Green Climate Fund approves $85.31 million payment for Mexican forests

According to FAO, the financing will support a six-year project linking forest conservation with economic opportunities for rural communities. As the entity accredited by the Green Climate Fund, FAO will implement the project in close cooperation with Mexico's National Forestry Commission (Conafor). The project is expected to reach 33,720 people directly and indirectly, with women accounting for 30% of beneficiaries.

The financing will support the protection and sustainable management of forests across 205,000 hectares through Environmental Services Payment programmes. The activities will be concentrated in the states of Chiapas, Guerrero, Jalisco, Michoacán, Oaxaca, Quintana Roo and Yucatán. Indigenous peoples, Afro-Mexican communities and local communities will be included in the project through inclusive and culturally appropriate approaches. The project will also fund 120 productive initiatives managed by women.

One pillar of the project aims to reduce the pressure of unsustainable livestock practices on forests. Under this component, 1,600 production units will be supported for the rehabilitation of degraded pastures, regenerative grazing, development of feed production, protection of soil and water, and the establishment of silvopastoral systems that integrate trees, animals and grasslands. Approximately 12,000 participants will receive hands-on training and technical assistance through 1,200 Field Schools; investments in seven regional value chains are expected to enhance production, traceability and market access, without deforestation.

Conafor will be responsible for Environmental Services Payments, productive restoration, regional coordination and initiatives managed by women. FAO will support sustainable forest management, community forestry, restoration, forest monitoring, Field Schools and deforestation-free value chains, while overseeing the project's administrative, financial and technical management. By 2032, the reinvestment is expected to deliver approximately 262,801 tonnes of CO₂ equivalent in additional emission reductions.