LocationsGovernment of FSM and UNDP Launch Climate-Resilient Land Management Project with Inception Workshop
July 24, 2024
The Inception Workshop held in Palikir for the FSM-LDN Project comprised key partners and stakeholders from Yap, Chuuk, Pohnpei and Kosrae.
Palikir, Federated States of Micronesia - The Government of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) through the Department of Environment, Climate Change and Emergency Management (DECEM), in partnership with the UN Development Programme (UNDP) Pacific Office in the North Pacific, has recently launched the “Strengthening Climate-Resilient Sustainable Land Management and Progress Towards Land Degradation Neutrality in the FSM” (FSM-LDN) Project.
An inception workshop was conducted to introduce and refresh key stakeholder’s understanding of the project objectives and activities, along with their roles and responsibilities in the project implementation. Over 40 representatives from across all four states – Yap, Chuuk, Pohnpei and Kosrae – gathered in Palikir to reaffirm commitments for achieving a shared vision of environmental sustainability and protection for the FSM.
The workshop convened representatives from key government departments/agencies, regional and international partners, NGOs and civil society to discuss the major components of the FSM-LDN Project and to also take ownership of the project goals and objectives. It was also intended to clarify roles and responsibilities of partners and familiarize them with the detailed project strategy and ways forward.
In his opening remarks, the Hon. Andrew Yatilman, Secretary of DECEM, underscored the importance of sustainable land management and how the FSN-LDN project is instrumental in the development process.
“Our islands are spread across a vast expanse of ocean, but the land that supports us is small in scale, and under many threats: Unsustainable development, erosion, wildfires, landslides, pollution, invasive species and climate change all contribute to land degradation,” says Sec. Yatilman.
“Through careful planning and effective management, we can halt and hopefully reverse these negative impacts, securing our livelihoods for the future. The FSM-LDN Project is dedicated to this mission, and your contributions as key partners in this workshop are crucial to our overall success.”
UNDP Pacific Office in the North Pacific Deputy Resident Representative, Kevin Petrini emphasized the urgent need for collective action: “By sustainably utilizing the FSM's rich natural capital, livelihoods can be enhanced while building resilience through concerted efforts in reducing land degradation and promoting green growth.”
“Maintaining a healthy ecosystem through sustainable land management is deeply rooted in the FSM's traditional cultures and practices. It is the foundation for a secure, sustainable, and thriving future for the FSM. We are proud to be working across all four states and closely with communities to actuate this vision,” Mr Petrini added.
Honorable Andrew Yatilman, Secretary of DECEM addresses participants during the workshop.
During the Inception Workshop, representatives thoroughly reviewed and discussed the project document, Project Results Framework matrix, and project management arrangements. Additionally, roles and responsibilities for both the project management unit and the Project Board were defined and agreed upon.
The first year of the project will focus on stakeholder engagements at Community and State-level for verification of the project sites, and establishment of key community and State-level environmental working groups to facilitate and support coordination among government sector entities, NGOs and local communities to plan, implement and monitor activities at the State level.
Funded by the Global Environment Facility, the FSM-LDN Project is a US$5.1 million-initiative that aims to strengthen national/state efforts to address land degradation in terrestrial and coastal ecosystems that support critical ecosystem services and biodiversity, through embedding of the United Nations Convention on Combatting Desertification’s (UNCCD) Land Degradation Neutrality approach.
The FSM-LDN, which will be implemented for six years, has five objectives:
1) Maintain or improve sustainable delivery of ecosystem services;
2) Maintain or improve productivity to enhance food security;
3) Increase resilience of the land and populations dependent on it;
4) Seek synergies with other social, economic, and environmental objectives; and
5) Reinforce responsible and inclusive land governance.
For more information please contact:
Rosalinda Yatilman | FSM-LDN Project Manager | rosalinda.yatilman@decem.gov.fm or Wanyi Wang | Programme Analyst for Resilience and Climate Change | UNDP Pacific Office in the North Pacific | wanyi.wang@undp.org
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