Tropical Forest Group

New online tool tracks deforestation (countries, states/provinces, municipalities)

2012-01-25T19:34:00.000-08:00

Enormous greenhouse gas emissions are generated by deforestation, mostly in tropical countries. It follows that any viable effort to mitigate climate change will have to address tropical forest clearing, and REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation) programs are focusing on this problem. However, implementation of many REDD+ programs has been hampered by the lack of timely information on local forest clearing. CGD’s Forest Monitoring for Action (FORMA) system has been designed to help fill this information gap.

After three years of development work, we're pleased to announce the first global implementation of FORMA, which tracks monthly tropical forest clearing since December 2005 in 27 countries, their 280 states and provinces, and over 2,900 subprovinces and municipalities. We’ll soon release a companion GIS database that tracks monthly clearing in each square kilometer of tropical forest land in the countries covered by FORMA.
We have posted our first global report, which introduces FORMA and provides summary data and graphics, athttp://www.cgdev.org/content/publications/detail/1425835/

Mongabay's post-Durban REDD+ wrap up

2012-01-14T14:06:00.000-08:00

Ban Ki Moon notes progress on REDD+ reference levels & safeguards

2012-01-14T13:59:00.000-08:00

At the amazing Avoided Deforestation Partners event in Durban, South Africa, UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon noted that the talks had made progress on REDD+ reference levels and safeguards.

"Last year, in Cancun, countries agreed to take the REDD+ agenda forward.

It was a collective pledge to slow, halt and reverse deforestation.

This was an important recognition of the win-win that forests represent for mitigating climate change and benefiting people, ecosystems and biodiversity.

And here in Durban, Parties have agreed on a way forward on the important issues of safeguards and reference levels.

I am encouraged to see that forest countries are acting to reduce deforestation, and that donor countries are pledging to support these activities."

Open Happiness

2011-12-22T14:58:00.001-08:00

Swidden

2011-12-22T14:56:00.000-08:00

It is hard workto cut down a tree, let alone an entire forest. Swidden agriculture, theslashing, felling, and burning of forests for the conversion of land, requiresepic sweat. Every year asthe treaty is renegotiated, the reasons for and potential restraints on deforestationare both elaborated and clarified. When we talk about forested land, we arealso talking about agricultural expansion and food security for a growingpopulation. While an excess of carbon dioxide haunts our atmosphere, we havemore than one problem to proactively and reactively solve. We are talking aboutlivelihoods, family planning, land sparing, sustainable farming, the intensificationof yield.

Ban Ki-moon arrived inDurban late in the second week of the conference. As Secretary General of the UnitedNations, he is the man in charge of haloing 194 nations around the singular agreementon climate change. When I saw him speak, he was deferent to his own stature, understatinghis vast importance to the world. Ban Ki-moon spoke of the forests and thenoted improvements to the REDD text. Recently retuned from a visit toKalimantan, Indonesia, he lauded the success of their pilot program for REDD.In particular, he praised KuntoroMangkusubroto, Chairmanof the Indonesian REDD+ Taskforce. Kuntorohimself was also at this talk. Later in the evening, a question was posed tohim about Indonesia’s REDD program. “How far are you from being able to countthe value of a tree standing as being more than the value of a tree cut down?”To which the minister of ministers replied, “It is not about each tree. It isabout poverty. If you alleviate poverty, no tree will be cut down.” Theambition of this treaty is that it must address both the causes and the effectsof global warming. Which makes it, perhaps, the most important internationalaccord ever to be signed.

Traction

2011-12-19T15:29:00.000-08:00

In case anyone is unclear, because it’s hard to get the news from the news, the advancementsin Durban mean the process, while incremental, still has traction.

Initialdiscussions centering on an international climate agreement first began at the Rio Summitin 1992. The agreement was negotiated for five years before being adopted in1997 as the Kyoto Protocol. It was another four years before detailed rules forthe implementation of the KP were approved in 2001. It officially entered forcein 2005, thirteen years hence. This year, 2012, marks the end of the KP’s firstcommitment period. All this scrambling to sign the Durban Platform, twentyyears in the making, is another train stop along the way, in essence tosay, “what is next and who is still on board?”

Ittakes this long because we can’t ask for everything at once. The US StateDepartment has a mandate they are not legally allowed to negotiate for somethingat the international level that they are unable to implement at thenational level. In fact, it is a convention truism that countries will notagree inside a negotiation room to anything they were not already planning todo.

Inreality, the world as a collective is not ready for the treaty it should besigning. But we will be. In the meantime, we will continue to address all thedrivers and respect all the safeguards. We will train the tree measurers and come to terms with true national sovereignty. The pace of this process, bothprogress and regress, is not for nothing. Redaction, bracketing, and derailment. Wordby word. Insertion and accord.

Not a unicorn

2011-12-16T11:01:00.000-08:00

CA's Mary Nichols on REDD, cap and trade: CIFOR Blog

2011-12-14T10:10:00.000-08:00

Durbanimals #4

2011-12-12T20:44:00.001-08:00

Durbanimals #3

2011-12-12T20:42:00.001-08:00

Durbanimals #2

2011-12-12T20:41:00.001-08:00

Durbanimals #1

2011-12-12T20:38:00.000-08:00

Tool to track US REDD+ Fund released

2011-12-12T08:16:00.000-08:00

Mongabay is running a brief article on TFG's US REDD Finance Database.

COP17's AWG LCA report, including REDD+ finance

2011-12-12T06:35:00.000-08:00

This is the part of the Durban Platform that address REDD+ finance and other issues not addressed in the SBSTA work. Pages 12-13 are the REDD+ zone.

Paragraph 66 is one of the more important paragraphs...

66. Considers that, in the light of the experience gained from current and future demonstration activities, appropriate market-based approaches could be developed by the Conference of the Parties to support results-based actions by developing country Parties referred to in paragraph 73 of 1/CP.16, ensuring that environmental integrity is preserved, and the provisions of appendix I and II to Decision 1/CP.16 are fully respected and should be consistent with relevant provisions of decision 1/CP.16, decision XX/CP.17 (SBSTA) and any future decision by the COP on these matters;

Green Climate Fund COP17 Decision

2011-12-12T06:19:00.000-08:00

The draft 2011/CP/L.09 text is hyperlinked in the blog title.

