As the climate crisis becomes ever more serious, each Earth Day that comes along takes on extra significance. This year’s theme is Restore Our Earth, which focuses not only on recovering from the effects of COVID-19, but implementing nature-based solutions that will have lasting, transformative impacts on our planet.

While scientists confirm that climate change and loss of biodiversity are irrefutable, they also emphasize that it’s not too late to stem the tide. Finding sustainable, resilient solutions will require innovative thinking in all aspects of society — how we grow food, obtain our energy, use land, and dispose of chemicals and waste.

Carlos Manuel Rodriguez, CEO and Chairperson of the Global Environment Facility (GEF), has stressed the need to invest in the protection and rehabilitation of nature to support a clean, resilient, green, and blue pandemic recovery. In a recent blog, he compared the challenges of 2021 to the waves he’s accustomed to surfing in his free time. He wrote, “It is 100 percent possible to balance the needs of the population with the needs of the planet. Like two feet on the board.”

This Earth Day, the GEF is highlighting nine initiatives from its most recent work program, designed to help developing countries across the world protect and regenerate nature in the wake of COVID-19.

Protecting sea turtles and seagrass in Madagascar

Sea turtles play a critical role in Madagascar, a global biodiversity hotspot. They naturally clean up and help maintain the health of marine ecosystems, particularly seagrass meadows and coral reefs. Due to environmental pressures such as global warming, coastal development, pollution, and wildlife trafficking, sea turtle populations have declined sharply in recent years. A new GEF-funded project, implemented by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), is supporting efforts by Madagascar’s Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development to protect the country’s sea turtles and seagrass meadows from a host of human-caused threats. The link between biodiversity loss and the rise of zoonotic diseases is more apparent than ever before. This initiative aims to harness this awareness to convene community members, scientists, and policy-makers to cooperate and take action on the conservation of these keystone species for the benefit of people and our planet.

In Benin, investing in mangroves for climate resilience

Mangrove forests are key sources of food, fuel, and income for many coastal communities living in the West African country of Benin. They help protect coastal habitats from wave and wind erosion, reduce pollutant levels in the water, and safeguard near-shore reefs. All of these benefits are at risk of being lost as wetlands and lagoons continue to shrink. To counteract the loss of these vital mangrove forests, the GEF’s Least Developed Countries Fund is supporting a new project led by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) that will enable communities along Benin’s southern coast to restore and sustainably manage endangered mangrove forests. The goal is to protect and restore 120,000 hectares of Benin’s mangrove ecosystems and provide the means for 250,000 men and women to find alternative, biodiversity-friendly livelihoods.

The Gambia invests in valuing and safeguarding biodiversity

The Gambia, the smallest country in mainland Africa, is home to significant biodiversity, including a wide range of medicinal plants that Gambian people depend upon for their health and livelihoods. Forests, critical habitats for these medicinal herbs, are under-managed and being depleted by the push for wood harvesting. Under a new initiative supported by the GEF and UNEP, The Gambia intends to protect its valuable ecosystems by fully implementing the Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit Sharing.

Safeguarding iconic threatened species and their habitats

As one of the seventeen megadiverse countries in the world, China harbors nearly ten percent of all plant species and fourteen percent of vertebrate animals found on Earth. A new initiative funded by the GEF and led by the United Nations Development Programme and the Chinese National Forestry and Grassland Administration aims to conserve critical habitat of five iconic wildlife species: the giant panda, the Yunnan snub-nosed monkey, the Western black crested gibbon, the Indochinese gray langur, and the stump-tailed macaque. Through landscape restoration and the creation of ecological corridors, the initiative will help preserve the habitats of these primate species in Yunnan Province and Giant Panda National Park.

Using all tools to protect Chile’s varied ecosystems

Chile’s central region has been designated as one of five South American biodiversity hotspots because of its wealth of unique plant species. The region is home to more than 3,800 native species of vascular plants, more than half found nowhere else on earth. In recent years, Chile’s vast and varied landscapes have been negatively impacted by deforestation, forest fires, drought, and rapid urban growth. To counter these pressures, the GEF is financing a new FAO-led project that will protect vulnerable ecosystems and species where they are most threatened, as the South American country recovers from the COVID-19 crisis. The project’s main objects are to advance landscape restoration through stronger regulatory and policy responses, increase investment in agroforestry, and improve knowledge-sharing related to biodiversity loss mitigation.

Bolstering biosafety in Southern Africa

While genetically modified organisms such as seeds and plants have been viewed as possible solutions to disease resistance and satisfying growing food demands, they may also pose threats to biodiversity in some of the most species-rich regions in the world. With support from the GEF, UNEP will work with the Regional Agricultural and Environmental Innovations Africa and government ministries across the Democratic Republic of Congo, Madagascar, and Namibia to bolster biosafety frameworks. The goal of this initiative is to ensure that these South African countries continue to benefit from modern biotechnology whilst safeguarding their biodiversity.

Supporting national efforts to restore Azerbaijan’s degraded lands

Land degradation is well underway in Azerbaijan, where the agriculture sector employs more than a third of the country’s working population. In the absence of sustainable land management practices, the country is experiencing depleted lands and increased vulnerability to food crises. In an effort to reduce rising food security threats and support sustainable land management practices, the GEF is financing a new initiative that will strengthen Azerbaijan’s land health policies. The initiative, to be led by Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources and FAO, will teach local farmers to engage with sustainable practices and increase their crop yields. As Azerbaijan’s degraded lands are restored, there will be additional co-benefits for climate change mitigation and biodiversity conservation.

Keeping the lights on for off-grid providers in Africa

Over the past decade, approximately 200 million clean energy products have been sold to households in Africa seeking to reduce their reliance on kerosene lamps, diesel generators, and other environmentally damaging energy sources. For companies offering off-grid solar home systems and mini grids, the opportunity is huge: hundreds of millions of people in Africa are interested in upgrading to cheaper, cleaner technologies. Unfortunately, the pandemic has disrupted supply chains, made travel more difficult, and increased currency risk, ultimately halting progress towards the clean energy shift in Africa. In an effort to keep the economic fallout from COVID-19 from reversing progress toward cleaner household energy, the GEF and the Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa are investing in a financing platform that will provide loans for firms selling medium and small-scale energy solutions across Africa. The platform is expected to support 27 megawatts of renewable energy generation and benefit 2.5 million people, all while leading to a decrease in greenhouse gas emissions.

