Main_elements_of_REDD.2B Reducing_emissions_from_deforestation_and_forest_degradation

1 main elements of redd+

1.1 policies , measures
1.2 eligible activities
1.3 reference levels
1.4 monitoring: measurement, reporting , verification
1.5 safeguards
1.6 additional issues

main elements of redd+

as approach under multi-lateral climate change agreement, redd+ vehicle encourage developing countries reduce emissions , enhance removals of greenhouse gases through variety of forest management options, , provide technical , financial support these efforts. other approaches under unfccc, there few prescriptions mandate how implement mechanism @ national level; principles of national sovereignty , subsidiarity imply unfccc can provide guidelines implementation, , require reports submitted in format , open review convention. there aspects go beyond basic philosophy – such so-called safeguards, explained in more detail below – in essence redd+ no more set of guidelines on how report on forest resources , forest management strategies , results in terms of reducing emissions , enhancing removals of greenhouse gases. however, set of requirements has been elaborated ensure redd+ programs contain key elements , reports parties consistent , comparable , content open review , in function of objectives of convention.

decision 1/cp 16 requests developing countries aiming undertake redd+ develop following elements:

(a) national strategy or action plan;

(b) national forest reference emission level and/or forest reference level or, if appropriate, interim measure, subnational forest reference emission levels and/or forest reference levels
(c) robust , transparent national forest monitoring system monitoring , reporting on redd+ activities (see below), with, if appropriate, subnational monitoring , reporting interim measure
(d) system providing information on how social , environmental safeguards (included in appendix decision) being addressed , respected throughout implementation of redd+

it further requests developing countries, when developing , implementing national redd+ strategies or action plans, address, among other issues, drivers of deforestation , forest degradation, land tenure issues, forest governance issues, gender considerations , social , environmental safeguards, ensuring full , effective participation of relevant stakeholders, inter alia indigenous peoples , local communities;

policies , measures

in text of convention repeated reference made national policies , measures , set of legal, regulatory , administrative instruments parties develop , implement achieve objective of convention. these policies can specific climate change mitigation or adaptation, or of more generic nature impact on greenhouse gas emissions. many of signatory parties unfccc have established climate change strategies , response measures.

the redd+ approach has similar, more focused set of policies , measures. forest sector laws , procedures typically in place in countries. in addition, countries have develop specific national strategies and/or action plans redd+.

of specific interest redd+ drivers of deforestation , forest degradation. unfccc decisions call on countries make assessment of these drivers , base policies , measures on assessment, such policies , measures can directed impact greatest. of drivers generic – in sense prevalent in many countries, such increasing population pressure – while others specific countries or regions within countries.

countries encouraged identify national circumstances impact drivers: specific conditions within country impact forest resources. hints typical national circumstances can found in preambles various cop decisions, such reaffirming economic , social development , poverty eradication global priorities in bali action plan, enabling developing countries prioritize policies poverty eradication through agricultural expansion or hydropower development on forest protection.

eligible activities

the decisions on redd+ enumerate 5 eligible activities developing countries may implement reduce emissions , enhance removals of greenhouse gases:

(a) reducing emissions deforestation.
(b) reducing emissions forest degradation.
(c) conservation of forest carbon stocks.
(d) sustainable management of forests.
(e) enhancement of forest carbon stocks .

the first 2 activities reduce emissions of greenhouse gases , 2 activities listed in original submission on redd+ in 2005 coalition rainforest nations. 3 remaining activities constitute + in redd+. last 1 enhances removals of greenhouse gases, while effect of other 2 on emissions or removals indeterminate expected minimal.

the unfccc provides no guidance on specific actions constitute eligible activities. possibly approach adopted under cdm: project proponents – in case parties convention – can submit documentation on approach reviewed technical committee of unfccc. upon approval approved methodology publicly available application.

reference levels

reference levels key component national redd+ program , critical in @ least 2 aspects. firstly, serve baseline measuring success of redd+ programs in reducing greenhouse gas emissions forests. second, available examination international community assess reported emission reductions or enhanced removals. in sense establishes confidence of international community in national redd+ program. results measured against these baselines may eligible results-based payments. setting reference levels lax erode confidence in national redd+ program, while setting them strict erode potential earn benefits operate national redd+ program. careful consideration of relevant information therefore of crucial importance.

