In 2018, severe flooding impacted the region immensely. Studies have shown that in Liberia, around 2.2 million people are exposed to floods, 320,000 to coastal erosion, and 2.1 million to windstorms. And with the impact of climate change, the country is expected to see increased risks from natural disasters. 

Liberia

The rate of degradation of the peri urban mangrove forest in Mombasa is approximately 5% per year. In particular, Tudor creek in Mombasa County, Kenya has lost over 80% of the original mangrove forest cover in the past 20 years caused to locally unsustainable use of the mangroves for firewood and exports to the Middle East. 

Kenya

Uganda

Ghana suffers from one of the world's highest deforestation rates. This is mostly caused by agricultural expansion and to some degree, mining. To counter this, Ghana is participating in Africa's Great Green Wall initiative and promote community agroforestry reforestation efforts. Ghana has pledged to plant 2 million new trees by 2030.

Ghana

Peru has the fourth largest rainforest coverage in the world, but it is increasingly under threat from agricultural conversion, illegal logging, and illegal mining. Peru does stand out for its extensive protected areas and indigenous territories, which are both relatively intact. Planned infrastructure projects and softening of environmental laws threaten forests moving forward, making community-led multi-stakeholder solutions urgent. 

Peru

Ecuador is relatively small amongst its neighbors but pulls its weight in forest cover and biodiversity. It enjoys a rainforest area larger than Greece that contains over 20,000 plant species. Most of this is in the Ecuador's Amazon which is largely cut off from roads and infrastructure. However, illegal gold mining and ranching are creeping into what was a relatively intact and conserved area. 

Ecuador

The Ejido system was established in Mexico over 100 years ago, which is a form of collective common pool resource governance that thrives on networks and sustainability. Red MOCAF representa around 40 ejidos that commit to conservation, restoration and collaboration. Ejido organizations are active in rotational logging, reforestation, agriculture, mezcal, and handicrafts. Some are now looking into engaging in REDD+ and other payment for ecosystem services mechanisms

Mexico

<p>Reforestation Commons and Nature4Climate recently carried out a MRV with technology training with Red MOCAF aligned organizational representatives from the states Michoacan, Guerrero, and Puebla in picturesque mountain city of Zacatlan. Trainees learned how to document and map forest health and reforestation using drones, smart phones and ARCGIS online software. During the week, we launched a Storymap contest. The 10 trainees were divided up randomly and given three days to combine videos, digital maps and images into a storymap. Group 1 played to its strength of video editing and produced this dynamic <a href="https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/1ead9ed4b3124dbfba435c2d46a62ec8" target="_blank" rel="noopener">two minute film</a>. Group 2 looked broadly at how MRV, culture, and <a href="https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/17d314c4e0614d078ac6035ed3651c77" target="_blank" rel="noopener">working with communities </a>are all necessary elements of a comprehensive strategy for conservation and sustainability. Group 3, the winner, <a href="https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/27bffe7a016f4daba154ad1dd535f55e" target="_blank" rel="noopener">discussed all of the technologies</a> that we used during the training: Global Forest Watcher, Locus Pro, Survey 123, ArcGIS online, drones, Pix4D, and old fashioned cameras.&nbsp;</p>

Mexican Ejido trainees compete in dynamic Storymap contest 

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