Investing in land health for sustainable recovery

The Bahamas is a biodiversity hotspot with over 1,100 species of vascular plants and 406 known species of amphibians, birds, mammals, and reptiles. Recent strains on Bahamian land have impacted land health in the archipelago of 700 islands and cays. Deforestation, mining, and freshwater pollution have led to biodiversity loss and food insecurity amidst the global pandemic. To protect these ecosystems and ensure food availability, the country has partnered with the GEF and UNEP to invest in more climate-resilient and regenerative food production practices. As it gets underway, the initiative will seek to introduce regenerative agricultural practices to a total of 10,000 hectares of land on seven target islands.

Water, the essential building block of life, is at the core of sustainable development. It is a pillar of human health, socio-economic development, and biodiversity protection. Water is at the heart of adaptation to climate change, serving as a crucial link between human society and environmental changes.

Despite the fact that it covers 70% of our planet, water is a finite and irreplaceable resource. Only 3% of the water on Earth is freshwater, and two-thirds of that resides in frozen glaciers. Today, approximately 80% of the world’s population is exposed to high levels of threat to water scarcity and 2.2 billion people are living without access to clean water.

The theme for World Water Day 2021 is valuing water. This day provides an opportunity to focus our attention on the importance of water and advocate for the sustainable management of our planet’s precious resource. Managed efficiently and equitably, water can play a vital role in strengthening the resilience of social, economic, and environmental systems.

Water sustainability is, therefore, at the core of the Global Environment Facility’s (GEF) priorities. On this day, the GEF is highlighting the multidimensional value of water and the need to safeguard this critical resource for the benefit of people and the planet.

Water * Climate Change * Glaciers

The negative effects of climate change are primarily seen through changes in the water cycle. As climate changes, droughts, floods, and melting glaciers intensify, often with severe consequences for crops and ecosystems. Steffen Hansen, an Environmental Specialist at the GEF, works closely on transboundary cooperation in Europe and Central Asia, where glacial melting threatens to drain many countries of their water sources. He emphasizes, “Glaciers, which are feeding the rivers in the region, constitute the very frontier of climate change.” In recognition of that fact, the GEF’s Central Asian Glacial Project, managed by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) aims to increase the resilience of countries that depend on natural resources from glacierized regions. Read the blog.

Water * Health * Hydration

One of the greatest environmental threats to health is the lack of access to clean water. This is especially true for Tanzanians living near Mbarali River, part of the larger Rufiji River basin in southern Tanzania. Activities such as livestock grazing, farming too close to riverbanks, and improper waste disposal have resulted in a decreased quantity and quality of water supplied by the river. An initiative executed by the Nairobi Convention and funded by the GEF aims to improve the water quality and flow in order to sustain biodiversity downstream and ensure the water is safe to drink once more. Read the story.

Water * Wildlife Crime * Maritime Trafficking

Over 90% of the world’s trade goes by sea, making maritime transport the chief avenue used by smuggling networks to ship illegal wildlife products such as ivory, pangolin scales, and timber. Until recently, wildlife traffickers using sea freight have gone largely undetected due to weak enforcement capacity and limited coordination among shipping companies. A UNDP-led and GEF-financed maritime trafficking project is supporting the development of guidelines, courses, and training programs to encourage improved security measures across shipping supply chains. Check out the photo-essay.

Water * Chemicals & Waste * Pollution

Laguna de Bay is the Philippines’ largest lake, and supplies Metro Manila’s 16 million people with a third of their fish. It also supports agriculture and hydro-power generation for many Filipinos residing nearby. However, serious pollution from untreated sewage and industrial waste has taken a toll on the health and productivity of the lake. When chemical pollutants accumulate in a body of water, they deplete the oxygen levels that fish need to survive. In an effort to prevent further contamination and restore fish populations, the GEF and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) fund a project that works closely with locals to clean up Laguna de Bay. Read the story.

Water * Biodiversity * Ecosystems

Wetlands are diverse habitats that serve as vital sources of biome health. Sometimes referred to as the ‘kidneys of the earth,’ wetlands have the ability to filter and store contaminants before they reach our lakes, rivers, and other waterways. A project with funding from the GEF and UNDP aimed to conserve biodiversity and reduce pollution within China’s Yangshan Wetlands. At present, the Yangshan Wetlands are being fully restored and protected by the implementation of two national wetland parks. Learn more.

Water * COVID19 * Sanitation

Access to clean water for sanitation has been the first line of defense during the COVID-19 pandemic. Equally important in the fight against the virus are well developed drain and sewer systems to dispose of waste in a safe manner. As governments and health agencies look to invest in better hygiene standards to prevent future disease outbreaks, more resources are likely to be directed towards installing pipes, taps, and wells. Mark Smith, Director General of the CGIAR International Water Management Institute, emphasizes that there is an opportunity to learn from the challenges related to water scarcity. He writes, “The world has a chance, through the COVID-19 recovery, to recognize the importance of water to the resilience of communities worldwide.” Read the blog.

Water * Adaptation * Drought

Dry seasons and water shortages are persistent challenges in the Puntland region of Somalia. In the worst-affected areas, crops and livestock have been entirely wiped out, leading to widespread food insecurity and loss of income. Prolonged drought ultimately leads to inflated water prices, which can be catastrophic for families and entire villages. The Biyo-Gadud sand dam is one of the water harvesting structures implemented in Puntland to reduce the impacts of disasters like droughts and floods. Completed by the Puntland Ministry of Environment, through a GEF-financed, UNDP-supported project, the sand dam is saving livestock and saving lives. Read the story.

The Valuing Water Initiative — Better decisions impacting water

The Valuing Water Initiative (VWI) was launched in January 2019 to implement the Valuing Water Principles developed by the United Nations and World Bank High-Level Panel on Water. The Valuing Water Principles seek to bring systemic change in the way water is valued in decision-making to ensure we can live in a sustainable water-secure world. Learn more here.

Around the world, women are leading efforts to adapt to and mitigate the causes of climate change, protect our planet’s biodiversity, and innovate sustainable solutions for the future. When women are empowered and have equal opportunities to contribute to sustainable development, it leads to concrete benefits for people and the planet.

The Global Environment Facility (GEF) understands that tackling the world’s most pressing environmental challenges requires diverse skills and knowledge and innovative perspectives. As such, investing in women and supporting their leadership is central to the GEF mission.

Recognizing that a gender responsive approach is key to tackling the drivers of environmental degradation, the GEF has made gender mainstreaming a continued priority over the years. With the recently updated Policy on Gender Equality and collaboration across the GEF Partnership developing tools such as the Guidance on Gender Equality and the Online Course on Gender and the Environment, GEF projects and programs worldwide are investing in women to deliver greater environmental benefits at both local and global levels.

