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The document emphasizes that achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 requires increasing the capacity of global carbon sinks through land-use management. Drawing on an IPCC special report, it identifies four high-potential mitigation categories: BECCS, reforestation/forest restoration, afforestation, and biochar. The author advocates for a 'portfolio' approach tailored to regional conditions, particularly in tropical and subtropical areas, while warning that high land demand could pressure food prices and biodiversity. Key success factors include prioritizing optimal biomass conversion, developing multifunctional landscapes, ensuring fair community participation, prioritizing the avoidance of deforestation, and increasing R&D for biochar and BECCS.

The report concludes that Goal 6 has been achieved through the adoption of the SDGs in 2015. However, it highlights a critical gap in the measurement of SDG 15.2, noting that indicators track net rather than gross deforestation, which obscures the loss of natural forests. Additionally, it finds that targets for forest restoration, afforestation, and reforestation lack quantifiable metrics.

The 2019 executive summary reports that the New York Declaration on Forests (NYDF) is unlikely to meet its 2020 targets, as tropical deforestation continues at an unsustainable rate. While political will for restoration has increased, implementation is slow and often occurs outside natural forests. The report highlights that agricultural expansion remains the primary driver of forest loss, and that current financial and policy interventions are insufficient to catalyze systemic change.

The 2019 five-year assessment of the New York Declaration on Forests (NYDF) concludes that the 2020 goals to halve tropical deforestation and restore millions of hectares of forest are likely unattainable. Despite political will and some private sector commitments, tropical deforestation continues at an unsustainable rate, driven primarily by agricultural expansion. The report highlights a critical gap in 'green' financing, noting that investments in forests are dwarfed by those in renewable energy. It emphasizes that while some progress has been made in specific regions like Indonesia, systemic changes in land use, governance, and the recognition of indigenous land rights are necessary to meet 2030 targets and limit global warming to 2 degrees Celsius.

The 2019 five-year assessment of the New York Declaration on Forests (NYDF) concludes that achieving the 2020 goals of halving tropical deforestation and restoring 150 million hectares of degraded landscapes is likely impossible. Despite political commitments, tropical deforestation continues at an unsustainable rate, driven primarily by agricultural commodity expansion. While some progress is noted in Indonesia, significant losses persist in Latin America and the Brazilian Amazon. Restoration efforts have largely occurred outside natural forests, and financial investments in forest protection remain critically low compared to other climate mitigation efforts. The report emphasizes that systemic change requires coordinated action across supply chains, increased 'green' financing, stronger governance, and the recognition of indigenous land rights.

The 2019 five-year assessment of the New York Declaration on Forests (NYDF) concludes that the 2020 goals for reducing tropical deforestation and restoring landscapes are likely unattainable. Despite high political will, tropical deforestation continues at an unsustainable rate, driven primarily by agricultural commodity expansion. Restoration efforts have been slow and largely occur outside natural forests. The report highlights a critical lack of 'green' financing, inadequate corporate commitment implementation, and the need for stronger governance and recognition of indigenous land rights to achieve the 2030 targets.

The report analyzes perspectives from 84 NYDF endorsers, including governments, companies, NGOs, and indigenous peoples. It finds that while many individual actions have been taken, global deforestation has accelerated by 44% since 2014, and the world is not on track to meet its collective forest goals. The document identifies eight key lessons, emphasizing that high-level commitments must transition to measurable implementation supported by strong governance, secure land tenure for indigenous peoples, and a paradigm shift in forest finance to move from 'grey to green' investments.

The report evaluates the five-year progress of the New York Declaration on Forests (NYDF), concluding that while localized successes exist, global efforts are not on track to meet 2020 and 2030 goals. It identifies eight core lessons, emphasizing that political will, strong governance, and secure land tenure for indigenous peoples are critical for success. The document highlights a significant gap between high-level commitments and ground-level implementation, noting that deforestation has accelerated by up to 44% since 2014. It calls for a paradigm shift in financing, moving from 'grey' to 'green' finance, and a stronger integration of nature-based solutions into national climate agendas.

The report evaluates the experiences of over 80 NYDF signatories, including governments, companies, NGOs, and indigenous peoples. It finds that while individual projects show success, global progress is insufficient, with tropical deforestation increasing by 44% since 2014. The document identifies eight key lessons, emphasizing that high-level political will, multi-stakeholder partnerships, and secure land tenure for indigenous peoples are critical for success. It highlights systemic failures in finance, where investments in deforestation drivers vastly outweigh those for forest protection, and calls for a paradigm shift toward 'nature-based solutions' and 'green finance' to meet climate and biodiversity goals after 2020.

