�������Clima Carpathia� �A regional vision of global importance��----- for consultation -----��Toby Aykroyd FCC trustee and Wild Europe������ ��

��Overview of Clima Carpathia�

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• Dedicate 50% of Carpathian range

for a conservation-based economy

• Only 6.12% of the seven countries
• Address trio of crises: biodiversity

loss, climate change, rural decline

• Member State led, with EC and

international support

• Public-private partnerships based

on ecosystem services, enterprise

and local community support

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Main objectives

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1) Reverse biodiversity decline, network

of large strictly protected core areas

2) Address climate change through

mitigation and adaptation

3) Support sustainable regional

economic growth

4) Provide a scale model for replication

elsewhere in Europe and globally

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Background: a unique ecological-economic opportunity

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• Carpathian range 17 million has,

large unspoiled landscapes

• High proportion biodiversity-rich,

natural & semi-natural habitats

• Around 50% forested, high carbon

storage virgin, primary, old growth

• Diverse cultural heritage
• Low population density, low

income traditional rural economy

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A favourable policy context

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• 30 x 30 EU and CBD Montreal targets,

EU Bio Strategy 10% strictly protected

• The EU Green Deal, PES agenda
• UN Decade of Ecosystem Restoration
• Carpathian Convention Vision towards

carbon neutrality, resilient development,

new biodiversity strategy

• Crucial role of carbon rich habitats for

new 55% Paris Climate Targets

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 �The Fundatia Conservation Carpathia (FCC) model 1/2

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• 250,000 hectare National Park vision
• Large scale protection & restoration of natural habitats:

forest, montane, riparian, wetland

• Strong support for local community income, employment
• Trial carbon offset - 57,000 tpa climate change mitigation

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 �The Fundatia Conservation Carpathia (FCC) model 2/2

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• Biodiversity grants, new bio credit system in development
• Tourism revenue: accommodation, visitor centres, guidance, retail and crafts
• Ancillary enterprise: model farm, agri product support, food hub in adjacent areas
• Education centre, welfare & cultural identity support

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Scaling up FCC success

• Network of strictly protected areas
• 44% of 1.05 Gt above ground carbon

storage on 25% area enables targeting

• Biodiversity grants, potential credits
• Private sector finance models for PES,

‘eco-proofed’ against misallocation

• Multi-benefit packages for large scale

EU grant engagement

• Carpathia Convention framework for

closer national cooperation

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Prospective funding sources – some examples

• EU key instruments: Cohesion Fund, ERDF, INTERREG, Climate Fund, Social Fund; DG Agri (forest protection, EAFRD, CAP bio), DG Envi (bio, LIFE+), Clima, Regio
• State: environment, rural, social, SME related ministries, sovereign bonds (DLSB)
• Public institutions: European Investment Bank, European Climate Bank
• International agency and NGO funders
• Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) related support: carbon storage and sequestration, biodiversity, flood, water quality – credits, (good) offsets, service sponsorship; tourism levies
• Private sector: foundation, corporate philanthropy/CSR, NGO, individual philanthropy
• Innovative funding, blended finance, green bonds, debt swaps (DFN)

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Actions to date

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• Introduction at our 2019 Bratislava

conference, host President Caputova.

Side meeting: Carpathian Convention,

FCC, EC, EP, IUCN, WWF CEE, FZS

• Concept document for consultation
• Brussels meeting Humberto Delgado

and natural resources team

• Dialogue with EC Commissioner
• Introduced to Carpathian Convention,

7 state ministries 11^th October 2023

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Next steps for �Clima Carpathia…..

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• Feedback & advice from Convention Member States etc
• Potential interim coordinator with ‘Oversight Group’
• Develop proposal further together, assessing FR potential
• Full cost-benefit feasibility study by the EC
• Evaluate relevance for other regions ………

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Relevance for the Caucasus, and beyond?

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• Different actors, same principles
• Exchange of good practice
• Wider horizons – the GDP argument: 2.5% vs 97.5%
• Thinking big, multi-skill capacity, ecological-economy,

new alliances – across Europe

• The global challenge – European credibility for large scale

conservation proposals: Amazon, Congo etc

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