the requirements , characteristics of reference levels under purview of unfccc. given wide variety in ecological conditions , country-specific circumstances, these requirements rather global , every country have range of options in definition of reference levels within territory.

a reference level (rl) expressed amount, derived differencing sequence of amounts on period of time. redd+ purposes amount expressed in co2-equivalents (co2e) (see article on global warming potential) of emissions or removals per year. if amounts emissions, reference level becomes reference emission level (rel); these rels seen incomplete not take account removals. reference levels based on scope ‒ included? ‒ scale ‒ geographical area derived or applied ‒ , period on reference level calculated. scope, scale , period can modified in reference national circumstances: specific conditions in country call adjustment of basis reference levels constructed. reference level can based on observations or measurements of amounts in past, in case retrospective, or can expectation or projection of amounts future, in case prospective.

reference levels have have national coverage, may composed number of sub-national reference levels. example, forest degradation may have reference emission level commercial selective logging , 1 extraction of minor timber , firewood subsistence use rural communities. effectively, every identified driver of deforestation or forest degradation has represented in 1 or more reference emission level(s). reference levels enhancement of carbon stocks, there may reference level plantation timber species , 1 natural regeneration, possibly stratified ecological region or forest type.

details on reporting , technical assessment of reference levels given in decision 13/cp.19.

monitoring: measurement, reporting , verification

in decision 2/cp.15 of unfccc countries requested develop national forest monitoring systems (nfms) support functions of measurement, reporting , verification (mrv) of actions , achievements of implementation of redd+ activities. nfms key component in management of information national redd+ programs. functional monitoring system can go beyond requirements posted unfccc include issues such registry of projects , participants, , evaluation of program achievements , policy effectiveness. may purpose-built, may integrated existing forest monitoring tools.

measurements suggested made using combination of remote sensing , ground-based observations. remote sensing particularly suited assessment of areas of forest , stratification of different forest types. ground-based observations involve forest surveys measure carbon pools used ipcc, other parameters of interest such related safeguards , eligible activity implementation.

the reporting has follow guidance of ipcc, in particular practice guidance land use, land-use change , forestry , includes reporting templates included in national communications of parties unfccc. included in guidance standard measurements protocols , analysis procedures impact measurement systems countries need establish. actual reporting of redd+ results not going through national communications, however, through biennial update reports (burs).

the technical assessment of these results independent, external process managed secretariat unfccc; countries need facilitate requirements of assessment. technical assessment included within broader process of international consultation , analysis (ica), peer-review team composed of expert annex party , expert non-annex party conducted in manner nonintrusive, non-punitive , respectful of national sovereignty . technical team of experts shall analyse extent which:

(a) there consistency in methodologies, definitions, comprehensiveness , information provided between assessed reference level , results of implementation of [redd+] activities (...);
(b) data , information provided in technical annex transparent, consistent, complete , accurate;
(c) data , information provided in technical annex consistent [unfccc] guidelines (...);
(d) results accurate, extent possible.

however, unlike true verification technical assessment cannot approve or reject reference level, or reported results measured against reference level. provide clarity on potential areas improvement.

financing entities seek provide results-based payments (payments per tonne of mitigation achieved) typically seek true verification of results external experts, provide assurance results paying credible.

safeguards

in response concerns on potential negative consequences resulting implementation of redd+ unfccc established list of safeguards countries need address , respect , promote , support in order guarantee correct , lasting generation of results redd+ mechanism. these safeguards are:

(a) actions complement or consistent objectives of national forest programmes , relevant international conventions , agreements;
(b) transparent , effective national forest governance structures, taking account national legislation , sovereignty;
(c) respect knowledge , rights of indigenous peoples , members of local communities, taking account relevant international obligations, national circumstances , laws, , noting united nations general assembly has adopted united nations declaration on rights of indigenous peoples;
(d) full , effective participation of relevant stakeholders, in particular indigenous peoples , local communities;
(e) actions consistent conservation of natural forests , biological diversity, ensuring actions not used conversion of natural forests, instead used incentivize protection , conservation of natural forests , ecosystem services, , enhance other social , environmental benefits;
(f) actions address risks of reversals;
(g) actions reduce displacement of emissions .

