Palikir, Federated States of Micronesia: The UN Development Programme (UNDP) Pacific Office and the Government of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), through the Department of Environment, Climate Change and Emergency Management (DECEM), are set to embark on a groundbreaking partnership in support of enhancing climate resiliency.  

The initiative aims to secure critical ecosystem services essential for the FSM's environment and economy, by strengthening climate-resilient sustainable land and coastal management contributing to Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN).

Funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), and adopted in April by the 23th FSM Congress, the project titled “Securing Climate-Resilient Sustainable Land Management and Progress Towards Land Degradation Neutrality in the FSM”, worth  US$5 million, is designed to support the achievement of the five key objectives of LDN: enhancing the sustainable delivery of ecosystem services; improving productivity to enhance food security; increasing resilience of the land and populations dependent on it; seeking synergies with other social, economic and environmental objectives; and reinforcing responsible and inclusive governance of land.

During the project document signing ceremony held in Palikir, DECEM Secretary, the Hon. Andrew Yatilman, extended a warm welcome to UNDP Pacific Office in Fiji Resident Representative, Munkhtuya Altangerel, Deputy Resident Representative in the FSM, Kevin Petrini, and Senior Policy Advisor, Yanki Ukyab, marking the official commencement of the project.

"We are very pleased to collaborate with UNDP on this significant initiative. With our longstanding partnership, we are confident that this project will yield productive and meaningful outcomes," Secretary Yatilman said.

Ms. Altangerel also affirmed the organization's dedication to supporting FSM’s journey towards climate resilience, stating "UNDP stands in solidarity with the FSM. Together, we can forge a path towards a sustainable and climate-resilient future for the people of Micronesia."

The six-year project will include working with the four States of the FSM to improve status of native species and biodiversity, create a more functional and resilient ecosystem, restore land and coastal resources production systems, strengthen community livelihood resilience, and food and health security.

A key value of the project lies in its community-based demonstration on the application of integrated landscape interventions. Community-level stakeholders will be actively engaged in planning and decision-making on best approaches to manage and use agricultural and forest land as well as coastal ecosystems to help conserve biodiversity in each of the four states. It will also help develop capacities and the required enabling frameworks through "learning-by-doing" in the selected target catchments across the FSM to raise awareness of the benefits of Sustainable Land Management/Climate Smart Agriculture.

For more information please contact:

Rosalinda Yatilman | Project Manager, DECEM | rosalinda.yatilman@decem.gov.fm  

Wanyi Wang | Programme Analyst, Resilience and Climate Change | wanyi.wang@undp.org