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COLOMBIA:
Programmatic Forest Country Note
Deep Dive into Forest & Landscape-Smart
Investments November 6, 2017
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© 2018 The World Bank 1818 H Street NW, Washington DC 20433
Telephone: 202-473-1000; Internet: www.worldbank.org
Some rights reserved.
This volume is a product of the staff of the International Bank for Reconstruction
and Development / The World Bank. The findings, interpretations, and conclusions
expressed in this paper do not necessarily reflect the views of the Executive
Directors of The World Bank or the governments they represent.
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Please cite the work as follows: “World Bank. 2017. Colombia: Programmatic Forest
Country Note. Deep Dive into Forest & Landscape-Smart Investments. © World
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to World Bank Publications, The World Bank Group, 1818 H Street NW, Washington,
DC 20433, USA, fax 202-522-2422, e-mail [email protected].
Photography: Cesar Oleksy on Pexels (Cover); Pxhere (2); Lia & Jeremy on Practical Wanderlust (3); Diego Guzman
on Unsplash (7); Daniel Camilo Preciado on UnMinutoRadio (9, Top); Juan Carlos Sierra on Revista
Semana (9, Bottom); Bosques de Paz (10); Robinson Henao on EAFIT (13, Top); Office of the
Colombian Presidency on Semana (13, Middle); RCN Radio Colombia (13, Bottom); Edward Parker on
WWF (14); Archivo Patrimonio Nacional (16); Ruben Gil on ElCampesino.com (17); Marisol
Lopez/Sinchi (20, Top); Forest Stewardship Council (20, Bottom); Y.J. Rey-Millet on WWF (22);
ElTiempo.com (24, Top); EFE on ZonaCero (24, Middle); Herminso Ruiz on ElEspectador.com (24,
Bottom); Guillermo Tapia on Getty Images (26); Neil Palmer/CIAT on WRI (29, Top); Jordan
Hardin/American Specialty Tea Alliance (29, Bottom); Ministry of Environment and Sustainable
Development (30, Left); ExtraNoticias.com (30, Right); Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development
(31); Office of the Colombian Presidency Archives (33, Left); World Bank Archives (33, Right); Franka
Braun (34); Savia Botanica (35); Alexander Rieser (37, Top); Alfredo Fernandez (37, Middle);
Earth.com (37, Bottom); World Bank Archives (38, Top); World Bank Archives (38, Bottom); Savia
Botanica (39), Shutterstock (40); EFE (41, Top Left); Andrés Felipe Castaño/Unimedios (41, Bottom
Left); World Bank Archives (41, Top Right); World Bank Archives (41, Bottom Right); Jose Antonio
Arana/CIAT (42, Top); Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development (42, Bottom); Stock
Photo (43); The Tenure Facility/PCN (44); 123RF (45, Top); Daniel Noll & Audrey Scott (45, Bottom);
Yungueña on Wikimedia (Back Cover).
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Acknowledgements
This note was prepared by Franka Braun,
Augusto Castro, and Rodrigo Martinez. The
team interviewed various representatives
of the Government of Colombia, GGGI, and
the Government of Norway: Carlos Alvarez
Descampe, Diana Vargas, Katherine
Ovalle, Martin Perez and David Urrego
(MADS); Marlene Velasquez and Nelson
Lozano (MADR); Javier Rojas (DNP); Luz
Marina Arevalo (UPRA); Luis Carlos Morales
(FINAGRO); Carolina Jaramillo, Camilo
Ortega (Global Green Growth Institute),
Elise Christensen (Embassy of the
Government of Norway); Erwin De Nys,
Ivonne Moreno, Luz Berania Diaz, Miguel
Pinedo, Marcelo Acerbi, Ellysar Baroudy,
Werner Kornexl, Paola Agostini, Gerhard
Dieterle and Juan Florez from (IFC) from the
World Bank Group provided valuable
comments and inputs.
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Key Facts
•Restore 1 M ha of degraded landwithin the 20 x 20 land restorationinitiative
•Reduce cattle pasture to 28 M ha by2019
•Increase agricultural crop plantationsto 1.7 M ha by 2018 (ColombiaSiembra)
•Reduce annual deforestation to90,000 Ha or less by 2018
•Achieve zero net deforestation in theColombian Amazon by 2020
•210,000 new Ha under restoration by2018 and 700.000 more by 2020
•End loss of natural forest by 2030
•NDC: 20% - 30% GHG emissionsreduction with respect to Business-as-Usual by 2030. AFOLU included.
Climate
•0.6% of Colombia’s GDP
•In 2014, 740 companies in the woodindustry generating 45,000 jobs
•5,300 micro-enterprises in the sectorgenerating 20,000 jobs
•In 2011, US$ 676 M (1.2 % of totalmerchandise exports) were: wood,pulp, paper & furniture
•Industry demands of 5,5 million m3 ofprimary processed wood products,30% was imported
•Environmental degradation inColombia (including deforestation andforest degradation) costs 3.7% of theGDP
•25.7% of Colombian population (morethan 11 M people) inhabit forests
Forest Economy
•53.64% of country mainland area are forests
•457,6000 Ha of commercial forest plantations with 30,000 owners
•Between 1990--2010, 6.2 M Ha were lost at a rate of 310,349/year
•124,000 Ha of forests were lost in 2015, a 12% reduction in the deforestation rate with respect to the year 2014
•18 M Ha reforestation potential (IGAC)
•25% of extracted timber between 2010 and 2012 obtained from protected areas
•10% of planet’s biodiversity resides in Colombia
•2nd country with greatest biodiversity
•1% of parcels cover 53.8% of available land; 90% of parcels share 25% of land
•Protected areas cover 15% of total natural forests (9,4 M Ha)
Forests and Landscapes
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Table of Contents
Acknowledgements ................................................................................................................... 2
Key Facts ................................................................................................................................... 3
Acronyms & Abbreviations ........................................................................................................ 5
Executive Summary: Colombia Deep Dive ................................................................................ 7
1. Key Success Indicators for Forest Landscapes in Colombia ............................................ 8
1.1. WBG Responses and Possible GNU Support .............................................................. 11
2. Main Policy and Engagement Issues .............................................................................. 13
2.1. WBG Responses to Policy/Engagement & Possible GNU Support ............................ 15
Starting Point: Promoting Land-Use and Forest-Smart Investments in Colombia .................. 16
1. Forests’ Contribution to Sustainable Development in the Republic of Colombia .......... 17
1.1. Overview of Colombian Forests .................................................................................... 17
1.2. Livelihoods and Pathways Out of Poverty.................................................................... 19
1.3. Economy: Jobs and Wealth Creation ........................................................................... 20
1.4. Contribution to Other Economic Sectors ..................................................................... 22
2. Current Challenges and Opportunities for Forests in Colombia ..................................... 23
2.1. Contributions of the Agriculture, Forestry, and Land-Use Sector (AFOLU) to National
GHG Emissions ..................................................................................................................... 23
2.2 Causes of Forest-Cover Change in Colombia ............................................................... 24
2.3. Opportunities for Reducing Pressure in Post-Conflict Areas of Colombian Forests . 27
2.4. Opportunities for Promoting Sustainable Forestry and Forest Smart Investments . 29
2.5. Private Sector Engagement .......................................................................................... 30
3. National Policies & Plans Related to Forests ................................................................. 31
3.1. Country-Driven Plans & Strategies related to Forests ................................................ 31
3.2. Ongoing Efforts in the AFOLU Sector: Implementation of National Plans ................. 33
4. The World Bank’s Engagement: Promoting a Forest- and Land-Use Smart Development
Approach ............................................................................................................................. 35
4.1 Sustainable Forestry and Land-Use Smart Interventions ........................................... 37
4.2. Policy Support and Analytical Work ............................................................................. 40
5. Government Coordination Mechanism ........................................................................... 42
6. Conclusions ..................................................................................................................... 44
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Acronyms & Abbreviations AFD French Agency for Cooperation
AFOLU Agriculture, Forestry, and Land-use
APC Agency for International Cooperation
ASA Analytic and Sector Work
ASP Amazon Signature Program
BAU Business-as-Usual
BE Bank Executed
BioCF ISFL Bio-Carbon Fund Initiative for Sustainable Forest Landscapes
BMU German Federal Environment Ministry
CAR Regional Environmental Corporations
CC Climate Change
CCNAP Climate Change National Adaptation Plan
CERAC Conflict Analysis Resource Center
CIAT Centro Internacional de Agricultura Tropical
CIPAV Centro para la Investigación en Sistemas Sostenibles de Producción Agropecuaria
CONPES Consejo Nacional de Política Económica y Social
CPF Country Partnership Framework
CSA Climate Smart Agriculture
DANE Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadística
DNP Department of National Planning
DPL Development Policy Loans
ENAREDD+ National Strategy for Reduction of Emissions from Deforestation & Forest Degradation
ENR Environment and Natural Resources
ER Emission Reductions
FARC-EP Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia- People’s Army
FCPF Forest Carbon Partnership Facility
FEDEGAN Federación Nacional de Ganaderos de Colombia
FINAGRO Fondo para el Financiamiento del Sector Agropecuario
FIP Forest Investment Program
FLEGT Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade initiative
GCF Green Climate Fund
GDP Gross Domestic Product
GEF Global Environment Facility
GG Green Growth
GGGI Global Green Growth Institute
GGP Governance Global Practice
GHG Green House Gases
GIZ German Cooperation Agency
GNU Germany, Norway, U.K.