Green Climate Fund – report of the Transitional Committee
Proposal by the President
Draft decision -/CP.17
The Conference of the Parties,
Recalling its decision 1/CP.16,
1. Welcomes the report of the Transitional Committee (FCCC/CP/2011/6 and Add.1), taking note with appreciation of the work of the Transitional Committee in responding to its mandate given in decision 1/CP.16, paragraph 109;
2. Approves the governing instrument for the Green Climate Fund annexed to this decision;
3. Decides to designate the Green Climate Fund as an operating entity of the Financial Mechanism of the Convention, in accordance with Article 11 of the Convention, with arrangements to be concluded between the Conference of the Parties and the Fund at the eighteenth session of the Conference of the Parties to ensure that it is accountable to and functions under the guidance of the Conference of the Parties to support projects, programmes, policies and other activities in developing country Parties;

TFG in 4 minutes or less

2011-12-11T06:35:00.000-08:00

Climate deal salvaged after marathon talks in Durban

2011-12-11T06:15:00.000-08:00

Reporting from the UK's Guardian..
"Delegates clashed over attempt to make agreement legally binding until deal was struck in pre-dawn hours..."

Hope?

2011-12-10T16:20:00.000-08:00

It appears a package has gone to the floor for a vote....

South Africa's foreign minister and chairman of the 194-party conference, Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, told delegates that failure to agree after 13 days of work would be an unsustainable setback for international efforts to control greenhouse gases.
"This multilateral system remains fragile and will not survive another shock," she told a full meeting of the conference, which had been delayed more than 24 hours while ministers and senior negotiators labored over words and nuances.
The proposed Durban Platform offered answers to problems that have bedeviled global warming negotiations for years about sharing the responsibility for controlling carbon emissions and helping the world's poorest and most climate-vulnerable nations cope with changing forces of nature.

chances of a deal slip

2011-12-10T10:07:00.000-08:00

Ministers from the key countries, including Environment Minister Jayanthi Natarajan were huddled into a small room in the conference centre. They were allowed one-aide inside. Indian negotiators were seen frequently coming and going out of the room wearing tense expressions.

Sometimes a rhino is not a rhino

2011-12-10T06:48:00.000-08:00

The UK's Guardian is reporting a fake text in the final hours of the Durban COP17 talks. This text is complicating already super extra double overtime negotiations.

Sometimes the real rhino is hard to spot.

Forest Day 5 Report

2011-12-10T00:28:00.001-08:00

Frances Seymour, Director General, CIFOR, welcomed participants to Forest Day 5. She observed that the event has evolved significantly over the years, as is evident in the continuum of its participants: from primarily high-level policy makers to the involvement of greater numbers of grassroots practitioners. She highlighted a number of achievements, including: positive feedback from participants of Forest Day 4; the introduction of an “Issues Market Place” at this session, to facilitate information exchange and networking; and the special focus being paid to Africa.

Tina Joemat-Peterson, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, South Africa, welcomed delegates on behalf of the South African government. She emphasized that forests embody the need to balance environmental sustainability with economic development. She noted that her country’s energy intensive and fossil-fuel powered economy makes it particularly vulnerable to climate change. Stressing that the science behind carbon sinks “is well understood,” she urged participants to deliver a comprehensive adaptation programme as a contribution to the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (also known as Rio+20 or UNCSD).

Eduardo Rojas-Briales, Chair, CPF, said a tipping point has been reached in recognizing the contribution of forests and REDD+ approaches in meeting the interrelated goals of food and energy security, biodiversity protection and economic development. He stressed, however, that creating the enabling conditions for a low-carbon development path hinges on reaching agreement on a post-Kyoto mechanism. To optimize utilization of biodiversity ecosystem services, he further noted the importance of: focusing equally on tropical forests and dryland forests; paying attention to the full range of land uses; and involving women in sustainable forest management.

In the first of two keynote addresses, Helen Gichohi, President, African Wildlife Foundation, paid tribute to Wangari Maathai, “a fallen icon who saw the links between sustainable development and peace and inspired us to take action and care.” She highlighted ongoing projects that have adopted a landscape approach to balance growing human demands with environmental sustainability. She highlighted key lessons such as: involving local communities in defining land-use agreements; establishing institutional partnerships to create the right policy incentives for climate-smart agriculture and private sector participation; and ploughing back revenues from carbon projects to support community-based conservation. She conclude that while REDD+ offers a tool for bringing the value of forests into national planning there is need to lower the transaction costs of carbon markets and to share the responsibility for longer-term compliance.

In his keynote address, Bob Scholes, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, South Africa, highlighted the scientific case for sustainable forest management. Citing a recent study (Yude et al, “A Large and Persistent Carbon Sink in the World’s Forests” Science, August 2011), he noted that forests could potentially absorb nearly one-quarter of total carbon emissions from human activity, currently estimated at nine petagrams per year, exceeding the targets of the Kyoto Protocol. He stressed that contrary to conventional wisdom, deforestation in Africa predominantly takes place in the dryland forest zones and is characterized by three main phases: the selective removal of high-value timber; charcoal-burning to meet urban fuel demands; and finally, low-input and low-output subsistence agriculture, which completes the cycle of land degradation. Underlining that it is not feasible to change current land-use patterns as local communities have a right to develop, he called for climate-smart approaches that boost productivity and contribute to the regeneration of already degraded land. He noted that this will ensure, inter alia: fair prices for ecosystem products and services; informed and just governance at all levels; and reliable and cost-effective monitoring tools based on a mix of high and low-tech approaches.

Judy Kimamo, the Green Belt Movement, introduced a short film paying tribute to the late Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, Wangari Maathai, and announced the launch of the “I am the Hummingbird Campaign” in her memory.

DISCUSSION FORUMS

HOW IS REDD+ UNFOLDING ON THE GROUND? AN EXPLORATION OF THE SOCIAL, POLITICAL AND BIOPHYSICAL ISSUES:The discussion forum on REDD+ on the ground aimed to explore early insights on whether REDD+ initiatives can deliver their goal of reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation, while providing a range of co-benefits. The session was moderated by James Astill, Energy and Environment Editor, The Economist. Introducing the session, Paulo Barreto, Senior Researcher, IMAZON, Brazil, highlighted Brazil’s recent progress in implementing sustainable forest management, as seen in the “decoupling” of the close statistical linkages between high cattle and soy prices and deforestation from 2007 onwards. He attributed this success to the enactment of a more robust regulatory framework that had sent a clear signal that deforestation does not pay. He underlined the need for more comprehensive policy reforms involving stakeholders outside the forest sector and identified boosting of agricultural productivity in already-degraded areas as a possible win-win approach.