countries have regularly provide summary of information on how these safeguards addressed , respected. come in form, instance, of explaining legal , regulatory environment regards recognition, inclusion , engagement of indigenous peoples, , information on how these requirements have been implemented.

decision 12/cp.19 established summary of information on safeguards provided in national communications unfccc, developing country parties once every 4 years. additionally, , on voluntary basis, summary of information may posted on unfccc redd+ web platform.

additional issues

the redd+ mechanism still under discussion unfccc. pertinent issues comprise redd+ exclusively included in decisions of cop, indicated in above sections. there is, however, large variety of concepts , approaches labelled (as being part of) redd+ proponents, either being substitute unfccc decisions or complementary decisions. below follows – no doubt incomplete – list of such concepts , approaches.

project-based redd+, voluntary market redd+. concept of redd+ being defined, many organizations began promote redd+ projects @ scale of forest area (e.g. large concession, national park), analogous ar-cdm projects under kyoto protocol, reduction of emissions or enhancement of removals vetted external organization using standard established party (e.g. ccba, vcs) , carbon credits traded on international voluntary carbon market. however, under unfccc redd+ defined national (decisions 4/cp.15 , 1/cp.16 consistently refer national strategies , action plans , national monitoring, sub-national coverage allowed interim measure only).
benefit distribution. unfccc decisions on redd+ silent on issue of rewarding countries , participants verified net emission reductions or enhanced removals of greenhouse gases. not specific requirements sub-national implementation of distribution of benefits adopted, perceived issue of national sovereignty. generic guidance may provided, using language similar of safeguards, such result-based finance has accrue local stakeholders without being specific on percentages retention management, identification of stakeholders, type of benefit or means of distribution. countries may decide channel benefits through existing program on rural development, instance, provide additional services (e.g. extension, better market access, training, seedlings) or pay local stakeholders directly. many financial entities have specific requirement on design of system use funds received, , reporting on use of these funds.
fpic. free, prior , informed consent included in u.n. declaration on rights of indigenous peoples. redd+ decisions under unfccc not have explicit requirement; however, although safeguard on respect knowledge , rights of indigenous peoples , members of local communities notes united nations general assembly has adopted united nations declaration on rights of indigenous peoples (undrip). article 19 of undrip requires states shall consult , cooperate in faith indigenous peoples concerned through own representative institutions in order obtain free, prior , informed consent before adopting , implementing legislative or administrative measures may affect them . article interpreted many organizations engaged in redd+, example in un-redd guidelines on free, prior , informed consent, mean every, or @ least many, communities need provide consent before redd+ activities can take place.
leakage. leakage term used in project-based redd+. term originates afforestation/reforestation projects under cdm of kyoto protocol assessed quantify effects of project outside of project area. leakage less of issue when redd+ implemented @ national or subnational level, there can no domestic leakage once full national coverage achieved. however, there can still international leakage if activities displaced across international borders, or displacement of emissions between sectors, such replacing wood fires kerosene stoves (afolu energy) or construction wood construction concrete, cement , bricks (afolu industry). many initiatives require leakage taken account in program design, potential leakage of emissions, including across borders, can minimized.




^ cite error: named reference cop-13 invoked never defined (see page).
^ cite error: named reference cop-16 invoked never defined (see page).
^ cite error: named reference cfrn-request invoked never defined (see page).
^ guidelines redd+ reference levels: principles , recommendations
^ cite error: named reference cop-19 invoked never defined (see page).
^ cite error: named reference cop-15 invoked never defined (see page).
^ integrating remote-sensing , ground-based observations estimation of emissions , removals of greenhouse gases in forests
^ practice guidance land use, land-use change , forestry
^ cite error: named reference cop-17 invoked never defined (see page).
^ unfccc redd+ web platform
^ un-redd guidelines on free, prior , informed consent