GoC Government of Colombia
GP Global Practice
HACCP Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points
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HCVA High Conservation Value Areas
IBRD International Bank for Reconstruction and Development
ICR Incentivo a la Capitalización Rural
IDB Inter-American Development Bank
IDEAM Instituto de Estudios Ambientales y Meteorológicos
IFC International Finance Corporation
IFI International Financial Institution
IGAC Instituto Geográfico Agustín Codazzi
INDC Intended National Determined Contribution
KfW German Development Bank
LAC Latin America and the Caribbean
LCDS Low Carbon Development Strategy
MADR Ministerio de Agricultura y Desarrollo Rural
MADS Ministerio de Ambiente y Desarrollo Sostenible
MDTF Multi-Donor Trust Fund
MRV Measuring, Reporting, and Verification
NAMA Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Actions
NDC National Determined Contribution
NDP National Development Plan
NTFP Non-Timber Forest Products
OECD Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development
OSILP Orinoquia Sustainable Integrated Landscape Program
PINES Investment Projects of National and Strategic Interest
POT Plan de Ordenamiento Territorial
PPP Public-Private Partnerships
PROFOR Program on Forests
PTSP Plan Todos Somos PAZcífico
RE Recipient Executed
REDD+ Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation
REM REDD+ Early Movers
SCD Systematic Country Diagnostic
SURR Social, Urban, Rural and Resilience
TA Technical Assistance
TNC The Nature Conservancy
TP Timber Products
UAF Unidad de Agricultura Familiar
UNFCCC United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
UN-REDD United Nations Reducing Emission from Deforestation and Forest Degradation
USAID United States Aid for International Development
WAVES Wealth Accounting and Valuation of Ecosystem Services
ZIDRES Zonas de Interés para el Desarrollo Rural Económico y Social
ZRC Zonas de Reserva Campesina - Farmers Reserves
ZRF Zonas de Reserva Forestal - Forest Reserves
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Executive Summary: Colombia Deep Dive
The following note was prepared to guide dialogue between the World Bank and the main
forest donors, Germany, Norway and the UK (GNU). The note aims at presenting how the World
Bank's Forest and Landscape Action Plan goals contribute to the Colombia’s National
Development Plan (NDP) policy objectives, building the foundations to achieve economic
development with low deforestation and sustainable peace. This Country Note, moreover,
describes the status of the forest sector in Colombia, highlighting its contributions to the
economy and rural communities and the challenges and opportunities facing the sector. In
addition, the note outlines the efforts made by the Government of Colombia, so far, to organize
the plethora of funding sources focused on rural development and climate change, whose
potential can be enhanced through the positive outcomes of the peace process taking place
with armed rebel groups. Last, the note also describes the key success factors for climate
resilient forest landscapes in Colombia and the programmatic approach of the World Bank
group to address those factors. Specifically, it identifies key success factors for forest- and
landscape-smart investments in Colombia and key asks for the GNU.
The main policy objective of the Colombian National Development Plan 2014–2018 (NDP) is
to build the foundations for improved, more equal, and sustainable territorial development
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and peace. The NDP integrates national processes and proposes transformational changes
to achieve the equitable development of rural Colombia while also prioritizing peacebuilding
in the areas most affected by the conflict.1 The NDP, moreover, sets goals for reducing
deforestation to 90,000 ha/year by 2018 and to zero by 2030.
The NDP set ambitious environmental goals that contribute toward both national development
priorities and climate change mitigation. Such objectives include: [i] reducing annual
deforestation in Colombia to 90.000 hectares or less by 2018; [ii] achieving zero net
deforestation in the Colombian Amazon by 2020; [iii] bringing 210.000 new hectares under
restoration by 2018 and 700.000 more by 2020; and [iv] ending the loss of natural forest by
2030. Additionally, the strategic plan for Colombian Livestock proposes actions to significantly
reduce the number of hectares used for cattle grazing (from 39 million ha to 28 million ha).
The World Bank Group’s Colombia Country Partnership Framework (CPF) FY 2016–2021
supports the Government’s medium-term agenda towards a more integrated territorial
development, one of the fundamental pillars of the Government’s peacebuilding agenda. In
particular, the CPF aims at balanced territorial development and the need for enhanced
capacity for natural resource management in target regions. By piloting important forest and
land-use programs in the Amazon and Orinoquia regions, and by supporting the Government’s
Plan “Todos Somos PAZcífico” (in the Pacific Region), the World Bank contributes to a more
balanced territorial development in three regions that still lack development opportunities.
The World Bank’s land-use program in Colombia promotes the adoption of the programmatic
approach to forests and land-use, as outlined in the World Bank Forest Action Plan 2016. As
such, the ongoing cross-sectoral land-use program in Colombia includes a large portfolio of
operations using various World Bank instruments (see Chapter 4). A number of these
operations—such as the Heart of the Amazon Project, the Sustainable Cattle Ranching
Operation, the Magdalena Bajo Seco Reforestation Project—have piloted important private-
public partnerships for sustainable land-use change, as well as conservation and climate-
smart agriculture approaches. They serve as best practices for reducing deforestation and
land degradation, for promoting economic development in rural Colombia, and have
enormous scaling-up potential.
The peacebuilding agenda prioritizes integrated rural and agricultural development (Chapter
1 of the five negotiation chapters). Given that 58% of the municipalities where deforestation
is highest are also affected by the internal armed conflict, the activities promoted under this
chapter are fully aligned with activities promoting forest and land-use smart investments. This
provides an opportunity for integrating available funds assigned to social and peacebuilding
programs with REDD+ results-based financing. It is also important to highlight, however, that
developments previously hampered by the conflict might cause an increase in deforestation
once the peace agreement is concluded. Therefore, sound land-use plans and strategies will
be key to meeting Colombia’s zero-deforestation goal.
1. Key Success Indicators for Forest Landscapes in Colombia There are a few key factors that will have significant impacts on mitigating the climate change
impact of Colombia’s land-use sector, the largest contributor to Colombia’s GHG emissions. A
1 https://colaboracion.dnp.gov.co/cdt/prensa/bases%20plan%20nacional%20de%20desarrollo%202014-2018.pdf
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successful forest and landscape program in Colombia would build on ongoing efforts and
integrate sustainable production systems with forest conservation/landscape restoration. We
identified six key factors for the land sector and note that these efforts require additional
financial support to increase their short/medium term positive impacts on climate change
mitigation and peacebuilding:
Programs for reducing deforestation are being
implemented in the Orinoco and Amazon
regions and should also target the Pacific
region. Colombia is planning to implement
programs for reducing deforestation tailored to
the specific contexts and considering regional
differences regarding the causes of forest-cover
change. The three regions mentioned above
together comprise 81% of forest-cover, and 70%
of CO2 emissions from the AFOLU sector. 2 To
date, financial resources have been pledged to
support the design and implementation of such
programs in the Amazon and Orinoco regions
(even if departments with high deforestation
rates, such as Putumayo and Guainía, have not
yet been fully included in either program).
However, additional investments would be
required to implement a third zero-deforestation
program in the Pacific region. This would
contribute to consolidate zero-deforestation
programs across the country and reduce the
risk of deforestation leakages. As such,
Investment finance needs to be identified.
Climate-smart technological packages for the agricultural sector are being designed and
widely adopted. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MADR) is preparing
climate-smart packages. So far, CSA practices have a low adoption rate and are often
implemented at not-significant scales. 3 There is a need for properly designed incentive
packages (including technological packages, technical assistance, and financial incentives,
among others) to foster wide adoption.
Bottlenecks for implementing large-scale forest plantations and sustainable forest
management are being identified and overcome. Despite Colombia having made efforts to
promote the forestry sector, the area of commercial plantations has not grown as expected
(about 400,000 ha). Investments to overcome identified barriers would be related to [i] the
improvement of the land tenure system, [ii] the enhancement of the institutions providing
services to the sector (particularly to institutions in charge of providing allowances, sanitary
authorizations and technical assistance), and [iii] the consolidation of sustainable value
2 FAO 2015; IDEAM 2016: National and departmental GHG Inventory of Colombia, 3rd National Communication 3 World Bank et al., 2015
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0
chains. In addition, investments are needed to organize communities to manage forests and
overcome barriers to landscape restoration.
Reducing the areas assigned to cattle ranching from the current 39 million hectares to 28
million hectares, transforming the remaining areas to sustainable and productive livestock,
and releasing areas for conservation and other uses are all important objectives for the rural
development of Colombia. Enteric fermentation represents the 18.48% of the greenhouse gas
emissions generated in the country (48.51% from the agricultural and livestock sector) and is
also a major factor in the emissions of land-use, change in land-use, and forestry categories.
The Government plans to reduce the area currently dedicated to cattle ranching and to
promote sustainable, climate-smart cattle ranching systems in the remaining area.
To attract much-needed investments for the climate-smart transformation of rural
landscapes, Colombia needs to attract private sector capital and needs to develop incentive
mechanisms, as well as public-private partnerships that enable the leveraging of private
sector capital toward climate-smart investments. Efforts in this direction are being channeled
through the LAC Tropical Forest Alliance 2020, of which Colombia and Brazil are the pioneer
countries. The Colombia chapter, however, needs to be up and running for increased visibility
and global pressure on multi-national companies sourcing in Colombia.
Under the Joint Declaration, Colombia has a commitment to establishing a National Financial
Instrument that can receive and channel contributions for land-use smart policies, on-the-
ground investments, and verified emission reductions. In its governance structure, this
instrument is to include a coordination committee that has balanced representation from the
central government, regional governments, civil society (including the private sector), and
indigenous peoples. Such a mechanism is urgently needed and must be anchored in a
national institution with a clear mandate and capacity to coordinate multiple sectors.
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1
1.1. WBG Responses and Possible GNU Support
Success Factor WBG Response Ask for GNU Support
Programs for reducing
deforestation and land-
use based emissions
are implemented in at
least the Pacific,
Orinoco, and Amazon
regions. More
investment sources
identified.
1. Piloting Heart of Amazon
project as part of Amazon Vision,
which leads conservation
agreements with farmers (GEF).
2. Developing Orinoquia
Sustainable Landscape program
(BioCF).
3. Supporting consultation
processes in the Pacific region
(FCPF readiness).
4. Approached by Ministry of
Environment (MADS) to help
develop Vision Pacifico.
5. Supporting the Plan Todos
Somos PAZcífico (“We Are All
PEACEific”) through two
investment operations, a Water
Supply and Basin Sanitation
Infrastructure Development
Project and the Acuapista project,
which seeks to improve fluvial
transport in the Pacific Region.
1. Provide additional resources to
support Vision Pacifico, i.e.
include the program in the BioCF
ISFL or FCPF pipelines. Additional
FCPF preparation funds will only
be available by June 2017.
Explore other options to rapidly
deploy initial grants.
• Initial phase: Support a team
to structure the Vision and
Investment Portfolio (ex. Plan
Maestro Orinoquia): US$1.5
million.
• Enabling Environment:
Develop regional Climate
Change Plans; strengthening
of CARs, territorial entities and
communities to implement
green supply chains; and
environmental territorial
planning: US$25 million.
• Investment phase:
Strengthening forest
governance, land restoration,
coastal erosion control,
implement green supply
chains: US$225 million.
2. Prioritize Colombia for
investment funding that allows
filling critical gaps to achieve ERs.
For example, Colombia should be
reconsidered under the Forest
Investment Program (FIP).
Climate-smart
technological packages
for the agricultural
sector are designed and
widely adopted.