Highlighting lessons from a pilot bio-carbon initiative in Indonesia, Brer Adams, Associate Director, Macquarie Global Investments, Australia, said building sustainable business models is hampered by uncertainty resulting from the weak regulatory environment and the relative novelty of carbon markets. Adding that only six billion dollars to date has been committed to REDD, he underlined that this presents a real challenge for scaling up significantly to meet IPCC targets for land-based carbon sequestration in non-Annex I countries, and noted the important role demonstration projects can play in pointing the way forward.

Raymond Lumbuenamo, National Director, WWF, the Democratic Republic of Congo, highlighted efforts to address three interrelated drivers of deforestation: shifting subsistence agriculture, commercial exploitation and poor governance. He stressed the need to “reconstruct” community structures that had been destroyed by long-term conflict to enhance sustainable forest management at the local level. Daju Resosudarmo, CIFOR Indonesia, noted the country’s slow start in implementing REDD+ activities, highlighting the challenges as, inter alia, competing demands from powerful agricultural and mining interests, weak regulatory capacity at the national and local government levels, and a lack of clarity on legal rights and security of tenure for community-managed forests.

In ensuing discussions, participants addressed: the need for clear guidance for implementing pilot projects; involving local stakeholders in forest management; creating employment opportunities through forest regeneration activities; how to resolve conflicts over rights to forest resources; and enhancing finances available for REDD+ activities.

BIODIVERSITY SAFEGUARDS IN REDD+: The discussion forum on biodiversity safeguards for REDD+ presented the results of a one-year consultative process undertaken by the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the UN-REDD Programme. Introducing the forum, moderator Jagdish Kishwan, Additional Director General of Forests for Wildlife and Director for Wildlife Preservation, Ministry of Environment and Forests, India, noted that biodiversity safeguards should not only address the adverse affects of REDD+ on biodiversity, but also the need to safeguard the rights of indigenous peoples.

Caroline Spelman, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, UK, lauded the work of the CBD on safeguarding biodiversity and highlighted the Cancún Agreements that detailed a number of safeguards including on tropical forests. She said there is a need to enable the implementation of these safeguards and establish incentives and implementing policy and monitoring to maximize REDD+ benefits. Outlining the series of workshops held by the CBD on the biodiversity safeguards of REDD+, she noted the emerging lessons include exploiting synergies highlighted in the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plans, assisting sustainable afforestation, and effective use of detailed safeguards that have already been developed. On gaps identified, she noted insufficient consideration for traditional knowledge, queries on how the safeguards should be used, and the need for financing and methodological guidance.

Guy Midgley, Programme Leader, Global Change Research Group, National Biodiversity Institute, South Africa, discussed an African regional workshop held in Cape Town, South Africa, on REDD+ and its relevant biodiversity safeguards. He cautioned that the synergies identified at the consultations need to be managed carefully so that any confusion that may arise does not hold progress back. He stressed: that safeguards need to be addressed as early as possible; that preparedness is uneven among countries and capacity building will be important; and the need to build on existing policies and legislation.

Lorena Falconí, National Director of Climate Change Mitigation, Ministry of Environment, Ecuador, outlined Ecuador’s climate change strategy, noting four REDD+ components in their mitigation strategy. She said Ecuador aims to ensure multiple benefits from REDD+ and to integrate its programmes with UN-REDD initiatives. Salisu Dahiru, National REDD+ Coordinator, Nigeria, highlighted his country’s incorporation of biodiversity and multiple benefits into early REDD+ readiness activities. He said biodiversity experts and indigenous and local communities have been included as statutory members of REDD+ governance bodies at the national level and the Cross River State Level, and he highlighted a project mapping biodiversity carbon and co-benefit overlays, which aimed to identify and prioritize high-biodiversity areas.

In the ensuing discussion, participants: questioned the role of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) in REDD+; asked how the growing rejection of REDD+ by NGOs and indigenous peoples needs to be handled; and debated the length of time it will take for benefits to reach communities and the use of exotics in commercial forestry.

FINANCING OPPORTUNITIES AND ISSUES FOR MITIGATION AND ADAPTATION WITH A FOCUS ON THE PRIVATE SECTOR:This discussion forum provided a platform to debate the opportunities and challenges for investments and financial mechanisms to promote mitigation and adaptation activities by the private sector, focusing on REDD+ initiatives. Moderating the forum, Emmanuel Ze Meka, Executive Director, International Tropical Timber Organization, said REDD+ offers a number of co-benefits when implemented, but noted that the funding source for REDD+ still needs to be addressed.

Eufran Ferreira do Amaral, State of Acre, Brazil, noted that Acre is a small Amazonian state with a strong history of social organization, including a community policy against deforestation created by this social movement that has now become incorporated into state policy. He called for addressing issues such as sustainable consumption and the valuation of products, services and sustainable economic activities obtained from forests. He outlined a number of lessons learned, including that: REDD+ is not sufficient to cover the opportunity costs of non-sustainable land use and must be integrated with implementation of sustainable production; and the national and global private sector should develop voluntary systems for targeted reductions of carbon dioxide.

Nur Masripatin, Director of the Centre for Standardization and Environment, Ministry of Forestry, Indonesia, called for the full implementation of REDD+ by 2013 and stressed the fine balance between reducing emissions and increasing economic growth. She provided an outline of her country’s REDD+ National Strategy, highlighting the importance of an adequate legal framework and continued stakeholder engagement. Itaru Shiraishi, Marubeni Corporation, Japan, noting that they have worked on approximately 60 REDD+ projects, lamented the lack of projects from the African continent. While carbon trading will, he opined, revolutionize the industry, he said it is doubtful this will lead to actual emissions reductions, but that a possible solution is to create a large enough demand for carbon credits. He concluded by stating that the “bottom line” is the need to create a carbon market to ensure the success of REDD+.

David Antonioli, CEO, Verified Carbon Standard Association, USA, explained his work on the sector-based aspects of REDD+, noting that environmental integrity, security and confidence in the private sector are fundamental for these aspects. He called for establishing a UN Forum on Forests REDD+ programme. Ludovino Lopes, Ludovino Lopes Lawyers, Brazil, highlighted key issues to consider in the legal framework for REDD+ including: the legal nature of REDD+; the institutional framework; inventory, accountability and registry platforms; distribution mechanisms for economic and non-economic benefits; and international cooperation.

