Recognizing the urgency of adopting measures to reverse the loss of global biodiversity, and aware of the fundamental role that local governments and international cooperation play in achieving this goal, the The mayor of Belém, Edmilson Rodrigues, signed a Letter of Intent this Wednesday, the 21st. to participate in the project “Nature-Based Cities: biodiversity and climate resilience on urban development” (NBCities). Funded by Global Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) Fund Implemented by ICLEI South America, the project will help Belém develop the capacity to become a model city in ecosystem-based adaptation.

Through NBCities, Belém will receive technical support from ICLEI over the next 18 months to expand the protection and conservation of urban ecosystems, promote local climate action, and become more resilient. The signing of the commitment took place in the presence of the Coordinator of the IDB's Cities Networks, Maria Camila; the Municipal Secretary of Planning and Management (Segep), Claudio Puty; the Coordinator of International Relations of the Municipality of Belém, Luiz Arnaldo Campos; and the Executive Secretary of ICLEI South America, Rodrigo Perpétuo, who also participated in the event. Launch of the New Economy of the Amazon (NEA-BR), an initiative developed by WRI Brazil. On that occasion, the Mayor guaranteed that Belém will host the 3rd National Meeting of ICLEI Brazil in 2024.

Located in the Brazilian Amazon, the capital of Pará state boasts rich biodiversity but faces several challenges related to urbanization. “The NBCities project is extremely relevant for Belém, as it expands its potential to become a laboratory and model for an Amazonian city, integrating innovative and inclusive efforts to neutralize its greenhouse gas emissions and protect biodiversity,” stated Perpétuo.

More about NBCities: The project aims to integrate the agendas of biodiversity conservation and climate action by strengthening the institutional and technical capacities of local governments, developing studies and planning documents, fostering subnational cooperation, and supporting the development of local policies, involving actors from various sectors in decision-making.

Over the next 18 months, Belém will: consolidate its institutional governance structure for the implementation and monitoring of Belém's Ecosystem-Based Adaptation Plan; receive training on "Strategies for Including Ecosystem Services and Biodiversity in Planning, Management and Governance Instruments"; develop, together with ICLEI, its Ecosystem Services Assessment, with georeferenced and illustrated maps, and its Climate Risk and Vulnerability Analysis; participate in a cycle of cooperation activities with leading Colombian cities; receive personalized mentoring for the development and structuring of a project with an impact on the biodiversity and resilience agenda for funding; among other activities.

NBCities is the result of ICLEI's expertise, especially with the project “NaBa: Nature-based Resilient Cities” implemented by ICLEI in six Colombian cities: Yopal, Villavicencio, Montería, Bucaramanga, Pasto and Pereira.

About the EbA Fund: Implemented by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), with funding from the International Climate Initiative (IKI) of the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection (BMUV), the Global Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) Fund It is a funding mechanism for catalytic, innovative, and inclusive projects that aim to create an enabling environment for the implementation of Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) to increase the resilience of communities and ecosystems vulnerable to the impacts of the climate crisis.

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