On this International Women’s Day, which celebrates the role of women in achieving an equal future in a COVID-19 world, the GEF is highlighting five of our initiatives with the GEF Small Grants Program (SGP), where women are shaping a more equitable, sustainable future for us all.

In Costa Rica, rural women grow their own businesses

Beginning in 2016, the men in Río Jesús de Santiago, San Ramón Costa Rica involved themselves in an SGP initiative aimed at recovering degraded watersheds. Upon noticing the men in their community working toward sustainable land practices, a group of women asked themselves the question: “Why only men?”

Heimy Arguedas Madrigal, her mother Lidia María Madrigal Loria, and 21 other women of the community advocated for their own training in an ambitious project of organic food production and stingless-bee honey production. With the support of the GEF-UNDP program, the women of Río Jesús de Santiago de San Ramón formed their own association. Each member received training to maintain greenhouses, produce agro-free vegetables, and raise stingless honey bee populations.

Today, the initiative has reached a new generation of women. Sarah Morales Arguedas, Heimy’s 6-year-old girl, helps her grandmother select seeds and helps harvest vegetables. She scatters flower seeds near local streams, helping the pollinators thrive in their environment. Heimy herself believes that the women in her community have not only gained economic and political autonomy as a result of the experience, but also a greater passion for protecting the global environment.

Protecting ancestral culture in Colombia

Columbia is one of the world’s ‘megadiverse’ countries, hosting close to ten percent of the planet’s biodiversity. Like the rest of the world, Columbia’s biodiversity faces threats such as deforestation and climate change impacts. In indigenous and Afro-Columbian territories, such threats are amplified further by social disintegration and loss of traditional knowledge and practices.

The women of the Guapi municipality are concerned by the loss of sustainable practices, especially Azoteas, the agricultural farming of traditional medicinal and aromatic plants. These practices preserve the integrity of the environment and are the foundation of their meals, medicine, and identity. With support from GEF’s SGP, an all-women NGO worked to build evidence-based traditional medicine and local gastronomy systems in rooftop gardens. This project, which aimed to recover traditional practices, ultimately resulted in a women’s organization becoming instrumental in decision-making, community behavior, and sustainable land-planning.

Empowering fisherwomen in Turkey

Fisheries make up an important source of livelihood for local communities along the coast of Turkey. Because fishing has traditionally been viewed as a male domain, many of contributions made by women have gone unnoticed and undocumented in official statistics. Due to this invisibility, women were not consulted in small-scale fishery governance, nor was there information available on the challenges they faced in their line of work.

The Underwater Research Society, an SGP grantee partner, aimed to address issues of overfishing by establishing no-take fish zones with the active involvement of women. Building on this work, the Mediterranean Conservation Society received an SGP grant to map the numbers of women fishers, adequately respond to their needs, and ensure their inclusion in decision-making processes around sustainable small-scale fisheries in Turkey.

The impact of these efforts led to more than 120 women being trained in sustainable fisheries and 450 local fishing cooperatives shifting their traditional practices to recognize the work of the women, empower them, and give them voice in decision-making meetings.

Women leaders in Viet Nam address urban waste

With more than 20 million visitors per year, the Southeast Asian trading port city of Hoi An is left with the task of disposing of 27 thousand tons of solid waste every year. As a result of improper disposal of accumulating waste, the city’s land and streams became increasingly littered.

To address this issue, with support of the SGP, Hoi An’s Women’s Union created a long-term waste management plan that fosters the sustainable development of the city while preserving its cultural heritage. The project was not only successful in collecting, storing, and disposing of waste, but it gave work to a group of low-income women, strengthening the social fabric of the community.

Advocacy was a large component of this project, and proved to be critical in lasting change. A campaign on domestic waste management at local events, on the radio, and on television has reduced the amount of waste that ends up in landfills by more than 70%. Five years later, this project continues to deliver benefits to the residents and visitors to the city, while protecting our global environment.

Empowering women through solar powered herbal teas

Mauritius, an Indian Ocean island nation, is home to unique wildlife and biodiversity, particularly endemic species. In an effort to protect native plant species, the GEF’s SGP supported a project to establish a medicinal plant nursery. The facility itself is run by women who sustainably harvest and use medicinal plants to produce herbal teas. Using traditional botanical knowledge, the women created their own brand called Grandma’s Secret. It is the first copyrighted Mauritian brand of local medicinal and herbal teas. Today, this women-led micro-enterprise produces 24 varieties of tea for national and international markets.

Due to the success of the initial project, there has been another grant from SGP to install a solar powered system in their plant nursery. The solar panels installed with the grant generate enough electricity to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 10 tons annually. Thanks to the success of the project, many women have learned how to run effective media campaigns and scale up their initiatives on biodiversity protection and clean energy.

On this International Day of Women and Girls in Science, the Global Environment Facility is highlighting seven women scientists from across our partnership who play essential roles in addressing our planet’s most pressing environmental challenges.

Rosina Bierbaum, GEF STAP

Rosina Bierbaum is chair of the Scientific and Advisory Panel of the Global Environmental Facility. Throughout her career, Rosina Bierbaum has advocated for improvements in the curriculum that educates students in the disciplines of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). She has also worked to advance policy in areas including antibiotic resistance, clean energy, and agriculture. She is a member of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, one of the highest honors in the scientific field. When she reflected on her election to the National Academy of Sciences, Rosina Bierbaum emphasized that she would not be in that position without “a lot of science fairs, and many, many patient mentors along the way.” She addressed her unusual career path from serving on President Barack Obama’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology to heading back to university to mentor the next generation of environmental leaders.

Aulani Wilhelm, Conservation International

Aulani Wilhelm, Senior Vice President of Oceans at Conservation International, is engaging in work that is essential to the future of ocean health. As leader of the Center for Oceans, Conservation International’s global coastal and marine program, her work aims to protect coastal ecosystems and improve ocean management and governance. Despite not having what she calls a specific ‘aha!’ moment that inspired her career path, Aulani Wilhelm believes her core values as a Hawaiin islander from an indiginous community underpin everything she tries to do. When reflecting on her career journey, Aulani claims, “The best successes and rewards that I have ever experienced have manifested where people and institutions were challenged to not only do better, but to work differently to get there.”