In the ensuing discussion, participants considered: how to address issues of poor governance within the REDD+ framework; and the need for reliable measurements of carbon dioxide, and how to establish who obtains the carbon rights. They also underscored that REDD+ is a means for mitigation but it is not a solution.

ADDRESSING GENDER CONSIDERATIONS IN CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION AND REDD+ EFFORTS: The parallel discussion session on gender considerations explored ways and means of increasing women’s participation in decision making and benefit distribution, while recommending appropriate safeguards against further exclusion. The session was moderated by Jeannette Gurung, Executive Director, Women Organising for Change in Agriculture and Natural Resource Management.

In her keynote address, Lindiwe Majele Sibanda, CEO, Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources Policy Analysis Network, stressed the need to recognize the differential roles of women and men at all levels. Noting that women make up 70% of the agricultural work force, she stressed their role in climate-smart agriculture and poverty-eradication efforts.

Panelist Monique Essed-Fernandes, Chair of the Board, Women’s Environment and Development Organization (WEDO), noted that gender roles determine how forest resources are used and managed, as well as determining the decision-making powers and livelihood strategies adopted. She informed participants about a new WEDO/IUCN initiative supported by the Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA) to pilot Gender and REDD+ roadmaps in Ghana, Cameroon and Uganda.

Linda Mossop-Rousseau, Senior Executive, Komatiland Forests, South Africa, highlighted her company’s support for out-grower schemes, a mechanism to support individuals and communities to derive an income by supplying timber to processing companies. She highlighted the achievements of the scheme as its recognition of informal permission to occupy land in the absence of formal land rights and the establishment of social compacts as a tool to enhance community-level capacity to negotiate access rights.

Corinne Valdivia, Department of Agricultural Economics, University of Missouri, highlighted: lessons learned in strengthening processes that build on local knowledge and networks to enable the agency of women; the need to align mitigation and adaptation measures; the importance of understanding the role of context in minimizing or exacerbating gender differences; and the need for able brokers to bridge the gap between the local and higher levels.

During discussions, participants highlighted the need to address power relations and the challenge of making international protocols meaningful at the local level.

GLOBAL UPDATES ON FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE

Richard Black, BBC Environment Correspondent, moderated the session on global updates on forests and climate change.

Caroline Spelman, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, UK, highlighted the contribution of forests to biodiversity protection, greenhouse gas emissions and livelihoods, saying that they are both a source of and sink for greenhouse gases. She called for climate-smart agricultural practices to ensure a transition to a green, low-carbon economy that addresses food security simultaneously, but emphasized that climate-smart agriculture is not a panacea for all the problems to be addressed. She provided an overview of the forest-related activities that have been undertaken with funding from the UK’s International Climate Fund, including projects in Brazil to reverse the high deforestation rates. Calling for clarifying land tenure rights, she highlighted the need to make progress on methodological guidance for the implementation of REDD+ and emphasized that COP 17 will follow up on the REDD+ issues addressed in the Cancún Agreements.

Rachel Kyte, Vice President of Sustainable Development, World Bank, provided an overview of the Agriculture and Rural Development Day held on 3 December 2011, parallel to COP 17. She said that Tina Joemat-Peterson, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, South Africa, focused on achieving an unequivocal call for climate-smart agriculture, and delivered a letter to the UNFCCC requesting a work programme on this be established under the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA). Kyte underscored that forests, climate change and agriculture cannot be discussed in isolation as they are inextricably linked. She said that unless access to land and extreme poverty are addressed as well as ensuring higher crop yields and water security, the world will not achieve its “carbon plans and goals.”

Tony La Viña, Ateneo School of Government, Ateneo de Manila University, The Philippines, provided an update of negotiations currently underway on REDD+. He said a first guidance decision had been adopted the previous day, which addressed enforcing and monitoring the implementation of safeguards but allowed future modifications should it be needed. He lamented that while this is not a perfect solution, negotiators are “flying blind” and thus it may be a good way to approach the situation.

Odigha Odigha, Chairman, Cross River State Forestry Commission, Nigeria, discussed the work of the Governors’ Climate and Forests Task Force, highlighting several challenges that still need to be addressed, including the need to review previous work and decisions from the UNFCCC COP. He also called for commitment to concrete activities at community level that are pro-poor in nature.

CLOSING PLENARY

Frances Seymour, Director General, CIFOR, noted that discussions at Forest Day 5 had addressed the specific opportunities and challenges of forest management in Africa, successfully launched the first informal market place, and showcased the innovative use of instant voting by participants to identify priority areas for future action. She also highlighted the many tributes paid to the late Wangari Maathai’s work and legacy.

Christina Figueres, UNFCCC Executive Secretary, thanked Forest Day participants for their “patience with the COP” and noted achievements so far at COP 17 as: the conclusion of an adaptation package on African soil; agreement on a second commitment period with no policy gap following the end of the Kyoto Protocol; and broad recognition that the current level of ambition on climate change is insufficient. She noted that COP 17 is a mammoth undertaking, with close to 200 governments “attempting to write a global business plan for the planet for the next 50 years.” She added that this needs to be done with a “triple bottom line” in mind: climate mitigation and adaptation and the reduction of poverty.

Following Frances Seymour’s announcement that she will be stepping down as CIFOR Director-General in 2012, Eduardo Rojas-Briales lauded the “mother” of the Forest Days for her inspiring leadership in bridging the science-policy gap and building broad consensus on REDD.

Team Work

2011-12-09T18:15:00.001-08:00

The rhino has our back.

We have the rhino's back.

TFG Launches US REDD Finance Database in Durban, South Africa

2011-12-06T22:06:00.000-08:00

For Immediate Release: December 7, 2011

Today, the Tropical Forest Group launched the US REDD+ Finance Database from COP 17 in Durban, South Africa. The database contains over 800 discrete statements by US agencies on bilateral REDD finance or quantitative impacts on forest conservation, reforestation, enforcement, firebreaks and other impacts directly measurable or verifiable.

The publically available online database can be found at www.usreddfinance.org. TFG is encouraging people to use and comment on the database in order to help improve transparency around US government REDD finance, and to monitor how the US government is meeting its Fast Start Finance pledges. TFG also hopes this database could serve as an example of a “proto-registry” for REDD finance and impacts.

