TFG Launches US REDD Finance Database in Durban, South Africa

For Immediate Release: December 7, 2011

Today, the Tropical Forest Group launched the US REDD+ Finance Database from COP 17 in Durban, South Africa. The database contains over 800 discrete statements by US agencies on bilateral REDD finance or quantitative impacts on forest conservation, reforestation, enforcement, firebreaks and other impacts directly measurable or verifiable.

The publically available online database can be found at www.usreddfinance.org. TFG is encouraging people to use and comment on the database in order to help improve transparency around US government REDD finance, and to monitor how the US government is meeting its Fast Start Finance pledges. TFG also hopes this database could serve as an example of a “proto-registry” for REDD finance and impacts.

Comments on the database and the information therein are welcome and should be directed to: reddfinance@tropicalforestgroup.org

TFG to release beta version: US REDD $ database

After almost two years of work and up to 700+ entries, TFG is getting ready to release a new tool to help track and monitor US government REDD+ finance and impacts. Stay tuned for more details...

--> TFG's US REDD Finance Database Team

U.S. REDD+ Fast Track in peril with DC budget debate

Eric Haxthausen, U.S. climate policy director for The Nature Conservancy, has a good blog hyperlinked in the blog title. It is briefly cited below:

It is a busy week on the Hill, between the release of President Barack Obama’s budget proposal and the debate in Congress about H.R. 1, the U.S. House of Representatives’ bill to provide funding for federal programs for the rest of the current fiscal year. Current funding for the federal government runs out on March 4, so the next two weeks is shaping up as a showdown between the parties on the country’s fiscal course.

One important element that might get lost in all of the public discussion is this: H.R. 1 would slash U.S. direct foreign assistance and support for multilateral institutions. The total funding of these programs amounts to less than 1 percent of the federal budget, but they play a critical role in protecting U.S. security, contributing to a strong economy, providing stability in many countries, and preserving the U.S. as a strong global partner.

US & Indonesia sign $30million TFCA Sumatran conservation deal

The US State Department today announced the largest Tropical Forest Conservation Act (TFCA) deal ever in the ten years of the program's existence. TFG understands this marks a new direction toward fewer, larger deals by America's single largest dedicated funds for conservation of tropical forests.

As usual, TFG would like to see more details, which are always scant on these announcements, usually restricted to a press release. Specifically, it would be good to see more explicit expected conservation outcomes and more information on how the money will be spent. But for now, a toast to Indonesia and America for this important announcement!


Bureau of Public Affairs, US State Department
Office of the Spokesman
Washington, DC
June 30, 2009

The Governments of the United States of America and the Republic of Indonesia, Conservation International and Yayasan Keanekaragaman Hayati Indonesia (KEHATI) announced today that they have concluded the largest debt-for-nature swap under the Tropical Forest Conservation Act (TFCA) since its passage in 1998. The agreements will reduce Indonesia’s debt payments to the United States by nearly $30 million over the next eight years. In return, the Government of Indonesia has committed these funds to support grants to protect and restore the country’s tropical forests.

Indonesia is one of the most biologically-diverse countries on earth. Funds generated by this program will help Indonesia protect several forest areas on Sumatra, Indonesia’s second largest island. These forests are home to species found only in Indonesia, including the endangered Sumatran tiger, elephant, rhino, and orangutan. In addition, these forests provide important ecosystem services such as maintaining the quality and quantity of freshwater supplies and carbon sequestration.

The swap was made possible through contributions of $20 million by the U.S. Government under the TFCA and a combined donation of $2 million from Conservation International and KEHATI. Grants provided under the TFCA program will support activities such as conserving protected areas, improving natural resource management, and supporting the development of sustainable livelihoods for communities that rely on forests.

The Indonesia agreement marks the 15th Tropical Forest Conservation Act deal, following agreements with Bangladesh, Belize, Botswana, Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Jamaica, Panama (two agreements), Paraguay, Peru (two agreements) and the Philippines. Over time, these debt-for-nature programs will together generate more than $218 million to protect tropical forests.



PRN: 2009/663

Senate Foreign Relations Committee passes TFCA re-authorization

United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations

WASHINGTON, DC



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 5, 2009

Contact: Frederick Jones, Kerry, 202-224-4651

Andy Fisher, Lugar, 202-224-2079



Kerry, Lugar Tropical Forest Bill Clears Senate Foreign Relations Committee



The Senate Foreign Relations Committee today unanimously passed S. 345, the Tropical Forest and Coral Conservation Reauthorization Act of 2009 introduced by Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-MA) and Ranking Member Senator Dick Lugar (R-IN). The bill would further the cause of tropical rain forest conservation and broaden the initiative to protect coral reefs.



Kerry and Lugar introduced legislation in the Senate to reauthorize the Tropical Rain Forest conservation Act of 1998 (TFCA) for an additional three years.



“Deforestation is a significant driver of global climate change, and we must pursue a variety of efforts to reduce emissions from deforestation in tropical and sub-tropical nations. This innovative program has provided critical support to developing countries in conserving their forest landscapes while reducing their debt burdens, and I am thrilled to join Senator Lugar in introducing this important legislation,” said Chairman Kerry.



“This bill reauthorizes a proven program which enjoys the ardent support of the Treasury Department and State Department for the third time since 1998. It will help developing countries protect tropical forests and endangered marine habitats around the world while reducing their foreign debt levels. This bill will also serve as an important diplomatic tool to provide for our national security,” said Senator Lugar.



With TFCA, the U.S. State Department has reached agreements generating $188 million in long-term commitments for tropical forest conservation. In addition, private donors, including the Nature Conservancy, the World Wildlife Fund, the Wildlife Conservation Society, and Conservation International, have contributed more than $12 million to TFCA swaps, leveraging U.S. Government funds.



Fourteen TFCA agreements have been concluded to date in Bangladesh, El Salvador, Belize, Peru, the Philippines, Panama, Guatemala, Colombia, Paraguay, Botswana, Costa Rica, and Jamaica. With the reauthorization of TFCA, the U.S. Government will be able pursue agreements to conserve threatened coral reefs along with tropical forests.



The Tropical Forest and Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2009 authorizes appropriations for debt reduction for eligible countries at $25,000,000 in FY 2009; $30,000,000 in FY 2010; $30,000,000 in FY 2011; and $30,000,000 in FY 2012.



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