1. Support the identification and
implementation of CSA
technologies and packages for the
Orinoquia region through BioCF
Plus, building on MADR/CIAT
agreement under INDC.
1. More flexibility to use BioCF
Funding for seed investments to
pilot CSA packages.
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2
Reduce the area
assigned to cattle
ranching from the
current 39 million ha to
28 million ha and
transform the remaining
area to sustainable and
productive livestock.
Construct public-private
partnerships (PPP), such
as the one promoted by
Ministry of Commerce,
that include 14 major
bovine meat producer
companies.
1. Through the Mainstreaming
Cattle Ranching Project, building
capacity to scale up investments
in sustainable livestock systems
(silvopastoral systems, SPS);
developing technological
packages appropriate to five
different geographical regions.
2. Finance the preparation of the
Cattle Ranching NAMA (registered
with UNFCCC).
3. Through IFC Advisory and
Investment Services, explore the
opportunity to support a “game
changer” PPP for bovine meat
exports.
1. Estimated investment needs for
NAMA implementation are
US$900 million (one of four
NAMAs under Colombia’s AFOLU
INDC targets).
2. Consider TA funds (through
IFC Advisory) for four companies
working on:
• Productivity increases at the
farm level (from small cattle
rancher to better pasture
management, silvopastoral).
• A pilot project to establish an
exporting route.
• Hazard Analysis and Critical
Control Points (HACCP) and
Climate Smart Supply Chain
approaches implemented in
the 4 companies and plants.
Attract private sector
capital for much-needed
investments for the
climate-smart
transformation of rural
landscapes.
1. Support, through the BioCF
ISFL and Mainstreaming Cattle
Ranching project, the
development of incentive
mechanisms, public-private
partnerships, and private sector
commodity chain dialogues that
allow for the leveraging of private
sector capital for climate-smart
investments.
2. Support TFA2020’s Colombia
Chapter (hired coordinator
through BioCF ISFL).
1. Establish relationships with UK,
Norway and German-based
agribusiness or forestry
companies with interest and/or
investments in Colombia.
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3
2. Main Policy and Engagement Issues To create an enabling environment for successful, climate-smart land-use and forestry
interventions, the policy areas that need work are:
Coordination: Donor coordination is emerging in
Colombia. There are increased efforts by the
Ministry of Environment (MADS) to articulate the
UN-REDD+, GIZ, and FCPF Readiness work. This
being said, Colombia is simultaneously
developing three large-scale Emission Reduction
initiatives (i.e., the REDD-Early Movers’ program,
the BioCF Orinoquia Sustainable Landscape
Program, and the Joint Declaration National-Level
Initiative) and plans to develop a fourth one for the
Pacific. Under each of these large-scale programs,
however, the institutional arrangement is
different, as are the implementation agencies,
procedures, and requirements. The result of these
multiple approaches is a fragmentation of
resources that has led to duplications in analytical
efforts, approaches to deforestation-free supply
chains, reviews of financial incentives, etc. The
newly created fund Colombia Sostenible, which
will be administered by the IDB, is supposed to
establish a platform for coordination. However, its
approval and operationalization have been
lagging. Therefore, there is still a vacuum in terms
of overall coordination. In addition, a national
financial mechanism with the capacity to channel
technical assistance, investments, and results-
based finance has yet to be defined, as well as a
national institution that administers such fund
and takes on sector coordination for large scale
land-use programs. The National Planning
Department could take on such role, but, so far,
the agenda is divided between the Ministries of
Agriculture and Environment, and neither has the
capacity or the mandate to coordinate a larger,
multi-sectoral effort with an overarching goal of
low-carbon development.
Land Policy: Developing a comprehensive land administration policy that includes [i] a clear
institutional framework for land administration (currently, responsibilities are spread over
eight different agencies); [ii] building an integrated land administration system where multi-
purpose cadaster and registry data are consistent, up to date, and include a complete record
of the territory; [iii] formalization of property rights; and [iv] improving territorial planning to
include updated territorial land-use plans (89% are currently outdated in the Orinoquia region,
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4
for example). Concerning the implementation of the multi-purpose cadaster, there is an
important opportunity to include specific environmental requirements that describe rural
properties with regards to exact geographical coordinates, the location of remaining native
vegetation, permanent preservation areas, areas of restricted use, legal reserves, etc. The
environmental information contained in the cadaster can eventually be part of a database for
control, monitoring, environmental and economic planning, and combating deforestation
Green Growth Policy: In 2012, Colombia adhered to the OECD’s Green Growth Declaration as
a step in its process of accession to that organization. The Declaration urges countries to
encourage green investment and the sustainable management of natural resources through
various policy instruments aimed at creating a low-carbon economy. The National
Development Plan (NDP) 2014-2018 established Green Growth (GG) as a crosscutting and
“all-encompassing” strategy to achieve both peace and sustainable development. The Law
that enacted the NDP (1753 of 2015) mandated that the National Government formulate a
Long-Term Green Growth Policy through the National Planning Department (DNP) and in
coordination with the Ministry of Environment (MADS) and other ministries. This policy should
define the objectives and avenues for sustainable economic growth.
Forestry Policy: Colombia is lacking a national forestry policy as well as a forestry law that
encompasses both natural and secondary forests. Similarly, as with land administration,
responsibilities are spread over various ministries and agencies, including MADS (which
oversees Natural Forests, ENAREDD+ development), MADR (focused on commercial forest
plantations and promotion of the sector), Regional Environmental Corporations (CARs, which
issue environmental licenses for establishing and harvesting in commercial plantations), and
FINAGRO (in charge of administering the forest incentive, CIF). Therefore, the sector lacks
clear targets, clear regulations, and a holistic promotion strategy.
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2.1. WBG Responses to Policy/Engagement & Possible GNU Support
Success Factor WBG Response Ask for GNU support
Coordination:
Promote the creation
of a national financial
mechanism and a
government
coordination
mechanism.
1. The WB could provide technical
assistance to help structure a
national REDD+ fund and an
effective government coordination
mechanism.
1. Ask GoC for a clear plan to
develop a financial mechanism
that involves a technical review of
possibilities, best options, and
technical assistance.
2. Improve overall donor
coordination to avoid resource
fragmentation.
Land Policy: Develop
a comprehensive
land administration
policy that includes
cadaster, land
registry, and land
formalization.
1. Programmatic Territorial
Development Policy Loan to support
the GoC in advancing towards
integrated territorial development
and planning through strengthened
land management systems and
institutions.
2. Investment Loan for institutional
subnational strengthening and
piloting in 11 municipalities of the
new Multi-Purpose Cadaster.
3. Investment Loan for the expansion
phase of the Multi-Purpose Cadaster.
4. TA, through the BioCF, to
mainstream environmental variables
into Territorial Land-Use Plans and
the Environmental Cadaster.
1. The effort to implement this
land policy on a nation-wide scale
is estimated to cost US$1 billion,
of which Colombia has secured
US$250 million through WB and
IDB support. More resources will
be needed and could be targeted
at the prioritization of areas with
high deforestation and land-use
change pressures.
Green Growth
1. At the national level, a
programmatic Policy Loan series
(first phase approved in November
2015 and the second phase under
preparation) is promoting policy and
institutional actions to support
various dimensions of green growth.
1. Coordinate and keep the flow of
information between IFIs related
to complementary DPL programs.
Forestry Policy
▪ 1. In-depth review and
recommendations for Colombia’s
commercial forestry sector. Make
specific policy recommendations on
institutional and regulatory reforms
needed for this sector to become
competitive and a source of
economic development, especially in
rural areas, through PROFOR study.
▪
▪ 1. Promote Colombia’s
reforestation potential and
objectives through jurisdictional
programs in Amazon, Orinoquia,
and Pacific regions, a measure
with important economic and
climate mitigation potential.
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Starting Point: Promoting Land-Use and Forest-Smart
Investments in Colombia
There are increasing global aspirations of achieving land-based greenhouse gas emissions
reductions (Paris Agreement), landscape restoration (The Bonn Challenge), and biodiversity
conservation (Aichi Targets). To contribute toward the achievement of these global
environmental priorities, the Colombian government [i] is formulating a National REDD+
Strategy (ENREDD) as well as other actions in the land sector that contribute to low-carbon
development; [ii] has signed a Joint Declaration of Intent with the Governments of Germany,
Norway, and the United Kingdom (UK) for cooperation on REDD+ and promoting sustainable
development; [iii] has expressed its commitment to achieving goals within the 20x20 Land
Restoration Initiative; and [iv] has presented a NDC which highlights the mitigation potential
of the Colombian LULUCF sector.
Efforts to promote sustainable forestry and forest-smart investments in Colombia should
consider the state of the current peace process and be aligned with peacebuilding priorities.
It is anticipated that the strategies leading to the achievement of the environmental and
sustainable development goals will be implemented along with agreements achieved between
the Government of Colombia and the Revolutionary Forces of Colombia-People’s Army (FARC-
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EP). Thus, innovative approaches will be required to achieve forest-based climate change
mitigation and simultaneously address emerging challenges related to the accomplishment
of the agreements—particularly from those related to the “sustainable development of rural
Colombia.” Such approaches would be of interest to the countries who held a mediation role
in the peace negotiation process, for example, as well as those interested in incentivizing the
reduction of forest-based GHG emissions, as is the case of Norway.4
1. Forests’ Contribution to Sustainable Development in the Republic
of Colombia
1.1. Overview of Colombian Forests
Protection of Colombia’s biodiversity is a global conservation priority. Colombia hosts close to
the 10% of the planet’s biodiversity and ranks second among the twelve countries containing
the greatest biodiversity in the world.5 In addition, the country ranks seventh in the world in
terms of area covered by tropical forests, with 6.42% of the total supply for tropical South
America and 1.5% of all forests on the planet.6 Moreover, Colombia ranks first in bird and
orchid species diversity; second in plants, butterflies, freshwater fish, and amphibians; and
seventh in terms of the amount of "frontier forests."
4 Castro-Nunez, A., Mertz, O., Sosa, C.C. (In review), Spatial associations between carbon in woody biomass and conflict-
related variables indicate potential synergies between forest-carbon storage and peacebuilding policies. 5 https://www.cbd.int/countries/profile/default.shtml?country=co 6 Available at http://www.fao.org/3/a-i4808e.pdf
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Although the total area of natural forest has been decreasing over time, it still covers 52.2%
of the country's mainland area. Colombia has a total mainland area of 114,174,800 hectares
(ha) of which 59,558,064 ha are covered by natural forests (Figure 1). Additionally, about
457,575 ha are covered by planted forests. Departments located in the Southeast
(Amazonas, Caquetá, Guainía, Guaviare, and Vaupés) are those with the largest area of
natural forests in the country, with more than 35 million ha (or approximately 50% of total
natural forests).