Comments on the database and the information therein are welcome and should be directed to: reddfinance@tropicalforestgroup.org

Avoided Deforestation Partners Event today in Durban

2011-12-06T21:23:00.000-08:00

Advancing Public-Private Partnerships for
REDD+ and Green Growth

The Hotel Southern Sun Elangeni
Durban, South Africa
Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2011, from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m.

His Excellency Ban Ki-moon
Secretary-General of the United Nations

United States President Barack Obama
(Special Video Message)
Honored Speakers

Dr. Jane Goodall, DBE – founder, Jane Goodall Institute and UN Messenger of Peace (host)
Hon. Helen Clark – Administrator, UNDP, and former Prime Minister of New Zealand
Hon. Mary Robinson – President of Mary Robinson Foundation – Climate Justice and former President of Ireland
Hon. Hillary Rodham Clinton – United States, Secretary of State (special video message)
Hon. William Clinton – Former President of the United States (special video message)
Achim Steiner – UNEP Executive Director, UN Under-Secretary-General
Andrew Steer – World Bank, Special Envoy for Climate Change
Wanjira Maathai – The Green Belt Movement, (daughter of the late Wangari Maathai)
Government Representatives
Hon. José Endundo Bononge – DRC, Minister of Environment
Hon. Tina Joemat-Pettersson – South Africa, Minister of Agriculture
Hon. Kjetil Lund – Norway, Ministry of Finance and Co-Chair, Green Climate Fund
Hon. Kuntoro Mangkusubroto - Indonesia, Head of the President’s Unit on REDD
Hon. Toga Gayewea McIntosh – Liberia, Minister of Foreign Affairs
Hon. Jonathan Pershing – United States, Deputy Special Envoy for Climate Change
Hon. Norbert Röttgen – Germany, Minister for Environment
Hon. Eric Solheim – Norway, Minister of the Environment

Conservation and Business Leaders

Jason Clay – World Wildlife Fund-US, Senior Vice President
Larry Schweiger – National Wildlife Federation, President and CEO
Peter Seligmann – Conservation International, CEO and Chairman
Sean de Cleene – Yara International, Vice President Global Business Initiatives
Puvan Selvanathan – Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil, Vice President, Executive Board

This event is dedicated to the life and work of our dear friend
2004 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Wangari Maathai.

A Transparent Process

2011-12-04T07:53:00.000-08:00

At the final meeting of the SBSTA working group(which was open to all) the chairperson, Peter Graham, ended the session with a few kind words. He first thanked the delegates, and then he thanked the observers for all their valuable input in the halls and corridors.

Manmade

2011-12-04T07:49:00.001-08:00

Capacitance: the quantity of electricity that a battery can deliver under specified conditions. Apparently, in Thursday’s midday heat, registration was forced to shut down for several hours due to a power shortage. Overheating causing problems at a Climate Change Conference? Capacity: the facility or power to produce, perform, employ; the potential or suitability for holding, storing, or accommodating; the ability to receive or contain. 1991 marks the entrance of the phrase capacity building into the lexicon. Capacity building: a long-term multi-stakeholder process of development that involves a country’s human, scientific, technological, organizational, institutional and resource capabilities. The goal of capacity building is to tackle policy problems while considering the potential, limits, and needs of the people of the country concerned. The heat wave dissipated; today it’s too cold to swim. Just what are we capable of here? How much power can we assume?

Initiative

2011-12-04T07:44:00.000-08:00

"And also, we will need 12 tracksuits

with the rhino on the back fairly large."

Agrees That

2011-12-04T03:45:00.000-08:00

I sat in on a closed negotiation the other day, despite the color of my badge. If anyone has doubts about the efficacy of the text drafting process, I still can’t assure you otherwise. The discussion covered four short paragraphs in 80 long minutes. Proposing deletions, bracketing additions. But as to the significance of the linguistic debate I can assure you, it’s not a waste of time. The implications of changing singular to plural, reference level to reference levels, are at once syntactical, philosophical, and political. It’s hard to believe that word choice reverberates down to a forest, or that the sound of a bulldozer could be heard inside a plenary. But somehow language is the only suitable conduit to connect these disparate points of power and locale. And if the language is shoddy at the sentence level, the treaty at the global level won’t ever hold water. The other thing that struck me about the process was the skilled mediation of the chairperson. It was a feat of listening. Of listening to the opinions and posturing of negotiators inside the room amidst the hum of 7 billion more outside.

The Walk to Work

2011-12-03T06:33:00.000-08:00

Agenda Item 4

2011-12-03T04:21:00.000-08:00

TFG has been working to educate delegates

on the need to establish the REDD reference

level review process here in Durban. Above is

the latest iteration of the draft text.

REDD+ reference levels review

2011-12-02T10:30:00.000-08:00

There are good conversation on improving the review process of the reference levels.

It's Good to be 28

2011-12-02T09:26:00.000-08:00

At the harbor of the largest shipping port

in the Eastern Africa. Happy Birthday CP!

TFG's recommendations on reference levels for SBSTA

2011-12-02T04:52:00.000-08:00

The Review Process for REDD+ NFRELs/NFRLs

Source: FCCC/SBSTA/2011/MISC.7

Summary

Document “FCCC/SBSTA/2011/MISC.7” aggregates 16 submissions representing views of 69 countries concerning REDD+ methodological guidance. Of these submissions, 10 of them, representing the views of 56 countries, asked SBSTA35 to establish a process by which national NFRELs/NFRLs would be subject to an independent, transparent review under the auspices of the UNFCCC. Paragraph 14 in version 1 of draft text for SBSTA 35 agenda item 4 delays the decision for establishing a review process until SBSTA36 despite substantial support for a SBSTA35 decision. Although version 1 draft text contains strong language for NFRELs/NFRLs modalities, a delay in establishing this review process would undermine efforts by all Parties to ensure robust technical underpinnings of REDD+ NFRELs/NFRLs and ensure that any eventual positive incentives for REDD+ are made on the basis of adequate environmental integrity.

Recommendation

The Tropical Forest Group recommends SBSTA 35 add language that establishes an independent and transparent review of NFRELs/NFRLs by a team of independent experts. This recommendation is supported by 56 of 69 contributing countries.

Para 14. “Agrees to establish a process of independent, expert, and transparent review of country’s national forest reference emission level and/or national forest reference level coordinated by the Secretariat, and requests SBSTA 36 to develop guidance for the review.”

