The Andean forest ecosystems of South America cover a little over 30 million hectares still in their natural condition. Some 69 million men and women settled in constantly-expanding cities and towns live around them, using and enjoying their ecosystem services. The countries of the Andean region have been taking important steps to position the relevance of Andean forests in public policies to combat climate change, since these ecosystems play a strategic role in biodiversity conservation, including water regulation and conservation, besides carbon capture.
The Andean Forests Programme is a regional initiative that helps the Andean population living in and around the Andean forests to reduce its vulnerability to climate change and to receive social, economic and environmental benefits from the conservation of the Andean Forests. In order to achieve this goal, information is generated and disseminated using the research conducted in the Andean forests which detects, validates and shares the existing good practices which will eventually be taken to a political level. The goal of this programme is to raise regional, national and local interest in the conservation of the Andean forests and to promote synergies between strategies for climate change adaptation and mitigation.
The Andean Forests Programme, as part of the Global Programme Climate Change of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), combines expertise, practical relevance and the establishment of regional and international guidelines on the subject. It contributes to and is based on existing successful experiences from specialized actors in international agendas on the issue of forests and climate change. Is implemented in the countries that form part of the Andean mountain range arc, and facilitated by the consortium HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation Peru and Condesan.
- Watch the following video: http://www.bosquesandinos.org/programa-bosques-andinos-subtitulado/
