Programme Cooperation Agreement 2014: Final Report for the Period 01 January 2014 to 01 March 2015

Annex 3

An Overview of GRID-Arendal’s Programmes for 2015

BLUE CARBON

GREEN ECONOMY

Blue Carbon refers to the carbon linked to natural coastal and marine ecosystems and includes tidal marshlands, mangrove forests, and seagrass meadows. These ecosystems can slow climate change by fixing and storing atmospheric carbon. They filter pollution, house fish nurseries and buffer shorelines against storms. The sustainable management of Blue Carbon ecosystems benefits the people who rely on them for their livelihoods. GRID-Arendal aims to promote the sustainable management of Blue Carbon ecosystems by improving our understanding its value and connection to related ecosystem services. Our major efforts this year include: • The Abu Dhabi Blue Carbon Demonstration Project on the value of Blue Carbon and related ecosystem services for the Emirate of Abu Dhabi; • The GEF/UNEP Blue Forests Project, a global initiative to explore the value of Blue Carbon and related ecosystem services with project sites in Madagascar, Indonesia, Ecuador, Mozambique, UAE, Kenya, and Central America. Transnational organized environmental crime is a rapidly growing threat to the environment and sustainable development. It deprives governments of revenues from natural resources and threatens state security. It involves illegal activities in five key areas: logging and deforestation, fisheries, mining and trade in minerals, dumping and trade in hazardous and toxic wastes, and trade in and poaching of wildlife and plants. GRID-Arendal’s Environmental Crime Programme aims to raise global awareness of the losses and risks associated with the rise in organized crime and illegal exploitation of natural resources. In doing so, this year it will • Support UN efforts to reduce deforestation worldwide through projects in partnership with a number of international bodies including UNEP, FAO and INTERPOL; • Support West African nations in reducing illegal fisheries and curtail piracy; • Help combat wildlife crime in East Africa by training frontline rangers, prosecutors and customs together with UNODC and INTERPOL; and • Reduce surgeon poaching in the Caspian Sea. ENVIRONMENTAL CRIME

The ideas behind green, new or sustainable economics are quickly developing as a viable, important evolution of the global economic system. A major contemporary challenge is to move innovation on Green Economy from the fringes into the mainstream. GRID’s Green Economy Program supports UNEP units to meet policy, modeling, capacity building and reporting goals for Green Economy. This year GRID-Arendal will develop and deliver products and activities based on its Green Economy competencies (in house and through partner networks). These are principally oriented to assist developing countries at different stages of Green Economy Transition. Findings from this work will be framed to create incentives for green economics in developed countries, including innovative policies, use of technology, and new ways of engaging citizens. Specific technical capacities include advising on Green Economy in a number of areas and providing advisory services to GRID and UNEP Units upon request. Increasing competition for marine resources results in conflict and affects the marine environment. Marine spatial planning brings together stakeholders (including users and managers) to build an understanding of these human uses, resource distribution and natural values. It develops scenarios for area based resource usage that minimise conflict and improve sustainability. GRID-Arendal supports developing nations and small island states in negotiating and declaring maritime boundaries, which provide the framework for marine spatial planning. This year the marine spatial planning programme is • Working with Pacific nations and partners on finalising maritime boundaries and providing training on marine spatial planning through the Enhancing Pacific Ocean Governance project; • Developing capacity for area based planning for areas beyond national jurisdiction; and • Working with partners in Estonia to develop maps of marine habitats and develop methods to assess their status. MARINE SPATIAL PLANNING

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