What is Redparques?

1. Redparques: A commitmenttowards Conservation Amazon Ecosystem Based Conservation Vision – Progress and Priorities Initiative from the National Protected Area Systems in the Amazon RegionJulia Miranda LondoñoRedparques Regional Coordinator11 September 2012

2. What is Redparques? REDPARQUES is the technical alliance of public institutions in charge of the administration and management of protected areas of 19 Latin American countries. Created for exchange experiences and mutual strengthening in order to contribute to the conservation of biological diversity in the region and the development of the national systems of protected areas. The regional office of FAO in Chile serves a Technical Secretariat.

3. Context :The Amazon Biome • The biome covers 6.7 million Km2, spans across eight countries and one territory. • More than 10% of the world’s known species. • The largest remaining contiguous tropical rainforest (53%) on Earth. • Over the past 30 years, the Amazon has lost more than 520,000 km2 of forest responsible for up to 20% of all global CO2 emissions

4. Protected Areas are recognized as fundamental tools in the articulation and implementation of sustainable development and conservation strategies. • As for today, this biome contains up to 2,16 % of all protected areas worldwide and 78% of protected areas that were established in the world between 2003 and 2009

5. Background • Protected areas systems are also an essential part of the global response to climate change. • They store 15% of terrestrial carbon and help address climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions. • They maintain and supply essential services upon which people depend – disaster risk reduction, water supply, food and public health. • They also contribute towards enhanced community-based adaptation in the face of climate change. • The recent protected area expansion in the Brazilian Amazon (in great part due to ARPA) it’s on its own responsible for 37% of the total decrease in deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon between 2004 and 2009.

6. Process and Progress • The II Latin American Congress for National Parks and other Protected Areas(Bariloche, Octobre 2007) The Bariloche Declaration recognize the importance of developing ecological networks and protected areas systems at all levels, with a particular emphasis on regional focuses, including the Amazon region, as a way to build complementarities with national systems of protected areas and achieve a greater representation in conservation, in order to maintain ecological services, protect natural environments and contribute to climate regulation. • Strategic Planning Meeting of REDPARQUES (Puerto Morelos, May 2008) The need for subregional exercises on conservation priorities was identified.

7. Process and Progress • Workshop: Guidelines for a Regional Conservation Vision (Bogotá, August 2008): A workplan was developed to contribute to the implementation of the CBD PoWPA in the Amazon Biome. A work plan was settled up on: • Conservation goals and priorities defined by the countries of the region. • Monitoring and effectiveness assessment of Amazonian Protected areas. • Financial sustainability of the Region. • Relation between cultural diversity and social participation within PA systems.

8. Process and Progress • Subregional Workshop for Capacity Building in Latin America and the Caribbean - CBD (Salinas, September 2008): A parallel meting was conducted by the Amazonian countries where they discussed and agreed to support the work agenda agreed in Bogota. • IV World Conservation Congress (Barcelona, October 2008): Motion 073 to “Build a Vision of Conservation for the Amazon Biome” was approved by the IUCN, in order to guaranty a greater participation of the administrators, commissions and members of IUCN, as well as of donors and other organizations towards the effective implementation of the initiative.

9. Process and Progress • Amazon Regional Conservation Opportunities Workshop - Bogotá, May 2009: Definition of criteria and methodological route to identify conservation opportunities and priorities through national and regional analysis, to complement national actions within a regional perspective. • Management Effectiveness in Amazon Protected Areas Workshop - Curitiba, September 2009: Identification of a common framework (which include the development of a translation manual for ME indicators), to integrate information on protected areas management effectiveness and provide related data to the world data base (WDPA).

10. Process and Progress • Conservation Experiences of Local and Indigenous Communities in Protected Areas of the Amazon region Workshop (Georgetown, April 2010): Sharing experiences of communities regarding co-management and identification of constraints and opportunities to carry out joint conservation processes. • Meeting of Directors of Amazonian countries Protected Area Systems and supporting institutions (Lima, August 2010): Review and approval of the Amazon Conservation Vision Action Plan and Identification of opportunities of collaboration with cooperation agencies. • Revision of the Action Plan based on the Decisions adopted at the CBD COP 10 (Bogotá, May 2011)

11. Main results in the implementation of the initiative • MOU signed by REDPARQUES, WWF, IUCN and the CBD Secretariat. • Ministers from the Environment of the Amazon Countries supported the regional report and action plan at the CBD COP 10 (2010-2020). • The Decision X/31 adopted at CBD COP 10 recognized the regional initiative. • Involvement of indigenous organizations. • Donors to support the action plan - Expression of Interest to the Life Web Initiative. • Articulation with the Biodiversity Action Plan (ACTO).

12. Regional Conservation Vision for the Amazon Biome • 2020 Vision Consolidate a shared ecosystem-based approach of conservation of biological and cultural diversity of the Amazon Biome, which contributes to the effective administration and management of protected areas systems and the maintenance of goods and services, integrity, functionality and resilience of the Biome against the effects of natural and anthropogenic pressures and in the context of climate change. • Financial needs in the mid-term (4 years): 5 million euros

13. Expected Results and Activities

14. Expected Results and Activities

15. Expected Results and Activities

16. Progress on fundraising for the Action Plan (2010-2020) • Concept presented to BMU IKI: “Building Resilience of the Amazon Biome: Protected Areas as an Integral Part of Adaptation to Climate Change”. The concept was approved and a full proposal will be presented early October. • Proposal under preparation for EC Targeted Projects: “Support to the implementation of the Amazon Ecosystem Based Conservation Vision – Initiative from the National Protected Area Systems in the Amazon Region” • Other proposals

17. Some reflections • The Amazon Vision is a clear example on success in the implementation of a WCC Resolution. • The leadership and support of the agencies’ Directors together with the CBD Secretariat, IUCN and WWF has been essential for the recognition of the initiative as part of the implementation of the PoWPA. • The work in partnership with stakeholders has been key for the conservation of the Amazon. • There is a need of setting-up donor coordination at regional, sub-regional and national levels aiming at implementing the vision’s Action Plan. • Complementarity with the Biodiversity Action Plan (ATCO), Regional Biodiversity Strategy (CAN). • It has strengthened a network of beneficiaries, partners and actors in the region, for which it can be foreseen as model to other regions.