Saint Lucia’s efforts to safeguard forest resources from the impacts of climate change, while harnessing terrestrial ecosystems and ecosystem services to reduce vulnerability and build resilience, are currently hindered by a number of critical technical, institutional, organizational and financial barriers. These include (i) insufficient data and information systems for understanding climate impacts and vulnerabilities in the forestry sector; (ii) limited institutional capacity to mainstream climate change adaptation into forestry sector policies and planning processes; (iii) poor targeting and engagement of local communities and vulnerable groups in land use planning and design of inclusive adaptation strategies in the forestry sector; and (iv) inadequate private sector investment in forest-based adaptation solutions and livelihood development opportunities.

Against this background, the goal of the readiness is to advance adaptation planning in Saint Lucia’s forestry sector by building the capacity of the Forestry Department to mainstream the sectoral NAP for resilient ecosystems (RESAP) into forestry and land use-sector policies, multi-stakeholder engagement processes and small-scale private sector investment strategies. The proposal presents a set of activities and expected deliverables that will ultimately contribute to achieving the GCF strategic objective of adaptation planning, including updated sectoral policies with adaptation mainstreamed; multi-stakeholder coordination mechanisms and institutional and technical capacities enhanced for adaptation planning at multiple levels; information systems and evidence on adaptation solutions in forestry sector strengthened; and small-scale private sector engagement catalyzed for investment in forest-based adaptation solutions.