Panama: towards a national organization for the forest carbon

The withdrawal of States United of the Paris agreement on climate change has given greater importance to the participation of enterprises and organizations of civil society. The United Nations Global Compact, for example, offers cooperation to mobilize a global movement of Governments, civil society and companies to "create the world we want".

March 29, 2017, published on our Blog the article entitled "Trump and climate change: is the time for non-State actors". On that occasion, we indicate:

"It is time to promote the participation of non-State actors, establishing various forms of partnerships, joint ventures and mutually beneficial agreements, aimed at strengthening the fight against climate change. And on this basis, define a new framework of coordination with government entities."

As part of this strategic vision, APRONAD is promoting the creation of a national representative instance, capable of promoting the conservation of forests associated with economic benefits, by emission Greenhouse Gases (GHG) reductions, which will be marketed in the voluntary carbon market.

The objectives of an organization of this kind arise in the following terms:

General objective: Contribute to turn Panama into a synonym for commitment to sustainable development, positioning it as a leading nation in the fight against climate change.

Specific objectives: 1) to promote the sustainability of forest resources management; (2) set up a national organization of owners of forest resources and agricultural producers, based on the principles of representativeness, participation and decision making in a democratic way; (3) develop institutional capacities for the preparation and presentation of proposals, technical, legal and policy aimed at the payment for environmental services; (4) establishing mechanisms for national and international, public and private funding for the design and development of sustainable projects in the sector of agriculture, forestry and other land uses; (5) to conduct marketing joint bonds voluntary and regulated carbon markets, applying the principles of economic scale; (6) channel international and national technical assistance and training to the members of the Association; (7) expanding networks of contacts in the region and generate opportunities for collaboration.

The success of this organization depends on the application of the approaches of "social demand", organization of "bottom-up" and collective leadership based on consensus. The organization claims should express the demands and claims of its members, and not the opinion of a privileged circle. The process of structuring must be from the community organizations of Base (OCB) and leadership should be shared, thus, collective.

To illustrate the organizational model promoted, let the network of community organizations affiliated to FUNREGAAC. This Foundation has 13 associated OCBs and 2 that are considered friends, in the following way:

Each of these organizations, in a participatory manner, raised their reasons for participating in a national project of forest carbon. Let's look at the arguments of the Agroambientalista Association of Oajaca, located in the community of Oajaca, Corregimiento de Chiguirí Arriba, Penonomé district:

• Population: 500 families.
• Type of existing forest resources:

            - Primary forest.
            - Secondary forest.
            - Grasslands, bamboo.
            - Agriculture (crop type): citrus, coffee, vegetables, cassava, otoe, Yam, maize, timber..

• Priority community problems:

            - Weak community organization.

            - Inadequate equipment of the Local Development Board.

            -  Weaknesses the Committee of health.

            - Weaknesses the board administrator of the aqueduct Rural (JAAR)

            - Unemployment.

            - Roads in disrepair.

            - Poor transport service.

• Biodiversity:

           - Endangered species: Toucan mountain pichilargo

           - Proximity to protected areas: Cucuazal.

           - Illegal logging and burning.

           - Poaching.

           - Wildfires.

In this case, the project of forest carbon is associated with local development challenges. 15 community organizations associate and friends of Funregaac, has expressed interest in participating in a national organization, provided it is built "from bottom to top", on sound democratic principles.

The national organization which proposes APRONAD will be the sum of multiple efforts, involving various organizations of civil society related to the fight against climate change. In the coming weeks, will be presented the initiative at the national and international organizations. Those who are interested in learning more about the project and join the initiative can contact us at email: apronad@gmail.com.

OCBs of Cocle prepare proposals for Carbon Project