The Central American Bank for Economic Integration approved a $24 million extension of an existing line of credit, funds that will be invested in the implementation of sustainable production models and forest management and reforestation.
These funds will be used to increase financing for the "Bio-CLIMA Project: Integrated Climate Action to Reduce Deforestation and Strengthen Resilience in the Bosawas and Rio San Juan Biosphere Reserves" on Nicaragua's Caribbean Coast.
With a line of credit from CABEI, the Nicaraguan government will finance projects focused on the transformation of extensive cattle raising, agriculture and wood exploitation.
The Board of Directors approved the financing proposal for the Bio-CLIMA Project: integrated climate action to reduce deforestation and strengthen resilience in BOSAWÁS and the Rio San Juan biosphere in Nicaragua, for a total amount of $115.7 million, reported the Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI).
The IDB approved a $9.2 million credit for the government to implement a forest management project that will benefit 225 forestry companies.
The funds will be used in climate change adaptation and mitigation programs, through the Sustainable Forest Management project, reported the government of Guatemala.
Through a cooperation agreement with the Mexican government, El Salvador will reforest nearly 50,000 hectares of land in different parts of the country.
The presidents of El Salvador, Nayib Bukele, and of the United Mexican States, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, signed on June 20 in Tapachula, state of Chiapas, a cooperation agreement for the planting of 50,000 hectares in El Salvador, a project that will generate 20,000 jobs and is part of the Integrated Development Plan (IDP) for Central America, informed the presidency of El Salvador.
Coffee is still the main agricultural product sold abroad, with annual exports of around $3,035 million, followed by bananas, with $2,574 million and sugar, with $1,241 million.
Figures from the interactive platform "Central American Crops Monitoring" compiled by CentralAmericaData's Business Intelligence Unit:
The production of wood in rolls reached 981,445 m3 during 2017, a volume only 1.3% higher than that reported in 2016.
According to the annual report of the National Forestry Office (ONF), in the harvest of 981,445 m³ of wood in rolls reported last year, was considered log wood dedicated to export and sawn timber by the primary processing industry. Of the harvested wood, 77.5% is of forest plantations, 17.1% of agricultural land without forest and 5.4% of the forests.
The Senate has approved a loan agreement signed between the country and the Inter-American Development Bank, and the funds will be used for the Sustainable Agroforestry Development program.
The Senate of the Dominican Republic has reported that the resources will be used to finance the Sustainable Agroforestry Development program which will be executed by the Executing Technical Unit of Projects at the Agroforestry Development of the Presidency of the Republic (UTPDA) and the Ministry of Public Works and Communications.This initiative was sent by the Executive Power.
The IDB has approved a loan to finance projects related to the improvement of market connectivity for small agricultural producers and the application of agroforestry technologies.
The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) reported that "... Through a loan of US $150 million, the Dominican Republic will work on the adoption of agroforestry technologies and improvement of connectivity to agricultural markets to increase incomes of small producers, and increase environmental sustainability and adaptation to climate change through the best management of natural capital."
From July 30 to August 1, a business meeting will take place between business leaders in the region and Chilean companies from the forestry, agriculture, manufacturing and seafood sectors.
From a press release by ProChile:
The event will be held in Guatemala City, between July 30 and August 1, and will bring together about 120 buyers from all over the region.In total, there will be 60 places for Chilean entrepreneurs in the forestry and agricultural sector, industry-manufactures and seafood.
The first disbursement of $8 million has been made for forest recovery, restoration, management, production and protection in Guatemala.
The first payment made by the National Forest Institute (Inab) and the Ministry of Public Finance will be allocated to 4,129 projects, corresponding to 33,200 hectares of low-management forest.
Representatives of the union in Nicaragua announced that this year they plan to plant between 1,200 and 1,500 hectares, which will be added to the 28,000 already planted in recent years.
In relation to the plans for this year, Salvador Mayorga Sacasa, president of the National Reforestation Association, informed Elnuevodiario.com.ni that "..." this year we expect to increase by between 1,200 and 1,500 hectares.It's a small amount, really, because the country could grow in this sector much more.'"
In 2016, Central American countries exported $223 million worth of wood and its manufactures, and the value exported to India grew by 20% compared to 2015.
Figures from the information system on the Central American Market for Wood and its Manufactures, compiled by the Business Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption = "Click to interact with the chart"]
The law sanctioned by President Varela provides tax incentives such as exemption from income tax, real estate tax and introductory tax, among other things.
From a statement issued by the Presidency:
President Juan Carlos Varela today ratified his administration's commitment to the environment by sanctioning a law that creates an incentive program for forest cover and conservation of natural forests, in order to consolidate the Alliance for the Million Hectares Reforested and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals 2030. This norm, said the Governor, is an example of how a new country can be built by working together, where dialogue and peace prevail as fundamental tools for healthy coexistence and sustainable development.
In 2016, 965 thousand cubic meters of roundwood were processed, 77% of which came from forest plantations, 17% from land and agriculture use, and 5% from forests.
From the summary of the National Forest Office (ONF) report :
As part of the results of this report, the primary wood processing industry, including stationary and portable units, is estimated to have processed 965,602 cubic meters of roundwood (m3-r).Of this volume, 745,267 m3-r (77.2%) came from forest plantations, 171,017 m3-r from land for agricultural use (17.7%) and 49,318 m3-r from forests (5.1%).Based on the above information, an increase of 0.9% is confirmed compared to the volume of logs reported in 2015.