Countries with submissions regarding REDD+ Reference Level methodological guidance for SBSTA 35

(Bold = countries with explicit support for a review process )

1. Australia

2. Belize

3. Cameroon

4. Central African Republic

5. Congo

6. Costa Rica

7. Côte d’Ivoire

8. Democratic Republic of the Congo

9. Ecuador

10. Gabon

11. Ghana

12. Guyana

13. Honduras

14. Kenya

15. Panama

16. Papua New Guinea

17. Solomon Islands

18. Togo

19. Uganda

20. Botswana

21. Brazil

22. Colombia

23. Mexico

24. Costa Rica

25. Dominican Republic

26. El Salvador

27. Panama

28. Austria

29. Belgium

30. Bulgaria

31. Cyprus

32. Czech Republic

33. Denmark

34. Estonia

35. Finland

36. France

37. Germany

38. Greece

39. Hungary

40. The Irish Republic

41. Italy

42. Latvia

43. Lithuania

44. Luxembourg

45. Malta

46. The Netherlands

47. Poland

48. Portugal

49. Romania

50. Slovakia

51. Slovenia

52. Spain

53. Sweden

54. United Kingdom

55. Brunei Darussalam

56. Cambodia

57. Indonesia

58. Lao People’s Democratic

Republic

59. Malaysia

60. Myanmar

61. Philippines,

62. Singapore

63. Thailand

64. Viet Nam

65. Japan

66. Norway

67. Philippines

68. Switzerland

69. United States of America

A Common Language

2011-12-02T04:39:00.000-08:00

TFG hats to Togo delegates from the

Developpment Durable en Afrique.

In the Studio

2011-12-01T05:31:00.001-08:00

Follow the link in the title

to see an interview

with John-O in the Climate Change Studio.

A Blister in Durban

2011-12-01T04:10:00.000-08:00

A fine example of teamwork. For medical emergencies, like blisters.

The Rhino Express

2011-11-30T04:19:00.000-08:00

While the international headlines pick up the story of Durban as one of futility and undercut expectations, there are in fact aggrandized efforts in motion. The herds have arrived, single-minded in their hunger. Best-case scenario, these negotiations will result in decisions that would operationalize the hard work of the last several years: technology mechanisms to promote clean energy, a valid REDD+ mechanism, adaptation frameworks to support developing countries, a Green Climate Fund. “Still, negotiations limp on.” So say the headlines, disheartened by the politics of climate change. But even if this is what they call the last ditch, even if hope for major breakthroughs have long since been abandoned, the compounded efforts have not slowed down. The Convention of the Parties has 195 countries attempting collaboration. The labor involved, not only in gathering here in South Africa, but in the daily toil of the run-up could never be called limping. There are still myriad opportunities to deliver both operational decisions and long-term signals on the future direction of the international process. If anything, there is too much work on the table, too many gears spinning in a fractured process with a thousand important goals. But in this unprecedented cause, it is not for nothing. Tomorrow is always undecided and even if everyone goes home disappointed, we still have the future to contend with. It is never easy to live up to expectations, but it is also never easy to give up. We have to believe we can steer this train away from wreckage. With collective strong will and strong opinions, the rhinos are full steam ahead.

The TFG Team with UNFCCC Executive Secratary Christiana Figueres

2011-11-29T23:44:00.000-08:00

Two Rhinos, Two weeks, COP 17

2011-11-28T13:52:00.000-08:00

Two rhino subspecies went extinct in the past two weeks. There are two weeks of COP17 and one central task = make sure REDD+ doesn't collapse post-2012 . If you were a betting rhino, Durban would not be a good COP.

funny blurb from SBSTA's opening plenary

2011-11-28T06:20:00.000-08:00

In the opening of SBSTA at COP17, there was a brief moment of humor as the Gambia, speaking on behalf of Least Developed Countries, had her computer die and her notes no longer visible. After a brief curse, she joked "So if there was any doubt, let me reiterate that we are speaking on behalf of the LCDs"...

We want to be your friend

2011-11-27T16:21:00.000-08:00

The TFG team will have a booth in Durban. Please come by and say hi. And/or like us on Facebook!

En Route to Durban

2011-11-27T09:12:00.000-08:00

“The Earth provides enough to satisfy every man’s need but not every man’s greed.” -Gandhi

Mahatma Gandhi, hero of resistance, had early roots around Durban. From 1893-1914, he lived and worked in South Africa. This formative experience shaped his philosophies on racial conflict and injustice. There he attached himself to suffrage movements and the slog for equal rights.

It was in South Africa in 1906 that Gandhi first articulated his methodology of Satyagraha. It translates literally to a devotion to truth. It manifests as nonviolent protest. Gandhi was not the first to espouse Satyagraha, but was arguably the first to apply it to the political field.

Satyagraha seeks to eliminate antagonisms without harming the antagonists themselves. It arms the individual with moral power. It is the universal force.

Gandhi’s time in South Africa, a country that has seen war and resolution, informed the breath of his teachings worldwide. Civil disobedience, ahimsa, total nonviolence. Harm no one. Harm not the Earth.

Inside the conference halls in Durban, nations united, we will bear witness to the work of consensus. What is one thing we all can agree upon?

WALHI accuses Irwandi of breaking REDD+ promises in Aceh

2011-11-23T22:42:00.000-08:00

Mongabay is reporting that WALHI has accused Aceh Governor Irwandi of approving a permit to put a palm oil plantation on a peat forest....which would go against many of the Aceh REDD laws, goals, institutions, and personalities. I'm quoted in the brief article and recommend that all the facts are brought out and the governor's office has time to respond before leaping to any conclusions. WALHI is not the most neutral observer of REDD in Aceh, having fought against REDD programs in Aceh pretty much every step of the way.

3/5 TFGers already on way to Durban

2011-11-18T20:24:00.000-08:00

REDD+ Funds slow to spend money

2011-11-14T08:31:00.000-08:00

"Forestry needs to spend international funding more quickly, efficiently"

A recent CIFOR blog addresses the need for FCPF and UN REDD to spend their monies quicker. The blog notes that relatively little of the funds already approved and available for REDD+ are having a hard time getting resources to forest communities and governments that need the incentives. Read the blog, which is hyperlinked in the blog title.

TFG to release beta version: US REDD $ database

2011-11-10T08:58:00.000-08:00

After almost two years of work and up to 700+ entries, TFG is getting ready to release a new tool to help track and monitor US government REDD+ finance and impacts. Stay tuned for more details...

