Newly appointed CN Vice President, Neko Meicholas (pictured front row, third left), recently attended Workshops on the National Forest and Climate Strategy & Concept Note to the Green Climate Fund (GCF). The event was a collaborative effort between the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Forestry Unit of the Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources, The Bahamas.
The workshops were held on November 24 and 25, 2025 at the Courtyard by Marriott, Nassau, The Bahamas. (24 November: Workshop on the National Forest and Climate Strategy / 25 November: Workshop on the Concept Note to the Green Climate Fund (GCF)).
As The Bahamas is a Small Island Developing State (SIDS), it faces significant challenges from climate change—rising sea levels, increased storm intensity, and ecosystem degradation, which threaten the country’s natural resources and livelihoods. Strengthening the national forest and climate framework and mobilizing climate finance are therefore critical to advancing resilience, sustainability and inclusive growth.
The two-day workshops were aimed at: 1) deepening the understanding of the linkages between forest management and climate strategies; 2) supporting the alignment of national forest and climate objectives with Green Climate Fund (GCF) priorities; and 3) facilitating inputs to the development of the GCF Concept Note.
The workshops were also a part of ongoing efforts to: strengthen national capacity in climate and forest governance; promote sustainable forest management, and enhance access to international climate finance mechanisms such as the Green Climate Fund (GCF). Among key national stakeholders, the sessions facilitated discussions on refining strategic priorities for forest and climate action, while collaboratively developing the concept note for GCF submission. In addition, on the second day of the conference, Commander Desiree Corneille, lead designate of the Bahamas Wildlife Enforcement Network (BahWEN), offered a presentation that advanced the prior day’s thoughtful exchanges on enforcement and regulatory practice.