Celebrating World Environment Day

Jun 5, 2021

Manaus Action Plan 

Forest, Society, and Economy: New Development Model for the Future of the Planet

Since 1974, World Environment Day has been celebrated every year on June 5th across the globe. Today the GCF Task Force joins this worldwide celebration by kicking off a collective drafting of the Manaus Action Plan (MAP). In the next few months, the GCF Task Force members will convene regionally to work together on a bottom-up approach to develop a new long-term commitment for its states and provinces.

The action plan will guide the next years of the GCF Task Force, reaffirming its global effort to protect forests and climate. Four pillars—People and Communities; Knowledge, Technology and Innovation; Governance and Public Policies; and Finance and Investment—provide the framework for the document and will set the path for our member states to implement new actions in the fight against deforestation, the creation of a new forest economy, and the protection of the rights of Indigenous People and Local Communities. For over ten years, the GCF Task Force has been advancing jurisdiction-wide approaches to protecting forests, reducing emissions, and enhancing livelihoods across its states. The development of MAP will be crucial for strengthening our network and its capacity.

The global pandemic has devastated communities and destroyed the livelihoods of millions of people throughout our regions. And it has reminded all of us once again that protecting our forests and the communities that live in them is critical to protecting global public health. Most of our regions struggled greatly with the dramatic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. Yet, at the same time, we could see the support and solidarity growing among our members as we became a stronger network. It showed us more than ever the power of working together. It is together today that we celebrate the launch of the MAP collective process, which will guide the future of our organization, our work, and our calling to continue dedicating our lives to the protection of the environment.