In situ and Ex situ Conservation of Commercial Tropical Trees - ITTO

109in close partnership with several institutions (PD/A, GTZ, WWF, USAID/SUNY, Friends of the Earth).As a result of the sustainable production workshop:• Six lumber firms have sought BNDES funding to certify their forestrymanagement plans, including one that is ready to obtain the first loan of itskind.• Twelve lumber firms are seeking risk capital from the Banco Axial to adaptto new market requirements (management and certification). One hasreceived a loan and six of the requests are in advanced stages.• BNDES and BASA are redesigning their credit lines to favor certification.• The German investment bank DEG received two Amazon lumber firmproposals to certify and export to Europe.• IMAFLORA, the FSC certification entity in Brazil has been swampedwith Amazon visitors interested in certification, multiplying demand by 5since the workshop.• A certified wood buyers group established at the workshop now has 40members, coordinated by the NGO Amigos da Terra.• The Project Coordinating Units in Manaus and Santarém are fully staffedand functioning. The GTZ has provided technical assistance for overallproject management and consultants are being hired to help implement theTapajós component. The professional project staff, Bank of Brazil andbeneficiaries were trained in financial, monitoring and reporting procedureswith PD/A assistance.Floodplain Resources Management Project (PROVÁRZEA)This US$15.5 million project aims to promote the conservation and rational useof floodplain ecosystems, with an emphasis on fisheries and other aquatic life,through technical and scientific knowledge needed to formulate policies. It hasthree components:• Studies to provide the knowledge base needed;• promising initiatives to test the feasibility of sustainable practices; and• an integrated system for control and monitoring fisheries activities.Funding from DfID and the Rain Forest Trust Fund is in place.Effectiveness conditions for the RFT grant should be fulfilled in June of thisyear, with the Bank’s waiver of one condition of effectiveness, relating to thesigning of KfW grant agreements.