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Dear reader,
As we approach the end of the year, I am looking forward to meeting our development partners at the upcoming Partnership Council meeting in December, where we will have the opportunity to discuss our collective progress, share new insights, and strengthen our partnerships for a more sustainable future.
For our fall newsletter, we are excited to highlight a range of impactful stories. From Chad’s path toward sustainable tourism and ecosystem services to an in-depth look at "The Changing Wealth of Nations," we explore the vital role of natural resources in shaping resilient economies. We also feature a video on the economic benefits of nature-based tourism and share how Dominica is leveraging its forests for climate resilience and development. In addition, we are showcasing a diverse array of events and initiatives driving forward sustainable development.
I hope you find these articles inspiring and that they fuel continued collaboration as we work together to create lasting, positive change for both people and nature.
Kind regards,
Siet Meijer
Program Manager, PROGREEN
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Stakeholder Consultations on Ecosystem Services near Ouadi Rime Ouadi Achime Nature Reserve, Arada, Chad (Colm O’Driscoll)
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PROJECT UPDATE: Initial findings from an assessment of the tourism and ecosystem services (ES) potential in Chad’s Ouadi Rime Ouadi Achim Wildlife Reserve revealed the significant role of Payments for Ecosystem Services (PES) in supporting local communities and conservation efforts.
Key consultations with local stakeholders, including female union leaders, canton chiefs, and youth representatives, have identified forage for grazing as a priority ecosystem service, essential to Chad's pastoral economy but threatened by overgrazing and land-use conflicts. The study also highlights the importance of ecosystem management for biodiversity and ecological health, emphasizing how local communities are more likely to adopt sustainable practices by understanding the economic value of ES.
The next phase will evaluate carbon potential, non-timber forest products (NTFPs), and land degradation, which will inform a proposed $100 million RESILAND project to mitigate degradation and build resilience in Chad. This effort aligns with broader climate adaptation programs in the Sahel region.
Additional findings, along with a full report, will be shared once publicly available.
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At COP29 in Baku, a well-attended panel on Sahel Resiland: Landscape Restoration for Climate Action and People highlighted resilience and actionable solutions for the Sahel region.
Moderated by Stéphane Hallegatte, World Bank Group Senior Climate Change Adviser, ministers from Burkina Faso, Chad, and Mali shared their vision for creating green jobs and enterprises to improve community livelihoods and reduce migration in the Sahel region.
The session also featured Rokiatou Traore, founder of Herou Alliance, who shared how the company is integrating rural farmers, women, and youth into sustainable moringa production, supporting both climate adaptation and job creation. Belem Alizèta, president of Pag-la-yiri in Burkina Faso, emphasized the economic and environmental benefits of investing in shea tree productivity.
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Panel discussion on Sahel RESILAND at the COP29 World Bank Group Pavilion, Baku, Azerbaijan (Joana Das Neves Lopes)
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The Changing Wealth
of Nations
Revisiting the Measurement of Comprehensive Wealth
The World Bank Group’s The Changing Wealth of Nations (CWON) program provides the most comprehensive wealth database currently available, which can provide insights on the sustainability of economic progress, complementing GDP.
CWON’s wealth measure includes a broad portfolio of assets - including produced capital, human capital, renewable and nonrenewable natural capital, and financial assets. By monitoring per capita trends in real GDP and real wealth together, it is possible to assess whether GDP growth is achieved by growing or depleting the productive base of the economy.
This fifth edition builds on CWON’s tradition of incremental improvements as each update of its global database improves the methodology and expands asset coverage.
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Economic Benefits of Nature-Based Tourism
Nature-based tourism can help countries achieve their development goals while promoting biodiversity conservation. In destinations with rich natural assets but limited economic opportunities, nature-based tourism can create jobs and diversify rural economies.
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Learn more about how the World Bank Group is investing in projects that help countries protect their natural assets, grow and diversify nature-based tourism businesses, and share the benefits from tourism with local communities. | | | | |
Forests For Us: Dominica Harnesses Nature for Climate Resilience and Economic Development
In the climate vulnerable Caribbean region, Dominica is on a path to climate resilience. With support from PROGREEN and the Global Environment Facility, the government and the World Bank Group are working together to restore nature, build a strong regulatory base for forests, and spur economic development through ecotourism.
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In Dominica, nature holds the keys to a resilient future. Watch this video on their sustainable forest economy. | | | |
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The PROGREEN funded Security of Tenure in Forests of East Asia and Pacific technical assistance program has supported Lao PDR in drafting an Action Plan to enhance land | |
tenure security for 24% of the population living in state forestlands, ensure sustainable forest management, and support small-holder tree plantations. The plan was signed on October 31st by Ministers Bounkham Vorachit and Linkham Douangsavanh, with co-financing announced by German and Swiss development agencies. | | |
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On October 10, 2024, the Regional Environmental Centre for Central Asia (CAREC), with support from PROGREEN and other partners, hosted the first regional meeting in Tashkent to harmonize policies for | |
restoring and protecting transboundary landscapes across Central Asia. The World Bank Group’s $256 million RESILAND CA+ initiative, covering Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, aims to restore degraded landscapes while enhancing resilience to land degradation impacts. Government officials from diverse sectors, including nature preservation, agriculture, and forestry, gathered to develop policies and launch a Central Asian Dialogue Platform focused on collaborative landscape restoration. This high-level regional effort garnered significant media attention across Central Asia. | | |
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The 8th Mediterranean Forest Week (MFW) took place in Barcelona from Nov 4-8, 2024, organized by FAO and hosted by Spain, with support from PROGREEN and the World Bank Group’s MENA Environment Department. Over 100 participants from Mediterranean countries and global organizations gathered to discuss key issues such as Forest Landscape Restoration, Wildfires, Biodiversity, and Green Cities. | |
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The World Bank Group presented its global and MENA forest initiatives, including the PROGREEN-financed strategy for Mediterranean forests.
In a high-level session, the World Bank Group emphasized the need for a people-centered approach, scaling up finance, and engaging the private sector, particularly small and medium enterprises, to enhance forest resilience and adapt to climate change.
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Air Quality Assessment for Tashkent | | | |
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Photo Sources
Header: photostory / Shutterstock
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