Doreen Robinson, UNEP

Doreen Robinson, the Chief for Wildlife at the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), cannot remember a time when she did not feel passionate about conserving wildlife and natural ecosystems. She began her studies with the intention of becoming a wildlife veterinarian, but her direction shifted toward the interconnections between people and the environment during her time at Cornell University. Currently, Doreen Robinson is the coordinator of a new GEF Congo Basin Sustainable Landscapes Impact Program, a six-country initiative working to protect the biodiversity of the Congo Basin. The forests of the basin include more than fifteen percent of the world’s remaining tropical forests and are home to over 250 different ethnic groups. The ultimate goal of this project is to maintain the forests and protect the millions of species living within them — including endangered gorillas, chimpanzees, and bonobos. In a 2020 interview, she shares a similar message about the need for diversity within the field of science and environmental change. When asked about lessons learned throughout her career, she said, “This is complex, planet saving work, and with it I have learned that deep humility is needed. We need to seek out others and other perspectives to get the job done.”

Clara Baringo Fonseca, SiBBr

Clara Baringo Fonseca is a biologist and Senior Analyst of the GEF-supported Brazilian Biodiversity Information System. She initially found interest in global environmental issues while pursuing a bachelor’s degree in biology at the University of Barcelona. After completing a five-year program that covered a wide range of environmental issues, Clara decided to focus on climate modelling in order to better understand the impacts of climate change on conservation and management of natural resources. The GEF-supported project she is currently working on aims to understand and catalogue Brazil’s biodiversity in order to promote sustainable use of the nation’s natural resources.The project is now in its final phase and has launched a National Biodiversity Database to compile more than 200 biological collections and 15 million records on Brazillian biodiversity. When asked to reflect on what she’s learned about the success of managing conservation and environmental issues, Clara emphasized the importance of inclusion. She said, “We need to include all types of societies, minorities and communities, with dialogue as one of the most fundamental tools to improve the wellbeing of all.”

Rocío Cóndor, FAO

Rocío Cóndor works at the Food and Agriculture Organization where she supports GEF-funded projects related to the Capacity-building Initiative for Transparency, an initiative that aids developing countries in tracking their progress toward meeting the Paris Agreement. She obtained her Ph.D. in Forest Ecology at the Universitá degli Studi della Tuscia in Viterbo, Italy twenty years ago. In those twenty years she has remained in the field of environmental science, tackling issues related to renewable energy, sustainable transportation, and wastewater projects. Her current work focuses on improving the transparency of forest data through improved collection, analysis, and means of data sharing. It is her hope that more accurate and sustainable forest management will ultimately prevent and reduce land degradation. When asked what makes her optimistic about the future of the global environment, Rocío Cóndor stated the importance of all perspectives in addressing environmental challenges: “If each of us shares our own talents we will be able to make a difference.”

Milena Gonzalez Vasquez, GEF

Milena Gonzalez Vasquez, a GEF Climate Change Specialist, began her career path by first studying chemical engineering at Stanford University. It wasn’t until a summer engineering program that she became interested in global energy and climate challenges. As an engineer, Milena is interested in shedding light on challenging problems and as a global citizen she is moved by the urgency and scale of the climate crisis. While working for GEF, Milena Gonzales Vasquez takes on many different roles. She is a program manager for climate change mitigation projects in Latin America, the Caribbean, Asia, and Small Island Developing States. She is also a part of a team working to help shift countries toward low-emission development pathways in line with the Paris Agreement. While taking on many roles at GEF, Milena has found that “a diversity of backgrounds, interests, and experiences is invaluable to any team.”

Ornela Çuçi, Government of Albania

Ornela Çuçi is Albania’s Deputy Minister of Tourism and Environment and her country’s Political Focal Point for the Global Environment Facility. She represents a constituency of twelve countries at the GEF council. Prior to her career in government, she received a Ph.D. in environmental science and technology and specialized primarily in integrated waste management. She uses her background in environmental science to aid in her decision-making and implementation of environmental legislation. She works in close cooperation with local governments and with civil society to determine priority areas of environmental engagement and investment. Ornela Çuçi believes that her time in public service has taught about the gravity of political decisions on the lives of people. She claimed, “Even though politics may not have a very good reputation, it is an essential instrument to improve the life of a society, if it is exercised with responsibility and love.”

The sea is the future: expanding coastal and marine protection in the Philippines

The story of Quirsito ‘Bok’ Cajegas, a self-described illegal fisher who reformed into a proud marine conservationist and chairman of the Bato-Tagaytay Reef Fish Sanctuary in the Philippines. Read more about the sanctuary, part of a network of marine protected areas (MPAs) financed by the GEF.

In Djirnda people are desperate to go back to fishing

“Now, they can hardly take it anymore.” Elhadj Issakha Sarr, a 52-year-old fisherman and trader, describes the universal human response to the pandemic in the unique context of his own community in Djirnda, Senegal, which has been brought to its knees by measures taken by Senegalese authorities. Learn about the “Household Food Basket” initiative bridging the gap between producers and food insecure households that has been widened by COVID-19 restrictions.

Innovative technologies strengthen the monitoring of fishing operations at sea

Riding the electromagnetic waves: in Ghana and Fiji, two countries where tuna is important to the livelihoods of many people, fleets have been equipped with electronic monitoring systems as part of the GEF-funded Common Oceans ABNJ Tuna Project to help increase transparency.

New fishing site, terminal in Liberia brings better fish and more jobs

In Liberia, the rainy season lasts about half a year, making preservation facilities critical for artisanal fishing communities. In recent years, the fisheries and harvesters of Robertsport have requested World Bank support for infrastructure that would help them process and market their fish in 21st century conditions, leading to the opening of the Mesurado Fisheries Terminal. Read more about what has been called a major boost to the Liberia fisheries sector.

Incentivizing sustainable fishing through certification

How well do you know your SDGs? Quick, which one is dedicated to oceans? The CEO of the Marine Stewardship Council talks about the importance of certifying large chains like McDonalds and Tesco to achieving Goal 14.4 — to conserve and sustainably use the oceans.

As part of our mission to protect globally important biodiversity, the Global Environment Facility (GEF) supports the protection of endangered species around the world by securing their habitats and combating the illegal wildlife trade.

Beyond the beauty of the coral reefs, the majesty of whales, and the lovability of baby sea turtles, these species maintain ecosystems that are vital to the health of the planet. Nothing in the world exists on its own.

