [96, 1048, 887, 1077], "category": "Text", "text": "SO 2: Increased knowledge and awareness on FCCB issues among PNG's population;"}, {"bbox": [96, 1087, 1164, 1140], "category": "Text", "text": "SO 3: Increased inclusive and gender responsive green public and private sector investments and deforestation-free livelihoods."}, {"bbox": [96, 1152, 1164, 1287], "category": "Text", "text": "Across these three specific objectives, the strategic axes of the action are (a) transforming institutions, policies, capacities and governance, (b) concrete implementation at pilot community levels and (c) investments, including through the use of EFSD+. Each of the three SOs offers significant opportunities for the enhanced use of digital tools. Particular attention will be given to the equal and meaningful involvement of women, youth and marginalized groups, as well as conflict sensitivity and the promotion of peaceful dispute resolution mechanisms."}, {"bbox": [96, 1299, 1164, 1512], "category": "Text", "text": "The action supports PNG's ambition to ensure sustainable management of its natural resources and its transition to a green, carbon neutral economy. In line with the EU Strategy for Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific, notably priority areas 1 and 2 (Sustainable and inclusive prosperity and Green transition), and with the environmental priorities of the EU for NDICI-Global Europe programming in the Pacific Region, it will further strengthen the EU's and PNG's commitment to address the triple forestry, climate change and biodiversity crises, and contribute to the global climate change agenda. Guided by the political and policy priorities of the EU and underpinned by strategic policy dialogue, this TEI, mobilizing support and engagement from other European actors, aims to support transformational change, making the EU and its Member states the partner of reference in the area. Building on EU's extensive experience and"}, {"bbox": [85, 1541, 1144, 1610], "category": "Footnote", "text": "² Including the 2019 Communication on Stepping up EU Action to Protect and Restore the World's Forest, the EU Emissions Trading system, \"Enhancing EU Biodiversity\", the \"Forging a climate-resilient Europe - the new EU Strategy on Adaptation to Climate Change\" and the voluntary Guidelines on the Responsible Governance of Tenure of Land, Fisheries and Forest (VGGT)."}, {"bbox": [85, 1656, 194, 1682], "category": "Page-footer", "text": "Page 4 of 32"}]