15 February 2019: Representatives of high-forest/low-deforestation (HFLD) countries have adopted a declaration on mobilizing climate finance during a conference where countries shared challenges they face using existing methods of accessing climate finance.

The ‘Krutu of Paramaribo Joint Declaration on HFLD Climate Finance Mobilization’ was adopted during the first-ever HFLD Conference on Climate Finance Mobilization, convened by the Government of Suriname from 12-15 February 2019 in Paramaribo. The UN Development Programme (UNDP), the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA); the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO), the World Bank, and the Inter American Development Bank (IDB) were among the organizing partners. Krutu is an indigenous Surinamese word that means a gathering of significance or of high dignitaries, resulting in a workable outcome.

HFLD countries contain approximately 24% of the world’s remaining forests and are custodians of diverse ecosystems, rich biodiversity and a large proportion of forest carbon. Approximately 93% of Suriname’s land mass is covered by intact forest, the highest proportion in the world.

In discussing the role of forests in achieving the SDGs, the Declaration highlights:

• SDG target 13.a on mobilizing USD 100 billion annually by 2020 to address the needs of developing countries in the context of climate change mitigation;
• SDG target 15.b on mobilizing resources to finance sustainable forest management (SFM) and providing incentives to developing countries to advance such management; and
• SDG targets 17.1, 17.2, 17.3, 17.4 and 17.5 on strengthening means of implementation and revitalizing the global partnership for sustainable development through finance.

The Declaration states that, to achieve the SDGs, the international community must support efforts of HFLD countries to maintain high forest cover, protect forests and sustain economic growth. It notes that HFLD developing countries are receiving a very small portion of climate finance, less than 14% of all funds committed, and underscores that they are “in dire need” of international climate finance, technology transfer and capacity building to transition towards climate-resilient and low-emission development and achieve the SDGs and the goals of the Paris Agreement on climate change. The Declaration also affirms “the important role of forests” in achieving Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).

Countries may withdraw from the HFLD list if financial resources are not mobilized to help them maintain forest cover and achieve the SDGs.

The Declaration calls on the international community to simplify and better align financial frameworks and mechanisms to address the needs of HFLD developing countries and to increase SFM financing. It welcomes: the inclusion of the Impact Programme on SFM in the seventh replenishment period of the Global Environment Facility (GEF-7) (2018-2022); the Green Climate Fund’s (GCF) support for sustainable land use and forest management; and support from the UN Forum on Forests (UNFF) Global Forest Financing Facilitation Network in helping access forest finance.

In the Declaration, country representatives pledge to increase cooperation among HFLD developing States through a Platform for dialogue, coordination and facilitation to increase interaction and linkages with international and multilateral institutions and financial arrangements. They further invite the Government of Suriname to convene the Platform in 2019.

HFLD country representatives also invite the Government of Suriname to promote the Declaration at upcoming international events, such as the 2019 High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) in July 2019 and the UN Secretary-General’s Climate Summit in September 2019.

The Declaration also includes two annexes: ‘A Way Forward for HFLD Climate Finance Mobilization’; and background information on climate finance in HFLD countries. The latter notes that many HFLD States will see their deforestation rates increase sharply as a result of economic development, and that more countries may withdraw from the HFLD list if significant financial resources are not mobilized to help them maintain forest cover and achieve the SDGs.

The Declaration was supported by the Bahamas, Bhutan, Cameroon, Canada, Colombia, the Congo, Costa Rica, the DRC, Fiji, Finland, France on behalf of French Guiana, Gabon, Ghana, Guyana, Malaysia, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Peru, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Seychelles, Suriname and Zambia. [Krutu of Paramaribo Joint Declaration on HLFD Climate Finance Mobilization] [Press Release on Adoption of Declaration] [HFLD Conference on Climate Finance Mobilization Website] [Statement of the President of Suriname]