How much do you know about the living creatures threatened with extinction? Scroll down to learn more about your favorites or discover new ones:

Whales

Did you know that whales and humans share the same unique brain cells? These cells are thought to help whales socially organize, empathize, speak, and pass knowledge on to others. They also play a crucial role in the circle of life. When a whale dies, its body drops to the ocean floor — called “whale falls” — providing food and habitat to species that live off whales alone.

The natural, biological processes of whales also trap carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, making them allies in the fight against climate change. The GEF is supporting the first global-scale assessment of the carbon offset values associated with oceans and coastal ecosystems — including quantifying the amount of carbon trapped by whales, fish, and ocean plant life. The project informs decision-making, raises awareness of the value of protecting the biodiversity of these ecosystems, and fosters cooperation among everyone who has a stake in keeping them intact. Upon completion, the project will provide experience and tools for use on a global scale.

Coral reefs

True or false: More than 10 percent of the world’s marine life live in coral reefs.

False; this ancient animal dates back hundreds of thousands of years and is home to more than 25 percent of the world’s marine life. One reef alone has the capability to house thousands of different species.

Nearly one-eighth of the world’s coral reefs are in Indonesia. In 1998, the GEF together with the Government of Indonesia and the World Bank, launched the GEF/IBRD Coral Reef Rehabilitation and Management Project to improve management of coral reefs and promote sustainable use of marine resources.

The first round of this project was a success; illegal fishing decreased by 50 percent and legal fishing vessels began to use coral reef-friendly fishing gear. This project also set the stage and improved policies that supported two follow-up projects.

The most recent endeavor began in 2015 to integrate a holistic coastal management approach into Indonesia’s government and village programs, and to provide communities with incentives and capacity to sustainably co-manage their coral reefs. This five-year project contributes to Indonesia’s strategy for inclusive growth and environmental sustainability and will support reaching their 2020 target of establishing 20 million hectares of effectively managed protected areas.

Elephants

In 1930, up to 10 million elephants roamed the African continent. Today, only 500,000 of these majestic creatures remain. Elephants know themselves; unlike many animal species, they can recognize themselves in a mirror. This awareness of self indicates that these animals are very intelligent.

The responsibility of protecting elephants — and all biodiversity in Africa — cannot be left only to the low-resource communities where many of these animals live. The GEF funds projects under its Least Developed Country Fund that support the fight against illegal poaching of elephants and other animals. Learn more about one innovative project that strategically uses elephants’ un-hipster distaste for kale to benefit elephants and their surrounding communities.

Crustaceans

For anyone who thinks climate change and biodiversity loss is part of a natural cycle, crustaceans say think again. They’ve been around a long time — 540 million years — and now some of their species are at risk from over-fishing and plastic pollution.

The Vietnam land crab is a species that lives in caves in the Cham Islands’ damp forests and only goes to the coast to lay its eggs. The species is a conservation indicator; if the ocean or forest ecosystems are doing poorly, the crab population will reflect it.

The crab is also considered a tourist delicacy. As a result of increased tourism, the crab was being over-harvested, and the species was diminishing. A farmer community project run by the UNDP and supported in part by the GEF Small Grants Programme has successfully ensured that three-quarters of the crab population is left in the forest each year by only allowing mature crabs to be sold at market. It also enforces a 10,000 crab per year harvest limit.

As a result, the cost of crabs has gone up and increased farmers’ income. This means that both the local farmers and tourists will be able to sell and enjoy the delicacy for years to come.

Sea Turtles

Did you know that sea turtles survived the dinosaur apocalypse? They are one of the oldest — and cutest — creatures on Earth. When the dinosaurs became extinct 65 million years ago, the sea turtles held on for dear life. Now they’re fighting again.

Sea turtles are threatened by rising water temperatures and are a frequent bycatch of trawling, or fishing by dragging a net along the ocean floor. Intended to catch other creatures like shrimp and some fish, the nets trap and hold sea turtles under water for too long and many drown.

The GEF Small Grants Programme (SGP) has been supporting the Marine Research Foundation in Malaysia to develop and implement a long-term national bycatch reduction program in partnership with the Malaysian Department of Fisheries. The project uses an ecosystem-based approach to conserve sea turtles and their habitats through Turtle Excluder Devices (TEDs). TEDs are metal grids positioned at the bottom or top of a trawl net that retain small fish and shrimp while allowing large animals such as turtles and sharks to escape. They improve the quality of the catch and decrease the amount of debris that gathers in the back of the net. This helps save fuel, benefiting fishers. Everyone wins!

Great Apes

Humans share a lot of traits and cognitive abilities with the great apes due to our relatively recent split on the primate family tree. One shared trait is our altruism. Bonobos have been observed to share their food with others outside of their immediate group to ensure that every animal has enough to eat.

Due to enormous efforts to save gorillas, their population numbers are increasing — proving that well-funded conservation efforts can and do work. However, we have a long way to go to get gorillas out of danger, and not all species are faring equally well. This century has seen the number of chimpanzees decrease from more than two million to approximately 300,000. The eastern lowland gorillas are winning the race to the bottom; in the last 20 years, 77 percent of their population has been lost.

The loss of ape habitats is a major contributor to their looming extinction, and GEF is working hard to conserve these regions. Our Congo Basin Sustainable Landscapes Impact Program will work in partnership with six national governments — Cameroon, Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and the Republic of Congo — to protect this part of the world.

The program will focus on the heart of the Congo Basin where there are dense rainforests with high carbon stocks, gorilla populations and other globally important biodiversity, and forest-dependent peoples. These landscapes are shared by several countries, requiring that the national governments work together to plan land use, implement local governance models, and adopt common measures to fight wildlife poaching, trafficking, and illegal logging.

Technology’s impact is undeniable. Many of us experience it every day with powerful smartphones and computers that are bringing the world together even at a time of social isolation. Its prevalence has brought advantages and disadvantages, and one often overlooked benefit is its role in wildlife conservation.

Scientists are using advanced technology to supplement conventional conservation techniques for better outcomes. It’s hard to save a species when you don’t know much about its habitat or genetics, but new inventions can assist. Here are a few methods researchers are using to protect threatened animals from extinction.

Drones

Drone technology is a favorite among farmers and recreationists, and it occupies a valuable place in animal conservation efforts. Using drones eliminates the need for researchers to fly to remote, dangerous locations and track animals. Instead, they send drones to monitor activity and report information on animal health and habitat. These conservation drones take pictures, record videos and even drop animal bait.