--> TFG's US REDD Finance Database Team

US government's SilvaCarbon initiative

2011-11-04T09:55:00.000-07:00

We just found this first description of the SilvaCarbon program, which was announced almost a year ago here:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/microsites/ostp/ostp-silvacarbon-release.pdf

TFG looks forward to seeing how SilvaCarbon becomes operational.

TFG Affiliate Chris Jenkins' film: Mercy Beyond Borders

2011-10-25T21:25:00.000-07:00

CJ is at it again, this time at the 2011 UN Association Film Festival (UNAFF).

You can also see a clip of the 20 minute film here:

http://www.mercybeyondborders.org/

CA issues new cap and trade rules

2011-10-24T12:29:00.000-07:00

These are the most recent rules which were approved, though they will not be finalized for a few days.

White House Press Release on US-Norway relations, REDD+ cooperation

2011-10-24T10:52:00.000-07:00

While the US is known to support REDD+ at large, this is one of the few Obama White House press releases that specifically mentions REDD+... announcing a shared commitment by Norway and the US for an Indonesia Climate Change Center.

(The White House Press Release of October 20, 2011 is hyperlinked in the blog title)

AWG LCA 14, 3rd session (Panama): non-paper on REDD+ finance

2011-10-10T10:18:00.000-07:00

After a week of talks, the last of such before Durban, negotiators in Panama could only come up with this...non-paper. The official (unofficial) document is hyperlinked in the blog title.

AD HOC WORKING GROUP ON LONG-TERM COOPERATIVE ACTION UNDER THE CONVENTION Fourteenth session (third part) Panama City, 1ñ7 October 2011

WORK OF THE AWG-LCA CONTACT GROUP Agenda item 3.2.3

Policy approaches and positive incentives on issues relating to reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation in developing countries; and the role of conservation, sustainable management of forests and enhancement of forest carbon stocks in developing countries

version for 6 October 2011 @ 20:00

Non-paper by the facilitator

The Conference of the Parties,

[Recalling the principles and provisions set forth in decision 1/CP.16 on policy approaches and positive incentives on issues relating to reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation in developing countries; and the role of conservation, sustainable management of forests and enhancement of forest carbon stocks in developing countries and its appendices I and II,

Further recalling decisions 1/CP.13, 2/CP.13, 4/CP.15 and [xx/CP.17 (SBSTA)], Also recalling paragraphs 71, 73, 74, 76, 77 and 78 of decision 1/CP.16,

Reaffirming that, in the context of the provision of adequate and predictable support to developing country Parties, Parties should collectively aim to slow, halt and reverse forest cover and carbon loss, according to national circumstances, consistent with the ultimate objective of the Convention, as stated in its Article 2;]

[Elements for operational parts of the draft decision ∗]

1. [Different sources of finance, (indicative list of sources identified by Parties):

(a) Public funds;

(b) Specialized REDD-plus funds or funding windows established by the Green Climate Fund under the COP;

(c) Existing multilateral and bilateral channels;

(d) Market-based mechanisms;

(e) A flexible combination of funds and market-based sources;

(f) Any new financing options identified.]

2. [Mitigation actions in the forest sector being implemented by developing country Parties as referred to in decision 1/CP.16, paragraph 70, and the role of different sources of financing.]

3. [Linkages with modalities relating to the SBSTA work programme.]

4. [Links with other financial instruments under the Convention and/or being developed by the AWG-LCA.]

5. [Any other relevant elements.]

official UNFCCC/SBSTA/2011/2 released

2011-08-04T10:23:00.000-07:00

This was posted by the UNFCCC on August 3, 2011.

The parts relevant to REDD, from the meetings in Bonn, Germany this past summer, are posted below:

Agenda item 4

IV. Methodological guidance for activities relating to reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation and the role of conservation, sustainable management of forests and enhancement of forest carbon stocks in developing countries

1. Proceedings

26. The SBSTA considered this item at its 3rd and 4th meetings. Statements were made by representatives of 13 Parties, including one on behalf of the European Union and its member States.

27. At its 3rd meeting, the SBSTA agreed to consider this item in a contact group, co- chaired by Mr. Peter Graham (Canada) and Ms. Victoria Tauli-Corpuz (Philippines). At the 4th meeting, Mr. Graham reported on the contact group’s consultations. Also at its 4th meeting, the SBSTA considered and adopted conclusions (FCCC/SBSTA/2011/L.14) proposed by the Chair.

2. Conclusions

28. The SBSTA considered views on methodological guidance for activities relating to reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation and the role of conservation, sustainable management of forests and enhancement of forest carbon stocks in developing countries, taking into account issues identified in appendix II to decision 1/CP.16 and relevant issues.

29. In considering methodological issues referred to in paragraph 28 above, Parties identified a range of issues, including guidance on systems for providing information on how safeguards referred to in appendix I to decision 1/CP.16 are addressed and respected, modalities relating to forest reference emission levels and forest reference levels, and modalities for measuring, reporting and verifying, as referred to in appendix II to decision 1/CP.16.

30. The SBSTA decided to continue its consideration of the methodological guidance referred to in paragraph 28 above, taking into account the elements referred to in annex II to this document, with the aim of completing its work on these matters at its thirty-fifth session and reporting to the Conference of the Parties (COP) at its seventeenth session on progress made, including any recommendations for draft decisions on this matter.

31. The SBSTA invited Parties and accredited observers to submit to the secretariat, by 19 September 2011, their views on the issues identified in paragraphs 28–30 above. It requested the secretariat to compile the submissions from Parties into a miscellaneous document for consideration by the SBSTA at its thirty-fifth session. The SBSTA also requested the secretariat to organize, subject to the availability of supplementary funds, meetings of technical experts on the matters referred to in paragraphs 28 and 29 above, including a meeting before its thirty-fifth session.

32. The SBSTA requested its Chair to continue exploring ways of facilitating the coordination of the activities relating to decisions 2/CP.13, 4/CP.15 and 1/CP.16, and to report back to the SBSTA at its future sessions.

33. The SBSTA took note of the progress report by the secretariat on the implementation of the activities identified in document FCCC/SBSTA/2010/6, paragraph 40, in particular the establishment of an interactive discussion forum on the web platform (http://unfccc.int/methods_science/redd/items/4531.php). The SBSTA encouraged all Parties and their relevant experts, relevant organizations and stakeholders to participate actively in the interactive discussion forum.