Figure 1. Forest-cover area in Colombia between 1990 and 2015.
Source: Authors based on FAO’s Global Forest Resource Assessment 20157
National protected areas cover 15% of total natural forests (9,338,137.50 ha), while
indigenous reserves represent 43% of the nation's natural forests (26,485,028 ha).
Additionally, about 4.5 and 1.1 million ha belong, respectively, to Afro-Colombian communities
and farmers’ reserves (ZRC, Zonas de Reserva Campesina). Other conservation categories
include regional protected areas (covering 3.2% of the total forest area), local protected areas
(0.4%), and Forest Reserves (ZRF, Zonas de Reserva Forestal). The ZRFs cover the greatest
part of the country's forest ecosystems (65,280,321 ha) and were declared in 1959 (by Act
2ª) to promote the development of the forestry sector and to protect soils and wildlife. To date,
6 million ha of ZRFs have been degraded or have changed their cover to other uses. This
indicates that despite efforts, Colombia has experienced intense forest-cover changes, mostly
caused by agricultural activities and livestock grazing in forest frontiers and municipalities
affected by armed conflicts. In territories affected by armed conflict, deforestation is generally
caused by illegal crops production, an activity commonly followed by livestock grazing and
causing significant wealth losses. Indeed, it is estimated that environmental degradation in
Colombia (including deforestation and forest degradation) represents losses equivalent to
3.7% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).8
7 Ibid. 3 8 World Bank (2016), WAVES Colombia Country Report.
50.0
51.0
52.0
53.0
54.0
55.0
56.0
57.0
58.0
59.0
60.0
61.0
62.0
63.0
64.0
65.0
50
52
54
56
58
60
62
64
66
68
70
19
90
19
91
19
92
19
93
19
94
19
95
19
96
19
97
19
98
19
99
20
00
20
01
20
02
20
03
20
04
20
05
20
06
20
07
20
08
20
09
20
10
20
11
20
12
20
13
20
14
20
15
Mil
lon
s o
f N
atu
ral
Fo
res
t h
ec
tare
s
Hectares Percentage
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1.2. Livelihoods and Pathways Out of Poverty
Poverty affects 28.5 % of the total Colombian population, 63.4 % of which inhabit rural areas.
As shown in Figure 2, municipalities with higher values in the unsatisfied basic needs index
are mostly located in forest frontiers and colonization fronts. Furthermore, combinations of
factors such as poverty, unequal land distribution, violence, and illegal occupations have
forced people out of their lands. Indeed, the World Bank’s Systematic Country Diagnostic
(SCD) for Colombia (2015) reports that over the last few decades over 5.5 million people have
been displaced from rural areas.
Figure 2. Forest Carbon (as a proxy of forest-cover) and Unsatisfied Basic Needs in Colombia
Source: AGB maps developed by the Colombian Institute of Hydrology, Meteorology and Environmental Studies (IDEAM)
using Landsat satellite images and unsatisfied basic needs dataset elaborated by DANE.
Colombian forests are inhabited by about 25.7% of the Colombian population or more than
11 million people. This population is formed mostly by indigenous, Afro-Colombian, and
mestizo farmers. It is recognized that forest ecosystems provide goods and services that
contribute to rural inhabitants to varying degrees. Despite this, poverty in Colombia is
concentrated in rural areas.
Small-scale timber logging (TP) and non-timber forest products (NTFP) are critical for the
livelihood of forests inhabitants. However, lack of updated local-level datasets for Colombia
makes it difficult to describe trends in demand and consumption patterns, as well as their
contribution to rural households’ livelihoods (e.g. income or employment). Furthermore, it
makes it difficult to [i] characterize the importance of Colombian TP and NTFP in local, national
and international markets; [ii] understand constraints for effective and sustainable
harvesting; and [iii] identify opportunities that might arise for developing promissory products
and link them with sustainable value chains.
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1.3. Economy: Jobs and Wealth Creation
In Colombia, the forestry sector (including
commercial plantations) is not yet fully
developed. As such, about 25% of timber
extracted between 2010--2012 was obtained
from Natural Parks or protected areas (Figure
3). Meanwhile, shrubland contributed to the
greatest proportion of extracted timber and
plantations, with only 5%. From an ecosystem
services perspective, non-sustainable timber
extraction might imply a reduction in the
services (including carbon storage) provided
by both available9 and not available10 natural
forests. Beyond commercial plantations,
however, community forest management can
also have a role in stabilizing the forest-cover
and assuring a sustainable supply of Timber
Products (TP) and Non-Timber Forest
Products (NTFP). Moreover, organizing
communities to manage forests and paying
them for conservation services offers a great
opportunity for building peace. The land
tenure system has been identified as one of
the bottlenecks for both implementing
commercial forest plantations and creating a
stable structure of natural forest holdings in
Colombia. 11 Indeed, the World Bank’s
Program on Forests (PROFOR), estimates,
based on available data for the sector, that
the 457,575 ha of commercial forests plantations in Colombia belong to about 30,000
owners, of which over 70% have areas of no more than 25 hectares.12 This structure hinders
management, marketing, and technological innovation in the sector. However, ratification of
the ZIDRES Law (Areas of Interest for Rural, Economic and Social Development) and land
formalization might facilitate large-scale agricultural investments (including commercial forest
plantations). Communication routes, reduced availability of technical assistance, and lack of
medium and long-term planning tools have been mentioned by an official in the sector
(interviewed in the context of the present note) as bottlenecks for further promoting forest
plantations.
9 Forests not included in conservation schemes 10 Forests included in conservation schemes 11 Specifically, restrictions in the size of the land allowed to family units for agricultural production (UAF, from the Spanish
Unidad Agricola Familiar) 12 World Bank (2016), Informe Final para el programa “Colombia: Reforestación comercial potencial. PROFOR
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Figure 3. Timber extractions in Colombia by type of forest.
Source: PROFOR (2016)13
The forestry sector contributes about 0.6% of Colombia’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and
generates 0.2 % of the total labor force in Colombia. By the year 2011, the export value of
products (including wood, pulp, paper, and wooden furniture) was equivalent to
US$676,000,000 (1.2% of Colombia’s total merchandise exports), while imports were
equivalent to US$1,125 000000.14
About 740 companies operate in the wood industry, employing around 45,000 people. The
number of companies in the forestry sector has remained stable since 2005.15 Meanwhile,
the number of (permanent and temporary) employees has increased from 35,000 in 2005 to
45.000 in 2014. The paper and furniture manufacturing sectors generate most of the jobs in
the wood industry, employing 19,500 and 17,500 people respectively.16 This data, however,
only reflects companies employing at least 10 people (small, medium, and large companies).
However, a recent study estimates the existence of 5,300 micro-enterprises in the sector that
would generate about 20,000 additional jobs. It is worth noting, though, that data for both
forests plantations and the wood industry is incomplete and out of date. This makes it difficult
to design strategies that boost the development of the sector and related sub-sectors. As
such, improved tools for long-term planning in rural Colombia would favor the development of
the forestry sector.
An improved land tenure system would contribute toward sustainable rural development with
low deforestation and peace. Land distribution in Colombia remains highly unequal. Empirical
studies of Colombia's rural sector show that about 1% of the parcels cover more than half
13 Ibid. 13 14 http://www.fao.org/3/a-i4248e.pdf 15 Ibid. 13 16 Ibid. 13, 15.
5%
17%
25%53%
Timber extraction by procedence (2010 -2012)
Plantations
Available naturalforests
Not availablenatural forests
Shrub land
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(53.8%) of the available land, while about 90% of the parcels share approximately one-fourth
of the land.17 A further difficulty is the lack of complete land records since, currently, only 320
municipalities out of 1,102 municipalities have an updated cadastral database, a situation
that produces a high level of legal uncertainty over land ownership—in other words, close to
59% rural farms do not have a formal tenure.18 Today there is no cadastral record for 26% of
the rural land of the country. Furthermore, 66.5% of the plots for which cadastral information
exists have information that is out of date. Moreover, since cadastral data has traditionally
been used solely for tax collection purposes, important information for planning and
prioritization of investments (such as land-use, accessible infrastructure, and ownership) is
currently missing. Inequitable distribution of access to land resources causes significant costs
for society through poverty, conflict, and displacements. Meanwhile, unclear property rights
lead to unrealized agricultural growth potential and environmental degradation (e.g.
deforestation). Thus, improved sustainable territorial development requires, as a first step,
building an integrated land administration system where cadaster and registry data are
consistent, up to date, and include a complete record of the territory. The Government of
Colombia has defined a comprehensive land administration policy that includes a
multipurpose cadaster as an enabling instrument for the formalization of land tenure rights.
It is expected that this would reduce conflict over the access and use of land, as well as conflict
over land-use management.
1.4. Contribution to Other Economic Sectors Colombia's natural capital represents a significant proportion of overall per capita wealth.
Furthermore, Colombian forests provide several ecosystem services such as the regulation of
water flows, which improve water supply in the cities and help hydroelectric generation,
particularly in mountainous areas such as the Andean region. In addition, Colombian forests
provide habitats for an exceptionally large number of endemic bird species, carbon storage,
and numerous other ecosystem services.
17 Instituto Geográfico Agustín Codazi – IGAC. Estudio de los conflictos de uso del territorio colombiano, Escala 1:100.000,
Bogotá, Colombia/2012. 18 DNP (2016) Policy document for the adoption and implementation of a rural-urban multipurpose cadastre. CONPES 3859.
Bogotá, Colombia.
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2. Current Challenges and Opportunities for Forests in Colombia
A post-conflict scenario would create opportunities (as well as challenges) to develop
approaches for co-delivering climate change mitigation, sustainable rural development, and
peacebuilding. Between the years 2000 and 2013, the Colombian economy grew at an
average rate of 4.3% per year, though, in 2015, it had a 3.1 % growth rate (DANE, 2016).
However, while economic gains have generated benefits, challenges have also arisen in terms
of ecosystem conservation and a more sustainable management of the country’s natural
capital.
