| Project Detail |
Deforestation and forest degradation in Timor-Leste has continued since 1975. The nationwide forest survey conducted in 2012 by JICAs grant aid has revealed that 184,000 ha was deforested during 10 years from 2003 till 2012 and 171,000 ha of dense forest was converted to sparse forest or agricultural land in the same period.
The main drivers of deforestation and forest degradation in Timor-Leste are (i) shifting cultivation and unplanned conversion of forests to agricultural land, (ii) overexploitation of fuelwood, (iii) extensive free grazing, and (iv) forest fires caused by human activities mentioned from (i) to (iii). Therefore, to reduce deforestation and forest degradation, it is critical for the community people to change their traditional uses of land, natural resources, and farming practices.
To address the situation, JICA conducted a diagnostic survey in Comoro and Laclo river basins during 2005 and 2010 to assess the natural resources and peoples livelihoods. Based on the findings in the survey, JICA developed the watershed management guideline and proposed an approach to enhance natural resource management by the rural community called "Community-Based Natural Resources Management (CBNRM)".
CBNRM is a mechanism to enhance natural resource management conducted by the rural community by introducing traditional customs to inform prohibited acts called "Tara Bandu" in the enforcement of village regulations for sustainable natural resource management. Livelihood improvement activities are also included as a part of the mechanism, which encourages people to change their perception and behaviour in natural resource uses for the better and contribute to reducing poverty in the community.
The following JICA technical assistance (TA) from 2010 till 2015 (Phase 1) conducted pilot projects to test CBNRM mechanism in the target villages in Comoro and Laclo watersheds and completed the mechanism based on the lessons learned in the pilots. Phase 2 of JICA TA on CBNRM (2016-2022) continued conducting the pilots of the upgraded CBNRM in more target villages, not only building the capacity of the government stakeholders but also supporting institutional development by providing the drafts of CBNRM road map, ministerial order, technical guidelines, etc. for scaling up the CBNRM mechanism in other watersheds in the future.
During JICA TA Phase 2, the Funding Proposal which aimed to obtain the financial source of the Green Climate Fund (GCF) for CBNRM expansion was prepared and submitted to GCF. After it was approved by the board committee of GCF in February 2021, it opened the way to start in 2022 of the 1st Project co-financed by JICA and GCF with the contributions from the government of Timor-Leste on CBNRM expansion in 74 target villages in four critical watersheds, Comoro, Laclo, Caraulun and Tafara (JICA-GCF Project).
JICA will implement the Project providing the technical assistance in enhancing the capacity of the government stakeholders, supporting institutional development for CBNRM, and introducing carbon offset plantation and community forestry. JICA also manages the CBNRM implementation in the target villages as the Accredited Entity (AE) and the Executing Entity (EE) of GCF.
The Overall Goal
The Community-based Natural Resource Management (CBNRM) mechanism with Community Forestry (CF) is extended in more than half of the priority watersheds in collaboration and coordination with relevant stakeholders.
Project Purpose
Institutional and individual capacities of vulnerable upland communities in the project sites and relevant government and non-governmetn organizations for reducing forest degradation and deforestation are enhanced through the application of the CBNRM mechanism. |