Rats have become an invasive species on the Galápagos Islands, which poses a threat to the birds living there. With GEF support, the organization Island Conservation has been working to eradicate rats and, in some places, using drones to drop poisoned rat bait in precise locations. By using aerial vehicles to handle this invasion, scientists are restoring the islands’ natural order even in difficult to access places while leaving native flora and fauna undisturbed.

Ocean Alliance uses specially made drones called SnotBots to collect DNA from whale blows. The devices provide a non-invasive way to monitor whale health, and they’re technologically advanced yet cost-effective. Researchers receive information on hormones, microbiomes and stress indicators, all from the animals’ mucus.

Satellites

Satellites are another way to provide information on both the animals and the habitat. Conservationists use satellites to map areas and discover where wild animals live, hunt and migrate. They can also track landscape changes that affect animals living in the habitat, whether these are due to human interference or natural occurrences. This information can help scientists understand and even predict wildlife patterns that are key to successful conservation.

Two primary systems exist for tracking animals — the Advanced Research and Global Observation Satellite and the GPS network. Long-distance migrations can be hard to track with standard GPS tagging, but satellite imagery makes this easier to monitor. Researchers obtain data on large groups that would be challenging to observe with individual trackers. Many scientists combine GPS tagging and satellite imaging to paint a full picture of the ecosystems and species they are studying to try to conserve.

GPS tags let researchers track animals’ exact whereabouts. This ability is useful if they ever need to relocate specific animals — which often happens when large predators make contact with humans. Tags are usually used for large animals because they require bulky batteries, but satellite trackers can attach to some smaller species.

Modern GPS trackers come with sensors that can measure body movement, breathing and heart rate. Some of these trackers can record data in real-time, allowing researchers to study an animal while it’s on the move. If it exhibits unusual behavior, they can send out a patrol to discover the problem. These at-the-ready response systems can save endangered creatures before it’s too late.

Firefighters combating the Australian bushfires are using Adashi FirstResponse MDT software, which contains Geographic Information System mapping and turn-by-turn vehicle navigation. These technologies lead them to other responders, give information on the scene and display improved map routes for how to navigate safely.

By using this tech, they can act with greater efficiency to dampen the fires, stop the deaths of wild animals and protect ancient and rare forests. One example includes the last known stand of Wollemi pines, sometimes called “dinosaur trees” because the fossil record shows they existed more than 200 million years ago. They were narrowly saved from bushfires by Australian firefighters earlier this year.

Protecting Wildlife with Innovation

Scientists will continue to improve technologies to meet conservation needs, especially with climate change bearing down on the world’s ecosystems. Innovations in information collection, tracking, and response can produce new generations of technology in response to a changing world.

Jenna Tsui is a technology and environmental enthusiast with bylines on TriplePundit, Environmental Protection Online, Green Journal and more. To see more of her work, visit The Byte Beat or follow her on Twitter.

An auspicious symbol of strength, health, and protection, the tiger features prominently in art, folklore, myth, and literature around the world. Tigers are also an important top predator, a critical piece holding together the complex puzzle of natural systems across more than a dozen countries in Asia.

Despite the essential role tigers play ecologically, culturally and in our imaginations, they continue to be in danger. We have lost over 95 percent of the world’s wild tiger population in the past century — from an estimated 100,000 wild tigers in 1900 to an estimated 3,900 in the wild today.[1]

It has been nearly a decade since leaders of the 13 tiger range countries (TRCs) came together in St. Petersburg, Russia and committed to more than double the number of wild tigers by 2022 (“Tx2”), from about 3,200 to more than 7,000 by 2022. The timeline for this ambitious species conservation goal is also symbolic, a doubling of the wild tiger population by the next Year of the Tiger on the Asia lunar calendar in 2022 (year 4720 in the Asian lunar calendar). Global progress towards this goal has been uneven. A bright spot in this effort is Nepal, which is on track to be the first country to double their tiger population by or before 2022. A recent census (2017/18) led by the government of Nepal and based on data gathered from camera trap surveys, showed that there are now 235 tigers, a 19 percent increase from the 198 tigers found by a study completed in 2014 and nearly double that found in 2009 (121).[2]

The Global Environment Facility (GEF) has been a leading supporter of the world’s efforts to conserve and protect this iconic species. Global Tiger Day on July 29th is an opportunity to learn more about tigers and the work of the GEF and partners to protect them.

The projects highlighted here show that complex, overlapping, and interlinked factors threaten tigers and their habitats and the solutions must rise to this challenge.

To protect tigers is also to protect the well-being of people and of the global environment. Over 50 percent of the world’s human population lives in historical tiger range countries.

Why are tigers important and why are they disappearing?

Tigers play an important role in the maintenance of the structure and function of the ecosystems they live in. Without them, the number of individuals of their prey species can increase rapidly, resulting in increased selective consumption of plants that will ultimately result in permanent changes in the composition of vegetation. In other words, Tigers are truly “keystone” species and their disappearance will likely have large scale and irreversible impact on the integrity of the ecosystem as we know them.

Unfortunately, tigers are disappearing from their natural habitats because of a number of human activities that threaten them directly and indirectly.

Habitat loss and fragmentation: Tigers need space to hunt for prey.

100 square kilometers can typically support 3–12 tigers. In an area such as far eastern Russia, where prey is less dense, the same area of land will support only one tiger.

However, as humans clear land for agriculture and infrastructure and as cities expand, tiger habitats are degraded and fragmented. This results in smaller areas of natural vegetation that are not sufficiently large to support healthy populations of prey species.

The fragmentation of habitats is also equally damaging because smaller patches of vegetation tend to degrade with direct impacts on predator and prey species alike.

What’s being done?

In southern Myanmar, the overexploitation of forests for illegal logging, palm oil and rubber plantations, combined with poaching, severely threaten the landscape — and the roughly 50 wild tigers that live in the 12 million hectare Kayah Karen Tenasserim eco-region.

The “Ridge to Reef: Integrated Protected Area Land and Seascape Management in Tanintharyi” works with local stakeholders in particular communities, local NGOs, businesses and governments to support people’s aspiration for sustainable development. This will be done through integrated land use planning, protecting remaining forest habitats for tigers and prey species, and supporting community livelihoods.

Ensuring that economic development and conservation efforts promote sustainable landscape management will require collaboration among all parties.

Poverty, and lack of economic alternatives: Competition over natural resources in tiger habitat is a lose-lose for people and tigers.

Many rural poor depend on natural resources to survive and without other options they may be pushed to use resources in unsustainable ways trapping them in a cycle that leaves them further impoverished, the ecosystem are further degraded and tigers further threatened.