2.1. Contributions of the Agriculture, Forestry, and Land-Use Sector (AFOLU) to
National GHG Emissions
The AFOLU sector is the largest source of GHG emissions in Colombia. The areas used for
agricultural, forestry and livestock activities (AFOLU) represent 45% of the Colombian
mainland area. During 2010, the AFOLU sector contributed 58% of the country’s emissions
(130,341 Gg de CO2) and 43% (76,016 Gg de CO2) for 2012. 19 Among the AFOLU
components, conversion of forest lands to pastures and crops accounts for most emissions,
followed by enteric fermentation (Figure 4). These components, however, have great potential
for reducing emissions through measures already identified and prioritized in Colombia’s
National Development Plan. Not surprisingly, to succeed in the implementation of such
measures, it is necessary to enhance coordination among environmental and non-
environmental sectors, as well as removing barriers related to infrastructure, land rights, and
peacebuilding in rural areas.
Figure 4. Distribution of GHG emissions within the AFOLU in Colombia
Source: Authors based on IDEAM et al., 2015
19 IDEAM, PNUD, MADS, DNP, CANCILLERIA (2015), Primer Informe Bienal de Actualización de Colombia. Bogota D.C.,
Colombia. Available at http://unfccc.int/resource/docs/natc/colbur1.pdf
51%
14% 13%17%
36%
11%
20%
28%
Forest landconverted to
pastures
Forest landconverted to
crops land
Soil and manuremanagement
Livestock -enteric
fermentation
2010 2012
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2.2 Causes of Forest-Cover Change in Colombia
Deforestation has been significantly
reduced since 2000, though the rate of
forest loss continues to be cause for
concern. Indeed, IDEAM just released the
results of the most recent study on forest-
cover change. The study estimates that
124,035 hectares of forests were
converted to other uses during 2015,
indicating a 12% reduction in the
deforestation rate with respect to 2014
(140,356 hectares).20 Meanwhile, between
1990 and 2010, about 6.2 million hectares
of forests were lost at a rate equivalent to
310,349 per year.
Colombia has been one of the few countries
that have voluntarily sent their forest
reference emission levels to the UNFCCC for
the period of 2000–2012. It was submitted
for the Amazon biome, which covers 40% of
the Colombian land surface and 67% of the
country’s total forest area. The forest
reference level was calculated as 82,883
hectares per year on average. An
adjustment was made for the 2013–2017
period of +10% over the value of the
average deforestation of 2000–2012. This
adjustment was justified according to the
expected post-conflict scenarios, which
suggests an increase in historical
deforestation trends. 21 Colombia aims at
presenting another national forest
reference level in 2018.
As Figure 5 shows, the highest deforestation rates are commonly found in the Amazon and
Andean regions. This is consistent with recent academic studies that highlight sub-national
(and even local) differences regarding the causes and rates of forest-cover change.22 For
example, despite high deforestation rates, studies indicate a recovery in Colombia’s forest-
cover trend between years 2000 and 2010 (a net gain in woody vegetation), mainly driven by
the implementation of economic and policy instruments for protecting forests and promoting
20 The most recent official data on deforestation is available here. 21 Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development. Institute of Hydrology, Meteorology and Environmental Studies –
IDEAM. Proposed Forest Reference Emission Level for deforestation in the Colombian Amazon Biome for results–based
payments for REDD+ under the UNFCCC, Bogota, December 15-24, 2014. 22 See for example: Sánchez-Cuervo, A.M., Aide, T.M., Clark, M.L., Etter, A. (2012), Land Cover Change in Colombia: Surprising
Forest Recovery Trends between 2001 and 2010. PLoS ONE 7, e43943.
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forest plantations.23 Differences reflect diverse biophysical, socio-economic, demographic,
institutional, and political contexts.
Table 5. Changes in annual deforestation within Colombian regions
Source: Authors based on IDEAM et al., 2016
There is a geographical overlap between municipalities with high forest carbon content and
municipalities with high values of conflict indicators. According to the Colombian National
Planning Department (DNP), 58% of the deforestation in Colombia between 1990 and 2013
happened in municipalities experiencing armed-conflicts (Figure 4). 24 This highlights the
impact of the armed-conflict in forest-cover. However, while armed conflict has contributed to
forest loss, it has also contributed to forest conservation, in part because it has forced rural
farmers to abandon their lands and it has prevented the construction of large-scale
infrastructure projects in conflict areas.
Figure 4. Municipalities experiencing conflict and deforestation (1990-2013).
Source: DNP, 201620
23 Ibid. 24 24 https://colaboracion.dnp.gov.co/CDT/Prensa/Presentaciones/Dividendo%20Ambiental%20de%20la%20Paz%20FINAL%
202016-03-16.pdf
0
20000
40000
60000
80000
100000
120000
Def
ore
stat
ion
rat
e (h
a/ye
ar)
Period
Caribe
Andina
Amazonica
Orinoquia
Pacifico
DeforestationMunicipalities in conflict
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Agricultural activities (including illicit crop cultivation) and cattle pasture are the main causes
of deforestation in Colombia. These activities relate to land acquisition processes and are
influenced by the armed-conflict, resulting in land-use competition related to legal and illegal
uses. This situation is compounded in forest frontiers and remote municipalities characterized
by low institutional presence, lack of state control, and land tenure uncertainty.
The main causes of deforestation in Colombia (i.e. Illegal crops production and cattle pasture)
are linked to violence and land acquisition. Forest-cover loss attributed to illicit crops is
primarily related to the opening of a new colonization front, while deforestation caused by
cattle pastures is related to the expansion of the agricultural frontier and the consolidation of
urban areas. In addition to causing direct deforestation, illegal crops also have a catalytic role
in the colonization process. Furthermore, inefficient land-use and low soil productivity create
further pressure to continually clear more forests and expand the agricultural frontier.
Livestock production in Colombia is linked to low levels of productivity and marginal job
creation. Government data show that agriculture only generated 2.4 million jobs in 2011 and
livestock far less, with only 0.6 million. Based on information from the IGAC (Agustin Codazzi
Geographic Institute) activity livestock area occupies 35 million ha, of which only 15 million
are suitable for it.
In a post-conflict scenario, new (non-forest smart) investments on infrastructure, energy, and
mining could increase pressure on forests. Sectoral policies to promote economic
development and create conditions for sustainable peace could influence stakeholder’s
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decisions regarding land-use and land-cover change. The infrastructure, energy, and mining
sectors contribute greatly to the economy of Colombia (reflected in their contribution to GDP,
employment, and international trade balance). Despite this, the current impacts of these
sectors on forest-cover are relatively low when compared with the impacts of other economic
activities, such as agriculture. Particularly, if the peace agreement recently signed between
the Colombian government and the FARC-EP is ratified, additional pressures to forests would
arise from land restitution programs, as well as from programs for reallocating former
combatants.25
New (non-forest smart) large-scale agricultural investments would increase pressure on
forests. Industrial agriculture may increase in the future, particularly in the event of the
ratification of the peace agreement. This stability might attract investors and lead to increases
in agricultural activities, particularly in post-conflict areas in the Amazon, Pacific, and Orinoco
regions. Other scenarios that may alter land-use patterns relate to the Government of
Colombia’s plans of increasing biofuel production over 3 million hectares by 2020.
2.3. Opportunities for Reducing Pressure in Post-Conflict Areas of Colombian
Forests
Scaling current efforts to promote climate-smart agriculture and livestock will reduce pressure
on Colombian natural forests and mitigate climate change.26 The Ministry of Agriculture and
Rural Development (MADR) is working, in collaboration with various stakeholders (including
research centers and producers associations), on the development of climate-smart
packages.27 It is expected that the adoption of these practices and technologies will be scaled
using financial incentives currently operating in Colombia, such as the Incentive for Rural
Capitalization (ICR). MADR is initially prioritizing rice, bananas, sugar cane, coffee, and
livestock. Nonetheless, the Colombian NDCs indicate that 10 crops will have improved
capabilities to adapt to climate change, and, indeed, the primary focus for the Colombian
agricultural sector is adaptation. Yet, if the linkages between adaptation and mitigation
activities are enhanced, the sector could also contribute to climate change mitigation and,
thus, reduce pressure on forests. For instance, promoting the adoption of sustainable
management practices as an adaptation measure may lead to a reduction of GHG emissions
caused by forest-cover change, fertilizer application, or flood irrigation techniques. In the case
of rice, for example, exploring options for water management (through cycles of flood and no
flood), so that the field is not permanently flooded, would reduce methane emissions. Another
option is to replace the rice cultivation in areas where there is water stress (or water stress is
expected)—in this way, the measure would constitute an adaptation measure that contributes
to climate change mitigation. Meanwhile, improved cattle pastures and silvopastoral systems
could contribute toward climate change mitigation, while reducing pressure on forests and
improving livelihoods.
25 https://www.forestcarbonpartnership.org/colombia 26 https://cgspace.cgiar.org/rest/bitstreams/60123/retrieve 27 A variety of sustainable agricultural practices already promoted in Colombia could contribute toward climate change
mitigation, if taken to landscape scale. Climate smart agriculture (CSA) is already practiced in Colombia. However, these
practices have a low adoption rate and are often implemented at non-significant scales (World Bank et al., 2015). This is in
part, because the absence of properly designed incentive packages (including technological packages, technical assistance,
and financial incentives, among other) constrain their adoption.
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Scaling up ongoing efforts to accomplish national environmental goals provides opportunities
to promote sustainable forestry and forest-smart investment. Specific opportunities arise from
the integration (and subsequent scaling) of climate change mitigation efforts to accomplish
the following goals: [i] the restoration of 1 million ha of degraded land within the 20x20 land
restoration initiative; [ii] the reduction of the area assigned to cattle pasture to 28 million ha
by the year 2019; [iii] the increase of forest plantations to 1 million ha by the year 2018
established in the “Colombia Siembra" plan; and [iv] the increase of forests plantations to 1.5
million ha proposed in the forestry development plan. Details on ongoing actions implemented
to accomplish these and other environmental goals will be provided below.
There is an opportunity to develop approaches for the simultaneous targeting of forest-based
climate change mitigation and peacebuilding.28 According to the Conflict Analysis Resource
Center (CERAC), about 76% of Colombia’s forest-cover is in municipalities experiencing
“intense,” “low-intensity,” or “intermittent” fighting since 2004.29 Aware of this important
correlation, the Colombian government has identified synergies between policies for
peacebuilding and policies for forest-carbon storage. The funds “Sustainable Colombia” and
“Colombia in Peace” were designed and are being implemented to help the country move
towards an environmentally sustainable post-conflict stage. Thus, there is a great opportunity
to contribute toward rural, low-carbon development in Colombia through transformative
interventions in forest frontiers, colonization fronts, and degraded landscapes—particularly
when considering that forest-carbon rich areas have been commonly influenced by armed-
conflicts (Figure 5).
