Results of the CSO self-selection process for observers for Africa, Asia, Latin America and developed countries to the UNREDD Policy Board announced
The Bank Information Center, on behalf of the UN-REDD Programme and the Independent Advisory Group on Forests, Rights and Climate Change, has the pleasure to announce the winners of the self-selection process for civil society observers to the UN-REDD Policy Board. Four new observers were selected, one to represent each of the regions where UN-REDD works, and one for the developed countries. We’d like to thank all of the civil society organizations who were nominated for the observer positions and all the groups who participated in the selection process.
For Africa new observer organization is the NGO Coalition for Environment (NGOCE), an environmental network of NGOs and CBOs with over 45 members based in Nigeria. NGOCE has as its primary focus the protection of the Cross River State environment, which encompasses the last remaining tropical rainforest in Nigeria, 90 per cent of which is located in Cross River State, as well as the mangrove ecosystem.
For Asia the new observer organization is the Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI), an independent non-profit civil society organization based in Pakistan that serves as a source of expertise for policy analysis and development, policy intervention, and policy and program advisory services. You can learn more about SDPI at their website: http://www.sdpi.org
For Latin America, the new observer organization is the Ut’z Che’Association, a Guatemalan umbrella organization of 36 community-based indigenous and farmers’ organizations representing some 30,000 members. Ut’z Che’ is also a member of the National Climate Change Table and the National Alliance of Community Forestry Organizations. You can learn more about Ut’z Che’ at: http://www.utzchecomunitaria.org/
For the developed countries the winner is the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), based in the USA. EDF works on the most urgent environmental threats to the climate, oceans, ecosystems and people’s health. EDF has over 700,000 members who provide financial support. EDF has a strong domestic focus for its on-the-ground programs, but its International Program focuses on the UNFCCC negotiations, related policy making fora, and the large International Financial Institutions such as the World Bank. For more information about EDF, see: http://www.edf.org/climate/amazons-indigenous-peoples-protecting-forests-and-livelihoods
The term of the newly selected CSO representatives begins with the 9th UN-REDD Policy Board meeting in the Republic of Congo in October 2012.