This project aim to reduce and reverse forest degradation in the productive landscapes of the Venezuelan Andean region by creating a favorable environment for biodiversity conservation and sustainable use with emphasis on agroforestry systems.

The landscape of the Andean region, which is home to most of the country's biological diversity, is currently subject to market forces that discourage investments in sustainable production systems at the scale necessary for long-term conservation. Moreover, non-governmental efforts for sustainable production are scattered and small-scale, thus innovative investments are needed to diversify production and develop new markets to protect against price fluctuations, which can lead to negative impacts on the environment.

Given its non-traditional and innovative nature, GEF funding will provide the necessary incremental investments for the development of sustainable production chains, including appropriate technology, capacity building for technical production, coordination of producer groups, assisted development for dissemination of marketing strategies, and land use planning. In addition, to ensure that biodiversity benefits continue to increase and to strengthen efforts to incorporate sustainable products into the country brand, the incremental GEF investment will support the development of a comprehensive monitoring and evaluation/verification system.

The total project cost will be US$ 51,010,807. This includes a national contribution of US$ 45,681,355 (89.5%) and a GEF grant of US$ 5,329,452 to cover the incremental costs.  For more information click here.