Figure 5. Above ground carbon and armed-actions between 1990 and 2010.
Source: AGB maps developed by the Colombian Institute of Hydrology, Meteorology and Environmental Studies (IDEAM)
using Landsat satellite images (Phillips et al. 2011) and armed-conflicts data compiled by the Observatory for Human
Rights and International Humanitarian Law of the Vice Presidency of Colombia.
28 Ibid. 5 29 http://www.cerac.org.co/es/recursos/datosconflictoscolombia/
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Opportunities also emerge from the
potential integration of national funds
assigned to social and peacebuilding
programs with REDD+ results-based
financing. The Colombian government
assigns a significant amount of its annual
public budget to designing and
implementing policies, programs, plans,
and projects to achieve poverty reduction,
social inclusion, reconciliation, recovery of
territories, attention to vulnerable groups
and disabled people, and the reintegration
and compensation to victims of violence,
among other themes. Although potential
synergies have not been fully explored, the
inclusion of environmental considerations
in some of these efforts (e.g. the Forest
Ranger Families program) has resulted in
positive outcomes for the goal of climate
change mitigation. 30 This indicates a
potential for integrating environmental
considerations within social programs and
for making social programs’ budgets and
REDD+ results-based payments mutually
supportive. For this to happen, however, it
is necessary that priority areas for social
and peacebuilding programs coincide in
the territory with priority areas for forest-
based mitigation.
2.4. Opportunities for Promoting Sustainable Forestry and Forest Smart
Investments
Unsatisfied demand for primary processed wood products provides a great opportunity for
developing a sustainable commercial forestry sector in Colombia. By 2013, Colombian
industries demanded 5,5 million cubic meters of primary processed wood products, but 30%
of this demand was imported, mostly as wood boards and wood pulp (MDP, MDF). Moreover,
a recent study estimated a 70% increase in the demand of first transformation wood products
by 2030 (PROFOR, 2016). As such, if new industries are not established in Colombia, most of
this demand would be met through imports. The study also highlights that future stocks of
roundwood from Colombian plantations would not be sufficient to supply the demand (around
7 million cubic meters by 2030). Fortunately, Colombia has a reforestation potential of 18
million hectares with significant comparative advantages in terms of rotation of several
species used for timber—this is even without considering the advantages of non-timber
30 UNODC (2012) Contribución de los Programas Familias Guardabosques y Proyectos Productivos a la Mitigación del Cambio
Climático, Bogota-Colombia, p. 62.
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products and the environmental services generated by forests. Additionally, forest-cover
would contribute to the regulation of flow volumes that in turn improve water supplies,
particularly in mountainous areas such as the Andean zone.
2.5. Private Sector Engagement In the last decade, Colombia has signed free-trade agreements with seven trade blocks and
six countries. During the same period, bold measures have been taken to enhance investor
protections and ease tax burdens. The country has been recognized for several years as one
of the most aggressive reformers of laws and regulations affecting the private sector. This has
meant vast opportunities for the private sector and an appropriate investment climate for
national and foreign companies to compete in and establish new operations across all sectors
of the economy. Nonetheless, this influx of capital has also created a development gap
between urban and rural areas, reflected in a marked increase of inequality as measured by
the Gini coefficient (0.539 in 2013), which places Colombia as one of the most unequal
countries in the world and second in the region.31
The peace agreement seeks to bridge the urban-rural gap by creating economic opportunities
for the rural poor and to provide education, health, and public services to regions that still
lack development opportunities (the Amazon, Orinoquia, and Pacific regions are priorities).
World Bank/IFC interventions for deforestation-free and sustainable supply chains will be
relevant in the form of loans, equity, venture capital, guarantees, trade and supply chain
finance, and advisory services among others.
For example, the Ministry of Commerce has identified the promotion of the Bovine Meat sector
as an export priority as one of the Projects of National Economic Interests (PINE, for its
acronym in Spanish) and has, therefore, developed a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) to
increase bovine meat exports from US$93 million in 2016 to US$444 million in 2018.
Fourteen companies and two geographical clusters (the Coast/Antioquia and Santander) have
been identified. The IFC is evaluating the possibility of providing advisory services on climate-
smart livestock systems for small-holders that are part of the companies’ supply chains.
31 The World Bank, Colombia Systematic Country Diagnostic June 22, 2015
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3. National Policies & Plans Related to Forests
3.1. Country-Driven Plans & Strategies related to Forests
Building the foundations to achieve economic development with low deforestation and
sustainable peace is the main policy objective of the Colombian National Development Plan
2014–2018 (NDP). The NDP integrates national processes and proposes transformational
changes to achieve the equitable development of rural Colombia, all while giving priority to
peacebuilding in the areas most affected by the conflict.32 Specifically, the NDP proposes to
channel efforts through three transversal policy objectives: Colombia in Peace, Colombia
Equitable and Without Poverty, and Colombia Educated. To achieve these objectives, the NDP
proposes five lines of strategic action: [i] infrastructure and strategic competitiveness; [ii]
social mobility; [iii] rural transformation; [iv] security, justice, and democracy for peacebuilding
and good governance; and [vi] green growth. In relation to reducing emissions from
deforestation, the NDP set a goal for reducing deforestation by 2018 and asked the Ministry
of Environment and Sustainable Development to lead the design and implementation of the
National Policy to Halt Deforestation. The NDP also integrates the ENREDD+, the Low
Emissions Development Strategy, and other policies that would ideally contribute toward
climate change mitigation. The “Master Plan for the Orinoco Region” is among these
strategies and aims at enhancing economic and social growth in this region. Table 1
synthesizes national-level policy instruments proposed in the NDP that would have a positive
impact on forest-based emissions.
32 https://colaboracion.dnp.gov.co/cdt/prensa/bases%20plan%20nacional%20de%20desarrollo%202014-2018.pdf
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Table 1. Synthesis of national-level policy instruments proposed in the NDP contributing to
reducing emissions from the forestry sector.
Policy
Instruments Overview
Low Carbon
Development
Strategy (LCDS)
The LCDS to strengthen Colombia’s economic and social development while
meeting global requirements of efficiency, competitiveness, and environmental
performance. The sectors participating in the strategy are Industry, Energy,
Mining, Transport, Housing, Waste, and Agriculture.
Strategy for the
transformation
of the rural
sector
It proposes: (1) reducing uncertainty over land tenure by creating the National
Land Authority; (2) updating the land registry system; (3) empowering local
authorities to formalize rural land; and (4) completing collective lands titling. In
addition, it proposes the removal of areas suitable for agriculture from ZRC as an
option for land restitution programs.
Green Growth
strategy
Colombia has taken concrete steps to address green growth. A milestone was the
process of accession to OECD because, in 2012, Colombia adhered to the OECD’s
Green Growth Declaration. This Declaration urges countries to encourage green
investment and sustainable management of natural resources through various
policy instruments aimed at creating a low-carbon economy. It also seeks to
promote policy reforms that avoid or remove environmentally harmful policies
that might thwart green growth. In response to this commitment, the Colombia
National Development Plan 2014-2018 (NDP) establishes Green Growth (GG) as
an overarching strategy to reach both peace and sustainable development.
Colombia in
peace (fund)
Colombia has created a parent fund that will match Government contributions to
foreign contributions towards peacebuilding projects. Once operational, the
“Colombia in Peace” Fund will fall under the responsibility of the High
Commissioner for Post-Conflict and will be a government-matching fund for
several other funds with distinct purposes (substitution of illicit crops,
construction of tertiary roads, structuring of agricultural production projects).33
The NDP set ambitious environmental goals that contribute toward both national development
priorities and climate change mitigation, such objectives include: [i] reducing annual
deforestation in Colombia to 90,000 hectares or less by 2018; [ii] achieving zero net
deforestation in the Colombian Amazon by 2020; [iii] bringing 210,000 new hectares under
restoration by 2018 and 700.000 more by 2020; and [iv] ending loss of natural forest by
2030. Additionally, the strategic plan for Colombian Livestock proposes actions to significantly
reduce the number hectares used for cattle pasture.
The Republic of Colombia is committed to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions because it
contributes to achieving many NDP’s goals. Colombia considers that “to develop and ensure
its peace, equity, and education objectives, and to sustain them in the long term, it is essential
to identify and utilize opportunities to increase competitiveness, productivity, and efficiency
following a low-carbon pathway in the different sectors of the national economy.”34 This
33 https://colaboracion.dnp.gov.co/CDT/Conpes/Econ%C3%B3micos/3850.pdf
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constitutes an opportunity to catalyze national and sub-national efforts through the planning
of an innovative, competitive and low-carbon economy.
Colombia is planning the implementation of actions to accomplish goals established in its
intended Nationally Determined Contribution (NDCs), which include an economy-wide target
equivalent to the 20% reduction with respect to the projected Business-as-Usual Scenario
(BAU) by 2030. It also states that subject to the provision of international support, Colombia
would increase its ambition from 20% to 30%, with respect to BAU, by 2030. Colombia’s NDCs
include the AFOLU sector (agriculture, forestry, and other land-use) in the economy-wide
target, which reaffirms its commitment to reducing deforestation in the country and to
preserving carbon-rich ecosystems such as the paramos (high mountain Andean ecosystems).
Among prioritized actions, the NDC lists: [i] delimitation and protection of Colombia’s
“paramo” areas (approximately 3 million hectares); [ii] increase of more than 2.5 million
hectares in coverage of newly protected areas in the National System of Protected Areas; [iii]
integration of climate change considerations in investment projects of national and strategic
interest (PINES); [iv] improvement of capabilities to adapt to climate change and climate
variability for rice, coffee, livestock, and silvopastoral systems.
3.2. Ongoing Efforts in the AFOLU Sector: Implementation of National Plans
Colombia is already pursuing transformations in the AFOLU sector. This is consistent with its
commitment to increasing efforts to promote the sustainable use of forests and address
deforestation drivers by transforming its cattle ranching sector, strengthening its command
and control actions, and combating illegal mining, illegal logging, and illegal crops in forestry
areas. To this end, Colombia is:
• Advancing the implementation of REDD+ readiness including the strengthening of
forest and carbon monitoring system and the development of the National REDD+
Strategy (ENAREDD+);
• Implementing the program “Vision Amazonia” with financial support from the REDD+
Early Movers’ programs. This program will contribute to achieving zero net
deforestation in the Colombian Amazon by 2020;
• Designing a program for the Orinoco Region with the support of the BioCarbon Fund
Initiative for Sustainable Forest Landscapes (ISFL).
