Latin American Exchange Meeting about adaptation to climate change and environmental financial mechanisms takes place in Lavras, Minas Gerais state (Brazil) from 30 May to 4 June 2015.
The region is increasingly experiencing the profound effects of changing climate patterns. A meeting of the Latin American network of Hanns R. Neumann Stiftung took a further important step forward in implementing the coffee & climate initiative in Latin America.
The exchange brought together 16 participants, representing network members of PROCAFE from El Salvador, Mesa de Café Trifinio (El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras), Cenicafé (Federación Nacional de Cafeteros), EPAMIG (Empresa de Pesquisa Agropecuária de Minas Gerais) and Hanns R. Neumann Stiftung Brazil, Colombia, Guatemala and Honduras.
The results of the DEG (German Investment Corporation) project “Improving access to climate finance for small producers in Brazil” where shared with partners of the Latin American coffee sector.
The Colombian partners showed a great interest in possibly replicate it in the region. A case study examining rural insurance mechanisms against adverse climatic events in two municipalities in southern Minas Gerais state will soon be available in the c&c toolbox.
Significant progress was made in identifying common potentials in adaptation options such as different varieties, cover crops and shade trees. Fieldtrips to smallholder and medium sized farms in the surrounding area exemplified adaptation measures being carried out in the southern part of Minas Gerais.
During the presentations, participants from Colombia showed substantial interest in inspecting measures being implemented in Trifinio, since both regions present similar climatic conditions. First documented findings about the effectiveness of adaptation options can be found in the c&c toolbox.
Participants agreed that here is a set of good agricultural practices that help build more resilient production systems, but these practices need to be evaluated scientifically. Regarding monitoring tools, research institutes in the countries follow many common lines of research, however, very diverse means of evaluation are being used in the regions.
Accordingly members supported the idea of a research project which would test the methods and join data on the outcomes of the actions being undertaken. The aim is to bring greater transparency and facilitate access to information on successfully implemented measures.
The exchange of experiences and information is considered vital to identify success stories that can be adapted and replicated in other contexts in the region, enabling less errors and more effective actions.
A detailed report on the outcomes and further steps defined during the meeting will be made available shortly.
