FAO and Government of The Bahamas Strengthen Forest Monitoring and Climate Finance Capacity Through National Workshops

The Forestry Unit of the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (The Bahamas) supported by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), hosted two  workshops on National Forest and Climate Strategy and on the Concept Note to the Green Climate Fund (GCF), respectively from 24–25 November 2025, in Nassau, New Providence.

These workshops form part of the GCF-funded “Preparation of Strategic Framework to Reduce Deforestation and Forest Degradation” project, a joint initiative aimed at strengthening The Bahamas’ forest monitoring systems to support climate change adaptation and mitigation goals while enhancing access to climate finance mechanisms such as the Green Climate Fund. In addition, the workshops provided a participatory space for identifying national and subnational priorities for the development of the Forest and Climate Strategy. Through expert presentations, capacity-development sessions, and collaborative discussions, participants from key government ministries, non-governmental organizations, civil society, and academia explored ways to improve national forest data systems, advance transparency, and align national priorities with international climate finance opportunities. Discussions also focused on drivers of deforestation and forests degradation, relevant policies and measures, institutional roles, and opportunities to scale up ongoing initiatives, contributing to more robust monitoring systems, and informed decision-making for the forest sector.

“The recent in-person workshops with the FAO demonstrated the power of technical cooperation. By bringing our teams together, we were able to identify national priorities, refine our strategy, and build a shared vision for a forest monitoring system that supports both conservation and climate resilience.”, said Danielle Hanek, Acting Director, Forestry Unit.

This project is a response to the country´s efforts to mobilize climate finance. The project aims to build and develop a robust strategic framework for reducing deforestation and forest degradation; enhance the adaptive capacity of national institutions; and improve the management and monitoring of forest resources. This initiative is crucial for The Bahamas to access climate finance and implement effective mitigation and adaptation strategies in the forest sector.