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o The Government of Colombia sees that the Orinoquia region can offer major
opportunities, both at the economic and social level, but wants to make sure
that the development path that will be taken for this “new region” also responds
to environmental sustainability.
o This approach has been described in the CONPES 3797 (dated January 12,
2014) on “Policies for an Integral Development of Orinoquia: Altillanura.”
Building on the CONPES, the National Planning Department (DNP) has
launched the Orinoquia Masterplan for the inclusive and sustainable
development of the Orinoquia region.
• Designing and implementing 4 NAMAS in the agricultural sector: [i] the Forestry NAMA,
which will cover activities on restoration and reforestation; [ii] the Productive and
Technological Reconversion of Colombia's Panela Sector; [iii] the Sustainable Bovine
Livestock; and [iv] the Sustainable Coffee Production.
• Fighting illegal logging through: [i] the implementation of the “Strategy for the
Prevention and Control of Illegal Wildlife Trafficking”; [ii] the implementation of an
agreement for the legality of the wood value chain, in which 71 institutions are
committed to supply and buy legally harvested wood; and [iii] actively participating in
The EU's Forest Law Enforcement, Governance, and Trade initiative (FLEGT). Among
achievements from efforts for fighting illegal logging, we highlight the 273,000 m3 of
wood confiscated between 2012 and 2014.35
• Restoring about 85.600 ha.
35 http://www.eltiempo.com/colombia/otras-ciudades/tala-de-arboles-ilegal-en-colombia/15589478
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4. The World Bank’s Engagement: Promoting a Forest- and Land-
Use Smart Development Approach
The WBG supports Colombia’s very ambitious climate change, forest protection, and
agricultural development goals through a growing portfolio of programs that complement and
reinforce each other. Therefore, the World Bank in Colombia develops and supports a
significant land and forest-related program, with interventions that promote climate resilience,
low-carbon, inclusive growth, and environmental sustainability.
The World Bank recognizes the importance of sustainable natural resource management for
Colombia’s economy and its ongoing efforts to consolidate peace. The 2015 Systematic
Country Diagnostic (SCD) highlighted the fact that costs of environmental degradation are
significant and that there is a need for critical investments in improved forest, land,
watershed, and natural resource management in post-conflict areas that are increasingly
opening up.36
The World Bank supports the 2014-2018 National Development Plan, which places a strong
emphasis on rural development and highlights the need for resolving land rights for IDPs,
indigenous and afro-descendent communities; promoting higher value-added agriculture,
livestock, and forestry production; improving the regulation of oil and mining sector
operations; and protecting globally important primary forests (for both biodiversity and carbon
sequestration purposes) with the financial assistance of the international community.
The land-use agenda in Colombia is also well aligned with the World Bank Group Colombia
Country Partnership Framework (CPF) FY2016-2021. The framework supports the
Government’s medium-term agenda towards a more integrated territorial development
approach. In particular, Pillar 1 of the CPF aims at balanced territorial development and the
need for enhanced capacity for natural resource management in target regions. By piloting
two large forest programs in two strategic regions (Amazon, Orinoquia) and by supporting the
36 The Colombia Systemic Country Diagnostics (2015) estimates that cost of environmental degradation was US$ 7 billion
in 2010, including the cost of air pollution, net forest depletion, GHG emissions from land use, GHG emissions from fossil
fuels and lack of improved water and sanitation. The SCD also note that a large negative component of Colombia’s Change
in total Wealth Per Capita (CWPC) is its depletion of natural capital.
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Government’s Plan “Todos Somos PAZcífico” (Pacific Region), the land-use program in
Colombia also supports the CPFs cross-cutting theme of constructing peace.
The World Bank’s land-use program in Colombia promotes the adoption of the programmatic
approach to forests, as outlined in the World Bank Forest Action Plan 2016. As such, the
ongoing cross-Global Practice land-use programs in Colombia use various World Bank
instruments, such as technical assistance, investment financing grants and loans,
development policy operations and analytic and sector work (ASA) to promote climate-smart
agriculture, critical land administration reform, policy advice, and governance support. Thus,
the World Bank’s land-use program in Colombia includes programs in two critical areas of
intervention: [i] Sustainable Forestry and Land-Use Smart Interventions, and [ii] Policy Support
and Analytical Work.
Table 2. World Bank land-use, land administration & forestry related programs in Colombia.
Type Operation Amount (US$) Source GP
ASA Potential for Commercial Plantations in
Colombia (BE) 0.4 million PROFOR ENR
TA Preparation of the OSIL Program (BE) 1.5 million BioCF ENR/AG/CC
TA Readiness to REDD+ (RE) 3.6 million FCPF ENR/CC
TA Post-Conflict TA (RE) 6.2 million MDTF SURR
TA Multi-Purpose Cadaster TA (BE) 0.3 million MDTF SURR
Investment
(UK) Sustainable Cattle Ranching Operation 20.7 million
UK-DECC/
GEF AG
Investment Heart of the Amazon Program 10.4 million GEF ENR
Investment The Amazon Signature Program (ASP) –
Regional: Colombia, Peru, Brazil 113 million GEF ENR
Investment Multi-purpose Cadaster Operation 100 million IBRD SURR
Investment Subnational Institutional Strengthening
Project (including cadaster pilots) 70 million IBRD GGP
Policy Territorial Development DPL 800 million IBRD GGP
Policy Green Growth DPL 800 million IBRD ENR
ASA
Wealth Accounting and Valuation of
Ecosystem Services Partnership
(WAVES)
1.6 million WAVES ENR
Emission
Reduction OSIL ER Program 50 million BioCF ENR/AG/CC
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4.1 Sustainable Forestry and Land-Use Smart Interventions
Sustainable Forest Management in the Amazon: The
GEF Heart of the Amazon program’s objective is the
improvement of forest governance and sustainable
land-use activities to reduce deforestation and
conserve biodiversity in close to nine million hectares
in the Caquetá and Guaviare departments of
Colombia’s Amazon region. The program supports
improved National Park System governance and
promotes sustainable land-use practices. For
example, it provides a framework for signing sectoral
agreements based on environmental conservation
standards, as well as improved management
practices in [i] oil and gas exploration and
exploitation, [ii] infrastructure improvements, and
[iii] agriculture and cattle ranching activities. It
contributes to Colombia’s Amazon Vision and its
zero-net deforestation goal for the Amazon by 2020.
Cross-boundary sustainable forest management in
the Amazon basin: The Amazon Signature Program
(ASP) will initially involve Brazil, Colombia, and Peru,
which together cover approximately 80% of the
surface area of the Amazon. The program will extend
GEF’s support to the sustainable management of the
Amazon basin through targeted interventions at the
national and regional level, securing its full potential
to generate global environmental benefits in the GEF
focal areas of biodiversity, climate change,
international waters, and chemicals. The Program
will implement sustainable development options,
including opportunities in the forest-sector, that can
help reduce poverty and stabilize the agricultural
frontier.
Promote Forest Smart and Climate Smart Agriculture in the Orinoquia region: Through
technical assistance and results-based payments, the BioCarbon Fund Orinoquia Sustainable
Integrated Landscape Program (OSILP) program will promote an economically-profitable,
socially-equitable, and environmentally-friendly development model in the Orinoquia region.
The program will develop an investment pipeline for scalable sustainable practices and
technologies in the Orinoquia region and incentivize those investments (for example, through
the participation of the IFC). This includes productive systems that, among others: [i] do not
depend on deforestation or displacement of high carbon or High Conservation Value Areas
(HCVA), [ii] increase HCVA within the production systems that are legally protected and under
conservation management, [iii] increase productivity and income at the local level, [iii] include
suitable productive species for the climate and soil conditions of the Orinoquia region, [iv]
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improve traceability and promote environmental goals along the supply chain.37 Some on the
ground activities to pilot sustainable production systems will be covered by the program
funding.
Sustainable Livestock Practices: The Mainstreaming Sustainable Cattle Ranching Project is
the country’s reference for sustainable practice in livestock production systems. The project’s
main contributions are aligned with building country capacities to scale-up investments in
sustainable livestock systems (silvopastoral systems, SPS) in Colombia via training of
technical staff in five geographical regions; strengthening service provision; and developing
technological packages appropriate to the different geographical regions. The project is also
contributing to expanding financial support to SPS, and to mainstreaming SPS systems into
Policy frameworks and policy prioritization, and it is currently supporting the implementation
of the Livestock NAMA. The project serves as a laboratory for innovation and knowledge
generation, with a strong research component to better understand the impacts of the
silvopastoral systems on biodiversity conservation, reduced deforestation, GHG emission
reduction, and livestock productivity gains. A total of 2,491 farms are participating in the
project covering 113,707 hectares. The project is implemented by a consortium led by
Fedegan (The National Livestock Federation) and integrated by the Nature Conservation
(TNC), CIPAV Foundation, and Fondo Acción.
Supporting land-use plans, land-cadaster,
registry, and land formalization pilots: The
Institutional Subnational Strengthening
Project and Technical Assistance Support to
Colombia for the Cadaster Reform support the
first phase for the implementation of
Colombia’s multipurpose cadaster, which
aims to pilot projects to test the proposed
methodologies, technical specifications, and
procedures as well as assess the costs of this
approach. The objective of the pilot phase is
to inform the detailed implementation
arrangements that will be rolled out
throughout the country between 2017 and
2025. The key aspects to be tested through
the pilots are: [i] surveying methodology and
standards, [ii] land formalization, [iii]
implementation mechanisms (with significant
private sector participation), [iv] available
information and variables (including
environmental and climate change variables)
to be included in order to define the exact information layers, and [v] costs and identification
of efficiency measures that could be adopted during the pilot scale-up phase. The project also
finances Territorial Land-Use Plans (POTs) in 61 municipalities.
37 High Conservation Value Area (HCVA) refers to natural areas with environmental, socioeconomic, biodiversity or landscape
value, as used within forestry management certification schemes, for example the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), which
introduced the concept in 1999.