What’s being done?

By working with communities to find alternatives to overusing limited natural resources, conservation initiatives can benefit both humans and tigers.

In Thailand, the “Strengthening Capacity and Incentives for Wildlife Conservation in the Western Forest Complex” project formalized the community’s right to use land in sustainable and biodiversity-friendly ways.

The community agreed to conservation goals, and the project agreed to assist with community livelihoods through training, equipment, and networking with local institutions. Sustainable livelihoods were developed, such as the planting and processing of indigenous varieties of rice, chili, and herbs.

By supporting alternative, sustainable livelihoods, the community can benefit from conservation, rather than individual short gains and the unsustainable exploitation of resources.

Killing, poaching and trafficking: Retaliatory killing as a result of tiger-human conflict and tiger poaching for the illegal wildlife trade threaten tigers and people.

Human-tiger conflict is found in areas where human populations and tiger populations overlap and often compete for resources. When farms and pastures replace or fragment their natural habitat, tigers have insufficient hunting ground and prey and often resort to hunting domesticated livestock as an alternative food source.

For farmers and herders this loss can have devastating impacts on their lives and they may resort to killing predators to avoid losing more of their stock.

The demand for tiger bones, skins, and teeth drives the killing and sale of tigers. Black market prices for tiger parts are very high, further driving the illegal killing and sale.

The involvement of organized crime syndicates in the illegal wildlife trade further fuels the market and threatens the peace and security of local communities.

What’s being done?

Enhancing the capacity of local law enforcement, transportation and customs authorities helps combat illegal wildlife trafficking. Our projects also work on reducing the demand for wildlife products by educating consumers about the true cost of wildlife crime to biodiversity, national economies, political and social stability and human livelihoods, as well as the legal consequences for purchasing protected or prohibited wildlife products.

Sumatra harbors the last remaining tiger sub-species in Indonesia. But for the farmers who must share the landscape, Sumatran tigers are a deadly threat. There were 184 cases of human death or injury from tiger attack between 2001 and 2016. In the same span of time, 1,247 families lost livestock to tiger predation.

The island is now facing unprecedented tiger habitat loss and fragmentation due to commercial logging and the clear cutting and burning of forests for palm oil and timber fiber plantations.

In villages such as Margomulyo, the Sumatran Tiger Project initiated a project that helped villagers construct 30 tiger-proof enclosures. These enclosures guarded livestock from tigers, giving community members immense peace of mind.

The project also set out to strengthen patrolling and law enforcement capacity in all tiger landscapes, which also harbor species of rhinoceros, elephant, and orangutan that are found nowhere else in the world.

The project trained more forest rangers and patrol units in SMART (Spatial Monitoring and Reporting Tool) patrolling, which allowed them to be more efficient in detecting poaching and illegal logging activity. At a Sumatran Tiger Project-supported training in June 2019, field officers learned to identify trees, flowers, carcasses, birds, and animal trails in order to collect evidence on forestry crime.

Using data from the field, spatial mapping software calculates levels of threats and the performance and gaps in coverage of patrol teams. By monitoring these trends, park managers can better plan and monitor patrol strategies.

Today, on this tenth Global Tiger Day, we are proud of what we have achieved together for the conservation of tigers but are humbled by the task before us. Holistic, creative approaches, an increased global consciousness and continued focus and commitment are needed to secure a future where tigers and people can thrive.

For more detailed information on GEF’s work with tigers, read Burning Bright: UNDP and GEF in the Tiger Landscape.

[1] Panthera Tiger Fact Sheet: https://www.panthera.org/cat/tiger

[2] https://news.mongabay.com/2018/09/new-survey-results-show-nepal-is-on-track-to-double-its-tiger-population-by-2022/

Editor’s note: even though originally written to celebrate the importance of mangroves in tropical ecosystems, today we are highlighting this blog in advance of the International Day of the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem, adopted by the General Conference of UNESCO in 2015 and celebrated each year on 26 July, to raise awareness of the importance of mangrove ecosystems as “a unique, special and vulnerable ecosystem” and to promote solutions for their sustainable management, conservation and uses.

Mention the word “tropical” and my mind will conjure up uncomplicated images of deserted islands, toucans in rainforests, and orange-colored pineapple-infused smoothie flavors. In my daily life in Washington, D.C., I think of the Tropics on the most basic and self-centered terms: they are distant, warm, and probably quite wet.

As such, I found the International Day of the Tropics to be a timely opportunity to learn more about the topic. The United Nations observance this Saturday, June 29, celebrates “the extraordinary diversity of the tropics while highlighting unique challenges and opportunities nations of the Tropics face.”

It’s time for me to move away from my conception of “tropical” as an adjective and towards an understanding of the Tropics as an actual region of the world. Approximately bound by the tropic of Cancer and the tropic of Capricorn, the Tropics are a vast and significant portion of the globe. They’re huge — they cover 40 percent of the world’s total surface area, and provide for about 80 percent of the Earth’s biodiversity, plus much of its linguistic and cultural diversity.

There is greater biodiversity in the Tropics, so there are higher proportions of threatened species. Meanwhile, alongside higher levels of poverty, there are higher proportions of undernourishment and higher proportions of urban populations dwelling in slum conditions. From urbanization and demographic change to climate change and deforestation, the issues that impact the Tropics are widespread, complex, and interconnected.

More than anything, the International Day of the Tropics brings attention to the sheer scope of the tropical zone and the far-reaching implications of its issues. Taking in the five continents and numerous countries covered by the span of the region on the map, I began to look for more specific ways I could understand the Tropics — how could I better comprehend the tightly knit relationships that constitute such a large and important area?

This question led me to the mangrove forest. Of all tropical forests worldwide, less than 1 percent is mangrove; however, 95% of the world’s mangrove forests by area and 99% of mangrove species are found in the Tropics. The mangrove ecosystem is unique. It’s home to a diverse array of flora and fauna, and a key habitat for fisheries. This means that mangroves ensure local food security — at the same that they protect coastlines from erosion, improve water quality by filtering out nutrients and sediments, and absorb massive amounts of carbon.

The mangrove ecosystem is valuable for both the people and the environment of the Tropics. Yet, human activities are also a central threat — coastal development and aquaculture destroy mangrove habitats. Over a quarter of the world’s original mangrove cover is already gone.

The loss of mangroves is, in turn, a loss for humans. Fisheries resources are destroyed. Dams, pollution, or irrigation upstream alter local water conditions. Coastal communities, such as those living along the Bay of Bengal, face rising sea levels and increasingly dangerous weather.

