National Action in Mexico and Central America

The forests of Mexico and Central America are among the most biologically diverse in the world, with almost 85 million hectares of natural pine and oak forests and tropical broadleaf forests along both the
Pacific and Atlantic coasts. These forests provide an importance source of employment and income for forest residents, while also helping to capture carbon dioxide.

Though the region has suffered high deforestation rates in the past, deforestation has declined over the last two decades. In most countries in the region, government policies are less and less supportive of expanding agriculture into forested areas.

As 
the international community seeks to mobilize billions of dollars to financially reward countries for reducing emissions and keeping forests intact through REDD+ (reduced emissions from deforestation and forest degradation, and the conservation, sustainable management and enhancement of forest carbon stocks), Mexico and Central America provide evidence that the approach may work: They have successfully used payments for environmental services and support for indigenous and community forest management to encourage more sustainable land management.

 

Download Mexico and Central America Initiative overview




 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Alliance’s Mexico & Central America Initiative includes seven component strategies:

  • Providing analysis to support low greenhouse gas emission land use initiatives

  • Disseminating information about the value of indigenous and community forestry to climate and land use initiatives

  • Building support for effective, sustainable and equitable REDD+ policies and programs at national and subnational levels

  • Supporting the participation of indigenous and other forest peoples in REDD+ policy development and implementation

  • Supporting the development of community forestry REDD+ pilot projects, including indigenous and community initiatives, that provide lessons for national policy-making

  • Providing access to training and learning on REDD+ policies, programs and issues

  • Supporting the dissemination of experiences from the region on REDD+ implementation