Climate change is producing effects on all ecosystems through many different mechanisms, including warming, alteration of rainfall patterns, ocean acidification, and sea level rise, among others.  Parties to the UNFCCC have made commitments to and are working towards a reduction in greenhouse gases that appear to be the source of the problems.  Even if those objectives are achieved there will be ongoing impacts from climate change.  Therefore, countries are developing mitigation, adaptation, and disaster risk reduction measures, including using nature-based solutions and/or ecosystem-based approaches, to increase the resilience of ecosystems and improve human livelihoods, which can result in numerous social, economic, and environmental co-benefits.  This target is related to SDGs 2, 13, 14, and 15 and to the UNFCCC Paris Accord.

As a small island developing state, Timor-Leste is particularly vulnerable to several aspects of climate change, including sea level rise and coral bleaching.  The country’s contribution to greenhouse gasses is minimal and the major focus must be on adaptation the expected changes, using nature-based solutions such as mangrove and other forest restoration.  Nevertheless, given the large area of degraded forests and area deforested, Timor-Leste provides an option for global carbon mitigation through reforestation. Carbon farming has become a recent initiative in the country but should be done using an ecosystem-based approach, where biodiversity considerations are an objective along with carbon storage. In the agricultural sector, crop variety improvements need to be a priority to reduce losses owing to changing climate while increasing productivity.

If done properly, forest restoration may lead to ‘biodiversity credits’.  Biodiversity credits are typically created through a certification process that verifies the environmental benefits of the conservation or restoration activities. These credits can then be sold on a market to other developers who need to offset the environmental impacts of their own projects.  Hence, mitigation actions under Target 8 should consider the possibility of realizing funds through such a credit system.

Responsible Ministry(ies): MAFFL, MTE

Actions:

1. Develop integrated climate adaptation plans for Ministries and departments including forests, agriculture, environment to minimize climate change impacts. (Ongoing programme)

2. Continue reforestation as both mitigation and adaptation to climate change, including reforesting degraded river valleys and other areas requiring soil protection. (Ongoing MAFFL programme and see Action 4)

3. Research, produce, and provide seeds for key crops (maize, rice, pulses) adapted to a drier, warmer climate to communities to improve agricultural outputs. (Ongoing MAFFL programme)

4. Conduct carbon farming projects using ecosystem-based approaches to improve landscape connectivity, restore heterogeneous forests, recover mangroves, and taking into account conservation and restoring biodiversity.