Terminal Evaluation of Project “International Commission on Land Use Change and Ecosystems”, GF/3010-08-20 (4A21) GEF ID: 3811

Abstract

The Global Legislators Organization for a Balance Environment (GLOBE) is a network of legislators that brings together legislators, scientists, economists and policy experts to focus on developing coordinated legislation across the major economies. The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment cited land use change as the most important factor contributing to ecosystem service degradation. This project, implemented by GLOBE, was driven by the need to more meaningfully engage legislators, as a key constituency, in the creation of a legislation that places a value on ecosystems and addresses the multiple challenges of land use change. As stated in the Project Document the main objective of the project was to ‘assist legislators and parliamentarians in a global discourse on developing regulatory tools and applied public policy to address land use change and ecosystem degradation’. GLOBE is leading the way in demonstrating the important role legislators can play in promoting the sustainable use of natural resources. The International Commission on Land Use Change and Ecosystems established by the project represents the first and only parliamentary body pushing the agenda on sustainable land use. Such a process is key to overcoming political barriers on these issues, and thereby facilitating the development of effective legislation. In two years the project has successfully established a network of parliamentarians from almost 40 countries. There has been significant engagement with legislators who have shown a huge amount of interest. The project’s initial focus was on the G8+5 countries1 , however the Commission evolved to incorporate countries outside this group with important forest resources and marine resources, while the CBD at Nagoya towards the end of the project period effectively opened up the Commission to all interested countries. The project was executed through a cooperation agreement between UNEP GEF and the GLOBE. The total cost of the project, including co-financing and in-kind contributions, was US$ 2,000,000.