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Support to progressive scaling-up of Multi-Purpose Cadaster (2017-2023): After the Pilot
Phase, a plan for the progressive scaling-up of the Multi-Purpose Cadaster and formalization
of property rights will be drafted with the goal of covering the entire territory of Colombia by
2023. Once the pilots have been implemented in 2016 (Phase 1), the progressive scaling-up
of the project will commence (Phase 2). As part of this phase, a timeline for the progressive
scaling-up will be devised by region, with the first target being the completion of the multi-
purpose cadaster in 25% of Colombia’s territory by 2018. In the scaling-up phase, priority will
be given to rural municipalities that have been highly affected by conflict, and those that are
part of strategic plans of the national government. As part of progressive scaling-up, it is
expected that the entire territory will be covered between 2019 and 2023, including both
urban and rural areas. For this scaling up, the GOC has requested an IBRD investment project
in the order of US$100 million.
Support to more balanced territorial development in the Pacific Region: The GoC developed
and adopted the regional, US$1.2 billion development plan, Todos Somos PAZcífico (PTSP),
to operationalize the priorities of the NDP 2014-2018 for the Pacific Region. Components of
the plan include improving water and sanitation services, expanding access to electric energy,
and reducing travel and transport costs and time. The World Bank will support the
implementation of the plan with two projects which are currently under preparation. The Water
Supply and Basin Sanitation Infrastructure Development Project (US$ 133.5 million) will
improve coverage and service quality for over 140,000 beneficiaries in the Municipalities of
Guapi and Tumaco. The Acuapista project (US$ 41.3 million) will improve the waterway
connectivity along the Tumaco–Guapi corridor. The World Bank further supports the GoC in
exploring the possibility of an Emissions Reduction Program for REDD+ prioritizing the Pacific
Region.
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4.2. Policy Support and Analytical Work Foster Territorial Development through improved land administration systems and
institutions: The First Programmatic Territorial Development Policy Loan supports the
Government of Colombia’s (GoC) move towards integrated territorial development through: [i]
strengthened land management systems and institutions and improved territorial planning
(this includes inventories for cadastral information, administrative agreements to delegate
cadastral functions to local governments, formalization of property rights, territorial land-use
plans); and [ii] improved fiscal information, investment prioritization, and strengthened
financial management of subnational expenditures (this includes connection of municipalities
to the Integrated Transactional Financial Territorial Information System and the design of
standard investment projects).
In-depth review and policy recommendations for the commercial forestry sector: The
PROFOR analytical study is performing an in-depth review of Colombia’s commercial forestry
sector to make specific policy recommendations on institutional and regulatory reforms
needed for this sector to become competitive and a source of economic development,
especially in rural areas. The study formulates recommendations for developing the potential
of commercial forest plantations in three regions of the country.
Support to Colombia’s Green Growth Mission: The WBG provides supports to the GoC’s vision
for a Green Growth Policy for the next 15-20 years (Misión Crecimiento Verde). In 2012,
Colombia adhered to the OECD’s Green Growth Declaration. This Declaration urges countries
to encourage green investment and sustainable management of natural resources through
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various policy instruments aimed at a low-carbon economy. It also seeks to promote policy
reforms with the aim of avoiding or removing environmentally harmful policies that might
thwart green growth. Colombia is proactively prioritizing low-carbon growth resilience and
environmentally sustainable development principles in its planning and green growth strategy.
Thus, the mission will emphasize the sustainable management of its immensely rich natural
capital (mainly non-renewable oil and mining, but also land, water, biodiversity, and forests).
WBG support to GoC’s green growth strategy will be adjusted to the specifics of the different
regions and include a rich program of policy support, investment and knowledge activities. At
the national level, a programmatic DPF series (first phase approved in November 2015 and
second phase under preparation) is promoting policy and institutional actions to support
various dimensions of green growth, including renewable energy, sustainable transport,
environmental health, and disaster risk management, among others. On the analytical side,
the WBG has designed the Green Growth and Sustainable Development Programmatic
Approach, a series of analytical work covering inputs to the Green Growth Strategy, a
continuation of Wealth Accounting and Valuation of Ecosystem Services (WAVES), analytical
studies on low-carbon agricultural growth in the Orinoquia region, and scoping work for the
Pacific region.
Support the development of an MRV system and Colombia’s National REDD+ Strategy
(ENAREDD+): Through the FCPF Readiness Grant and the BioCF Plus Grant the WBG is
deploying technical assistance to strengthen the Measurement, Reporting, and Verification
(MRV) of emission reductions from REDD+ and sustainable agricultural practices. This
includes developing an AFOLU reference level, helping implement the national forest
inventory, and strengthening capacities to monitor forest-cover changes, forest degradation
and land-use changes, in addition to the forest to non-forest. It also supports the preparation
of a national strategy to reduce deforestation and forest degradation.
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5. Government Coordination Mechanism
Colombia has made important steps in the
coordination of national climate change
action. However, due to the proliferation of
climate change, environment, sustainability,
and peacebuilding related plans and
initiatives, effective coordination of land-use
related climate finance remains an
important challenge in Colombia.
Financial and technical support to the
climate and land-use agenda is significant in
Colombia. Some of the main sources include
the World Bank, the IDB through its support
to the initiative Colombia Sostenible, the
GEF, the Global Green Growth Institute
(GGGI), UN-REDD, and the European Union.
Bilateral support, moreover, is provided by
USAID, German International Cooperation,
GIZ; German Federal Environment Ministry,
BMU; German Development Bank: KfW); the
United Kingdom; Norway; the French Agency
for Cooperation (AFD); and USAID.
One of the existing coordination mechanisms is the Financial Management Committee under
the National Climate Change System, SISCLIMA, which brings together national stakeholders
working on climate change that have previously been spread widely and with few inter-
linkages.38 SISCLIMA, created by decree in April 2016, is to become the official national
institution to coordinate and propel climate change actions. Within these actions, SISCLIMA
will coordinate the implementation of the four climate change priority strategies, the Climate
Change National Adaptation Plan (CCNAP), the Colombian Low Carbon Development Strategy
(CLCDS), the National Strategy to Reduce Deforestation and Forest Degradation (ENAREDD+),
and the Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC).
Another coordination mechanism is supposed to emerge under the IDB-administered initiative
Sustainable Colombia (Colombia Sostenible), with follows a systemic approach to addressing
rural development, climate change, environmental sustainability, and social inequality in
areas affected by armed conflict. The initiative will create a High-level Advisory Group (to be
defined), to provide strategic advice and recommendations regarding the mobilization of
international financing.
Currently neither mechanism has begun to ensure coordination and active collaboration with
all other REDD+ relevant initiatives, including the Forest Carbon Partnership Facility, the
38 High Conservation Value Area (HCVA) refers to natural areas with environmental, socioeconomic, biodiversity or landscape
value, as used within forestry management certification schemes, for example the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), which
introduced the concept in 1999.
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United Nations collaborative initiative on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest
Degradation (REDD+) in developing countries (UN-REDD), the BioCarbon Fund, the REDD+
Early Movers initiative (REM), and other bilateral and multilateral REDD+ relevant initiatives
taking place in Colombia. Rather, coordination remains focused on each of the above-
mentioned initiatives, with each having different implementation and coordination
arrangements. This leads to the duplication of efforts, where problems and bottlenecks are
addressed in similar ways in each initiative alone, without taking advantage of existing
synergies among all of them (i.e. land-use planning, sustainable supply chain analyses,
identification of low-carbon agricultural practices, adjustment of financial incentives, etc.).
Colombia plans on establishing a National Financial Instrument that can receive and channel
contributions for land-use smart policies, on the ground investments, and verified emission
reductions, including a coordination committee with balanced representation from central
government, regional governments, civil society (including the private sector), and indigenous
peoples in the governance structure of the funding instrument. However, such a mechanism
needs more support to be promoted and further analysis in terms of effective design and
structure. GGGI and the World Bank could partner on this to support Colombia to structure
such mechanism, based on the Indonesia and Ethiopia experiences.
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6. Conclusions
It is the right time to promote sustainable land-use and forest management in Colombia, since
the country is at a turning point. In the post-conflict context, finance from countries is
important to support the Government in building a lasting and sustainable peace while also
providing economic opportunities in rural areas. It is important to ensure that these are
connected to environmental objectives, and not just designed for primarily economic reasons.
The World Bank Group has a large program in the land-use sector that combines on-the-
ground interventions for forest conservation with local social impact programs for
communities and land-users, as well as with policy support and advice. This program can be
scaled up to address additional areas for a successful forest and landscape climate-smart
program. Additional resources can be channeled through existing instruments that allow
channeling technical assistance, investment funding, and payments for results, such as the
BioCarbon Fund or the FCPF. The added value of the GNU-World Bank partnership will be to
join forces, take on specific asks in line with each partner’s comparative advantages, and
maintain a productive dialogue about the shared vision of supporting Colombia in meeting its
ambitious targets in the land-use and forestry sector.
Important opportunities and asks for donor support identified in this note include:
1. The multi-purpose cadaster is part upfront investments, as it will lead to the
formalization of land tenure. This is an operation that requires significant financing—
the effort to implement this nation-wide will cost around US$1 billion, of which
Colombia has secured US$250 million through WB and IDB support. More resources
will be needed, and there is a need to help the GoC include more environmental
objectives in the multi-purpose cadaster and to accelerate its implementation,
especially in areas with high deforestation and land-use pressure.
2. In addition to the Amazon and Orinoquia, the Pacific region is a priority region for the
Government of Colombia as well as for the World Bank’s CPF. There is a need for
additional resources to support Vision Pacifico, ideally through the inclusion of the
program into BioCF ISFL or FCPF pipelines, and to explore other options to rapidly
deploy initial grants to set up a team to structure the program.
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3. The support for the creation of a National Financial Mechanism to channel
contributions for land-use smart policies, on-the-ground investments, and verified
emission reductions, including a coordination committee with balanced representation
from the central government, regional governments, civil society (including the private
sector), and indigenous peoples. However, such a mechanism needs more support to
be promoted, and further analysis in terms of effective design and structure. It is
important that donors keep pushing for this. The World Bank can provide technical
support, based on the Indonesia and Ethiopia experiences.
4. Explore the scaling-up of sustainable livestock systems through additional funding
(GCF) that builds on the World Bank’s Sustainable Cattle Ranching project and by
promoting a large public-private partnership for bovine meat exports in partnership
with the IFC.
5. Prioritize Colombia for investment funding that allows filling critical gaps to achieve
ERs. For example, Colombia should be reconsidered under the Forest Investment
Program (FIP).
COLOMBIA: Programmatic Forest Country Note
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