“Development of Equatorial Guinea’s REDD+ National Investment Plan“ Main progress since December 2016 CAFI 8th Executive Board Paris, 10 October 2017

Project team: New Chief Technical Advisor (CTA) from October 2017 2 meetings of Inter-ministerial steering committee: (December 2016, June 2017), with high-level government engagement 7 meetings of project technical Committee (MEPPI; MFE; CCMF; CN-REDD; INDEFOR; COMIFAC; UNGE) EG Government, with the technical support from FAO, has submitted in July 2017 one GCF readiness project to support REDD+ early phases (NFMS, FREL/FRL) synergies with CAFI support Political mobilization and interministerial work

Output 1. Consultation, outreach and participation plan defined and applied during the preparation of the REDD+ National Investment Plan, and its implementation. Communication strategy: presented and validated (February 2017) Consultation and awareness plan: presented and validated (May 2017) Gender strategy, including two specific workshops (February and March 2017) 29 Consultations and 32 interviews for drivers study Communication materials: t-shirts, caps and waistcoat (used during drivers study) Video (10’) on REDD+ and climate change Broad media coverage, including 12 press releases Posters and leaflets VIDEO https://youtu.be/sfpCJHElRuQ PRESS RELEASES October 2017. Field work in Annobón island related to assessment of drivers http://www.fao.org/guinea-ecuatorial/noticias/detail-events/es/c/1040948/ September 2017. REDD+ workshop for journalists http://www.fao.org/guinea-ecuatorial/noticias/detail-events/es/c/1036177/ July 2017. Validation of main DD drivers. http://www.fao.org/guinea-ecuatorial/noticias/detail-events/es/c/1024566/ July 2017. CAFI webpage. Steering committee http://www.cafi.org/content/cafi/en/home/events/Equatorial%20Guinea%202nd%20meeting%20of%20the%20NIF%20steering%20committee.html June 2017. Second steering committee http://www.fao.org/guinea-ecuatorial/noticias/detail-events/es/c/898080/ June 2017. Capacity development and REDD+ vision. http://www.fao.org/guinea-ecuatorial/noticias/detail-events/es/c/896345/ May 2017. Drivers study and consultations with key stakeholders. http://www.fao.org/guinea-ecuatorial/noticias/detail-events/es/c/885872/ April 2017. Capacity development and validation of the deforestation and degradation map. http://www.fao.org/guinea-ecuatorial/noticias/detail-events/es/c/881134/ March. Seminar on Gender mainstreaming in FAO projects in Equatorial Guinea http://www.fao.org/guinea-ecuatorial/noticias/detail-events/es/c/852425/ February 2017. Capacity development and validation of tools and products related to the National Forest Monitoring system (NFMS) for MRV http://www.fao.org/guinea-ecuatorial/noticias/detail-events/es/c/472142/ February 2017. Annual meeting of REDD+ national coordination. http://www.fao.org/guinea-ecuatorial/noticias/detail-events/es/c/471921/ January 2017. Capacity development in relation to forest monitoring with MRV functions. http://www.fao.org/guinea-ecuatorial/noticias/detail-events/es/c/468575/ December 2016. Launch of the CAFI project and first meeting of the steering committee : http://www.fao.org/guinea-ecuatorial/noticias/detail-events/es/c/461171/ (Spanish); http://www.fao.org/africa/news/detail-news/en/c/461167/ (French); http://www.fao.org/forestry/news/92790/en/ (Spanish)

Output 2. Complete spatial and qualitative study of the direct and underlying causes of deforestation and degradation of the forests of Equatorial Guinea identified in a participatory manner, including a historical analysis of the deforestation rate. 2.1 HISTORIAL ANALYSIS OF DEFORESTATION AND DEGRADATION RATE Methodology document, including agreed definitions of forests, deforestation, degradation Land cover/use map 2014 Map of annual tree cover loss 2004-2014 Map of deforestation & degradation 2004-2014, linked to land cover/use in 2014 Satellite and field sampling to assess and validate DD sub- drivers and their relative weight 8 workshops and regular trainings on SIG, RS and MRV for 28 national experts, every 3 weeks

Deforestation & Degradation map 2004-2014 Continental region Bioko island Annobón island Annual deforestation rate 2004-2014: 0.1% Annual degradation rate 2004-2014: 0.9% Forest cover 2014: 98% - Forest cover in 2014: 98% (can be split into 89.5% intact forest and 8.5% degraded forest) - Difference with Tree cover loss rate of Hansen (0.2% from 2001 to 2015) is related to the fact that Hansen merges deforestation and degradation;

Output 2. Complete spatial and qualitative study of the direct and underlying causes of deforestation and degradation of the forests of Equatorial Guinea identified in a participatory manner, including a historical analysis of the deforestation rate. 2.2 DRIVERS STUDY Literature review Qualitative assessment  perceived present/future drivers 32 Individual interviews to national and international experts (55% men and 45% women) 7 Consultation workshops at provincial level (793 participants) 22 Group consultations at district level (362 persons: 59% men and 41% women); Quantitative assessment drivers, sub-drivers and their relative contribution Use of the DD map 2004-2014 generated by the project Satellite and Field sampling in 545 hotspots (Continental region, Bioko island and Annobon island) to determine sub- drivers of deforestation and degradation and its relative contribution

Main DD drivers 2004-2014 Direct drivers of deforestation Settlements, incl. infrastructures Agriculture sector, with higher contribution of subsistence agriculture Direct drivers of degradation Timber extraction, both commercial and informal/illegal Agriculture expansion Indirect drivers Political factors: governance, economic priorities, inter-sectoral coordination, tenure Economic factors: poverty, timber demand, agriculture development Socio-cultural factors: environmental awareness, population growth No firewoord Foreseen future DD drivers Commercial agriculture Development of mining sector

Output 5. REDD+ National Strategy. National Seminar on REDD+ Strategies (May 2017): Creation of a task force Strategy roadmap Two follow up workshops to discuss vision and strategic pillars (June 2017) Organization of working groups, which are currently working on the different components