The report finds that despite widespread commitments, global progress toward the NYDF goals is insufficient, with tropical deforestation increasing by 44% since 2014. Through consultations with 84 signatories, the document identifies eight key lessons, emphasizing that high-level political will, secure land tenure for indigenous peoples, and a shift from 'grey' to 'green' finance are critical for success. While some localized successes in REDD+ and sustainable supply chains are noted, systemic barriers—including corruption, lack of transparency in agricultural commodities, and the criminalization of forest defenders—continue to hinder large-scale implementation.

At its 23rd meeting, the GCF Board approved 10 new projects totaling USD 266.90 million in GCF funding, which, with co-financing, will support over USD 1.45 billion in climate action across 10 developing countries. The Board adopted several key governance frameworks, including a compliance risk policy, an updated policy on the prevention of sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment (SEAH), and procedures for decision-making when consensus is not reached. Additionally, the Board established that the first replenishment period will run from 1 January 2020 to 31 December 2023 and approved four new Accredited Entities.

An executive summary of the 2020 NYDF Assessment Report, which evaluates progress toward the goals of the 2014 New York Declaration on Forests (NYDF) regarding tropical deforestation and landscape restoration.

The document argues that Brazil can align economic growth with environmental protection by reforming its rural credit system to support the 2012 Forest Code. It identifies inefficiencies in the current credit design, such as annual planning horizons and a dominance of public banks, and proposes a phased transition toward risk management tools, private sector participation, and subsidies strictly tied to the provision of public environmental goods.

The document argues that Nature-based Solutions (NBS) can reduce disaster risk and provide lower-cost, resilient services when integrated with conventional gray infrastructure. It details specific NBS applications for coastal, urban, and river flooding, provides a framework for implementation, and outlines policy and financing mechanisms to scale these approaches.

The document details a high-level dialogue on the disparity between 'gray' finance (subsidies and investments driving deforestation) and 'green' finance for forest restoration. It highlights the systemic barriers facing small-scale forest enterprises, the need for better supply chain transparency to avoid stranded assets, and the potential for innovative financial models—such as blended finance and carbon monetization—to accelerate the goals of the New York Declaration on Forests.

The Socio-Climate Benefits Fund (SCBF) is a proposed investment vehicle designed to combat small-scale deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon. It operates by funding a 'New Company' that provides upfront capital, technical training, and market access to smallholders who implement sustainable agroforestry systems (SAFs) on their land. The model utilizes a vertical integration approach, similar to poultry or swine supply chains, where the New Company and smallholders co-own the harvest. The initial pilot targets the state of Acre, aiming to restore 12,000 hectares of forest and engage up to 3,000 properties over a decade. The fund seeks a mix of grants, concessional debt, and equity to overcome barriers such as lack of long-term finance and market access for small-scale farmers.

The project aims to reduce climate-related disaster risks in Nepal's West Seti sub-river basin by implementing integrated sub-watershed adaptation and management plans (SWAMPs) and enhancing the resilience of large-scale infrastructure. It seeks USD 25 million from the Green Climate Fund to benefit approximately 494,116 people, with a total project cost of USD 40 million. Key activities include forest restoration, the installation of solar micro-grids and improved cook stoves, and the establishment of a performance-based climate resilience grants system for local governments.

The Socio-Climate Benefits Fund (SCBF) is designed to combat small-scale deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon by providing long-term investment and technical training to smallholders for the implementation of agroforestry systems. The instrument operates through an investment vehicle that establishes a company to manage Rural Partnership Agreements, providing upfront capital and inputs in exchange for a share of the harvest. The fund aims to increase smallholder income by at least 58% for 1-hectare implementations and 234% for 4-hectare expansions, while storing ten times more carbon than current degraded pasture vegetation over 20 years. The financial structure requires a total of $13.1 million, comprising a $1.5 million grant, $5 million in commercial equity, and $6.6 million in concessional debt across first-loss and senior tranches.

The report evaluates the SDG indicators finalized in 2017, concluding that they fail to directly measure gross forest loss or specific restoration efforts. While SDG 15.2 includes an ambitious aim to "halt deforestation," the report argues that the reliance on net rather than gross deforestation indicators weakens the target in practice. Furthermore, it notes that targets for forest restoration, afforestation, and reforestation are not quantifiable in the final SDGs, and the current indicators do not allow for specific measurement of these activities.

The report concludes that Goal 6 has been achieved through the adoption of SDG 15, although it notes that the indicators used to measure progress on halting deforestation track net rather than gross loss, which weakens the target's practical application. While the conservation target is considered quantifiable and ambitious, the restoration, afforestation, and reforestation components of SDG 15.2 are not quantifiable.