Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) of the Kyoto Protocol is an opportunity which has potential to be integrated into development cooperation. Hence SDC mandated Intercooperation to support its partners in building their capacity in CDM projects related to NRM. This agenda was kicked off in May 2007 when Intercooperation (IC) and the CDM Cell, Ministry of Environment, Government of Pakistan, organized a training workshop on Climate Change and NRM for the officers of relevant Provincial and Federal departments. During the workshop, Pakistan’s obligations were analyzed with regard to the CDM in the forest sector (A/R CDM) and the Government of Pakistan was recommended to fulfil the international requirements for participation, especially to arrive at the definition of ‘forest’ in the context of CDM. This allowed Pakistan to become eligible for forestry CDM activities. Ministry then requested support from the Swiss for building capacity of forest officers in formulating formal Afforestation/Reforestation CDM project design documents, which was immediately accepted and taken on board. The main Goal of the project was to build capacity of government officials on preparing forestry CDM Project Design Documents. The capacity building initiative focussed on the A/R CDM core groups identified in different provinces. However, other interested representative individuals were also welcomed to attend. As an outcome of the trainings, were the first ever three CDM Afforestation / Reforestation projects developed in Pakistan under the form of Project Design Documents (PDDs).

The project has been extended by SDC and the Ministry of Environment to organize two more orientation / training workshops on Clean Development Mechanism in forestry so that a wider understanding on the subject is created and Pakistan makes the best out of this opportunity.