What, then, can be done? In Bangladesh, over 200 hectares along the coastline were forested with mangroves, under the country’s National Adaptation Programme of Action, Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan, and Seventh Five-Year Plan (2016–2020).

With support from the GEF-Least Developed Countries Fund, the UN Development Programme (UNDP) and Bangladesh’s Forest Department and Forest Research Institute planted 176,000 mangrove seedlings from 10 different species and raised them in 10 forest ranges. The greenbelt of mangroves protects the people living near Bay of Bengal from natural disaster — as well as protecting the land from erosion, increasing biodiversity, absorbing carbon, and providing a nursing and feeding ground for fish.

As I read more about mangroves, I began to realize that the future of all people is closely intertwined with the future of the environment. That’s why it’s so essential to understand our relationship to the environment, as well as the ways that the environment provides for all of us.

So what did I learn from my brief investigation into the International Day of the Tropics? Mostly that I have a lot more to learn — that the tropical zone, as part of the global environmental system, itself consists of numerous intricate, diverse, and tightly-knit systems, both human and environmental.

And also — that I’ll be more prepared for UNESCO’s International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem next month, on July 26.

Some amazing facts about mangroves:

Mangroves may combat coral bleaching and ocean acidification.

Reefs and coastal forests aren’t as distinct as you may think — the roots of mangroves provide a place for young corals to grow, and mangrove forests are a refuge for corals at risk of extinction from coral bleaching.

Mangroves act as nurseries for thousands of fish species.

Beyond corals, juvenile fish — from 1-inch gobies to 10-foot-sharks — grow in the nurturing underwater habitat that the roots of mangroves provide.

Mangrove forest can absorb as much as 10 times the carbon of a similar area of terrestrial forest.

Mangroves are capable of storing vast amounts of carbon, making them essential to minimizing the impact of climate change.

It’s important to protect mangroves, because they are difficult to replant.

Mangroves roots give the coastline its shape, holding back tidal water and filtering out nutrient-rich sediments. This means that, once mangroves are lost, tides and currents erode the land and shift its sediments, making it difficult or impossible for mangroves to grow back.

No other species of tree in the world can survive in saltwater.

Mangroves are unique in their ability to dwell in high saline water and soil. They tolerate levels of salt that would be toxic to other plants by excreting this salt through their leaves.

The Global Environment Facility (GEF) held its 56th Council meeting at the World Bank’s headquarters from June 11 to 13. The Council met against the backdrop of a series of authoritative warnings about the plight of the global commons; the shared resources that ensure a habitable planet upon which we can all thrive such as clean air and water, biodiversity, healthy land and oceans, and a stable climate.

During the meeting, GEF Live hosted a series of interviews with Council members and other participants. The live-streamed interviews allowed our global audience to hear ideas, insights, and solutions to some of our world’s most pressing environmental problems.

You can watch them anytime here on GEF YouTube channel.

“Biodiversity and climate change are not just environmental issues.”

In our conversation with Sir Robert Watson, former chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) and a previous chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) we discussed IPBES’s stark message about the devastating rate of the planet’s biodiversity loss and why this must be slowed down significantly and reversed.

“The three UN conventions on climate change, biodiversity, and desertification are three pieces of the same puzzle.”

Like Sir Robert Watson’s GEF Live interview on aligning sectors and actors to address biodiversity and climate change, the Executive Secretary of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) Ibrahim Thiaw also encourages a multisectoral, multi-agency approach to addressing land degradation. Thiaw sees the three UN environmental conventions (UNCCD, UNFCCC, CBD) as pieces of the same puzzle: Land is the biggest carbon sink, after oceans. Restoring land mitigates climate change and improves biodiversity. Thiaw underscores that to be successful, the conventions must work together.

“Our challenges are big, intractable and interconnected. Our solution space has to be creative and innovative.”

Rosina Bierbaum, Chair of the GEF Scientific and Technical Advisory Panel (STAP), describes the role of the scientist-staffed STAP within the GEF partnership as bringing the latest science into GEF programmatic decisions as well as making sure implementing agencies understand how the science is applied.

“The only way our work in the Amazon basin is possible is through our excellent relationships with the governments responsible for managing this land.”

Adriana Moreira is the Manager of the Amazon Sustainable landscapes (ASL) Program at the World Bank. ASL has proven to be a successful strategy against deforestation that puts local government coordination and collaboration at the heart of its approach. All of their work focuses on the people living in and dependent on the Amazon for their income, health, and well-being.

“Local civil society are the people who drive transformational change.”

Like the Amazon Sustainable Landscapes Program, GEF’s Small Grants Programme (SGP) also works closely with local populations. In a GEF Live interview on June 11, Yoko Watanabe, the global manager for SGP, discusses the program’s role in testing innovative tools and approaches, incorporating the voices of community groups that have historically been excluded from large-scale environmental projects, and working more closely with the community-led organizations who often implement the projects.

“The most significant thing we’ve accomplished is a new legally binding international agreement on plastics. It’s going to have a huge impact.”

We also interviewed Rolph Payet, Executive Secretary for the UN Convention for Basel, Rotterdam, and Stockholm (BRS). BRS recently held joint meeting of the conferences of parties (COP) that was successful in passing an agreement that ensures countries are legally bound to make changes to the plastic industry and to more tightly regulate additional cancer-causing chemicals frequently used in ubiquitous products like nonstick frying pans and industrial firefighting foam.

“The GEF’s approach has been successful in setting the policy and regulatory conditions for transformative change.”

We received heartening input from the Director of GEF’s Independent Evaluation Office, Juha Uitto. The Independent Evaluation Office is charged with the challenging job of evaluating GEF projects and programs, as well as highlighting effective learnings for future project development.

“Multi-agency projects are enriching because they allow each project to benefit from the institutional knowledge of each implementing agency.”

Our GEF Live conversation with Rossana Silva Repetto, Executive Secretary for the Minamata Convention on Mercury begins with the recognition that the GEF Council only moments before signed the memorandum of understanding with the convention. The MOU solidifies GEF’s role as a financial mechanism for this global treaty to protect human health and the environment from the adverse effects of mercury.

“With the GEF at the helm we can turn this tide for the better.”

We had the privilege of speaking with Jozef Buys, our Council member from Belgium, who is retiring this year after decades of dedicated work. We take this unique opportunity to hear from Buys what he’s most proud of and how he anticipates the GEF to positively impact the world moving forward.