34. The SBSTA also encouraged Parties to support the other activities identified in its conclusions of its thirty-second session13 and those identified in decisions 2/CP.13, 4/CP.15 and 1/CP.16. It reminded Parties, relevant organizations and stakeholders to continue sharing information and experiences on these activities via the web platform on the UNFCCC website.

Taking action in the provinces

2011-07-25T10:17:00.000-07:00

Check out the great story by Silvia Irawan over at "Inside Indonesia".

a rad way to treat downed trees

2011-07-14T17:47:00.000-07:00

Cool new REDD tool

2011-07-13T10:53:00.000-07:00

Mongabay covers the newly introduced REDD calculator for Indonesia here:

http://news.mongabay.com/2011/0713-redd_calculator.html

And this from the REDD calculator (about) website:

We developed a web-based application for evaluating the environmental and socioeconomic implications and tradeoffs of implementing Indonesia's forest moratorium in Kalimantan under alternative scenarios. This web-based application enables on-the-fly quantification of the benefits of moratorium implementation for carbon conservation and its opportunity costs under alternative user-defined moratorium scenarios. It also includes a mapping function, which displays the land areas in Kalimantan protected by the moratorium via a 'Googlemap' interface. This application is freely available at: http://reddcalculator.com (or mirror site:http://un-redd.lianpinkoh.com).

Additionally, we also developed a downloadable spreadsheet version of this application, which allows users to work locally on their computer. This version is freely available for download at:

http://reddcalculator.com/media/files/Koh_et_al_moratorium_tool.xlsm

*Note that this spreadsheet-based application minimally requires Microsoft Office 2007 (for Windows users), or Microsoft Office 2011 (for Macintosh users). Also note that due to a known floating-point arithmetic issue in Microsoft Excel, outputs from this spreadsheet-based application might differ slightly from the web-based version.

Authors

Lian Pin Koh, PhD
Department of Environmental Sciences, ETH Zurich, Switzerland, and
Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore

Holly K. Gibbs, PhD
Department of Geography and Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies, University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA

Peter V. Potapov, PhD & Matthew C. Hansen, PhD
Geographic Information Science Center of Excellence, South Dakota State University, USA

Development of web-based interface

C. Cheng, S. Talpalaru, T. Munteanu and L. Chiributa of Odeon Consulting Group.

SBSTA 34 NEGOTIATIONS - INCREMENTAL PROGRESS ON REDD

2011-07-07T22:52:00.001-07:00

Global Canopy Programme has a great summary of what happened at SBSTA 34 on REDD+. Thanks Charley and Angela.

CA ARB releases Supplement to AB 32 Scoping Plan

2011-07-07T21:21:00.000-07:00

The blog title hyperlinks you to an overview. If you want the actual supplement, it is here:

http://www.arb.ca.gov/cc/scopingplan/document/Supplement_to_SP_FED.pdf

IFC Invests in BioCarbon Group to Conserve Forests & Reduce Emissions

2011-07-07T09:07:00.000-07:00

This is a major development in the REDD space, congratulations to all the players.

true

2011-06-30T00:00:00.000-07:00

all things originate from being

being originates from non-being

CA Senate Committee on A.B. 32 Market Mechanisms Overview Today

2011-06-29T13:55:00.000-07:00

Today, Chairman of the California Air Resources Board Mary D.
Nichols will address the Senate Select Committee on the
Environment, the Economy, and Climate Change during an
informational hearing titled “A.B. 32 Market Mechanisms
Overview”.

The hearing is scheduled to start at 3:30 p.m. in Room 3191 in
the California State Capitol.
It will be broadcast and televised. For details go to:
http://senate.ca.gov/todaysevents

The Chairman’s testimony will be posted at
http://www.arb.ca.gov/cc/capandtrade/capandtrade.htm
when the committee adjourns.

SBSTA 34 text on REDD

2011-06-27T13:21:00.001-07:00

This is text of the L.14 SBSTA document, hyperlinked in the blog title.

TFG believes this text reflects some minor progress on key issues, there is room for more progress to be made by SBSTA35/COP17, but the progress is minimal.

fccc/SBSTA/2011/L.14

Distr.: Limited 16 June 2011

Original: English

Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice Thirty-fourth session Bonn, 6–16 June 2011

Agenda item 4

Methodological guidance for activities relating to reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation and the role of conservation, sustainable management of forests and enhancement of forest carbon stocks in developing countries

Draft conclusions proposed by the Chair

1. The Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA) considered views on methodological guidance for activities relating to reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation and the role of conservation, sustainable management of forests and enhancement of forest carbon stocks in developing countries, taking into account issues identified in appendix II to decision 1/CP.16 and relevant issues.

2. In considering methodological issues referred to in paragraph 1 above, Parties identified a range of issues, including guidance on systems for providing information on how safeguards referred to in appendix I to decision 1/CP.16 are addressed and respected, modalities relating to forest reference emission levels and forest reference levels, and modalities for measuring, reporting and verifying as referred to in appendix II to decision 1/CP.16.

3. The SBSTA decided to continue its consideration of the methodological guidance referred to in paragraph 1 above, taking into account the elements referred to in the annex, with the aim of completing its work on these matters at its thirty-fifth session and reporting to the Conference of the Parties at its seventeenth session on progress made, including any recommendations for draft decisions on this matter.

4. The SBSTA invited Parties and accredited observers to submit to the secretariat, by 19 September 2011, their views on the issues identified in paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 above. It requested the secretariat to compile the submissions by Parties into a miscellaneous document for consideration by the SBSTA at its thirty-fifth session. The SBSTA requested the secretariat to organize, subject to the availability of supplementary funds, meetings of technical experts on matters referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2 above, including a meeting before its thirty-fifth session.

5. The SBSTA requested its Chair to continue exploring ways of facilitating the coordination of the activities relating to decisions 2/CP.13, 4/CP.15 and 1/CP.16, and to report back to the SBSTA at future sessions.

6. The SBSTA took note of the progress report by the secretariat on the implementation of the activities identified in document FCCC/SBSTA/2010/6, paragraph 40, in particular the establishment of an interactive discussion forum on the web platform.1 The SBSTA encouraged all Parties and their relevant experts, relevant organizations and stakeholders to participate actively in the interactive discussion forum.

7. The SBSTA encouraged Parties to support the other activities identified in its conclusions at its thirty-second session2 and those identified in decisions 2/CP.13, 4/CP.15 and 1/CP.16. It also reminded Parties, relevant organizations and stakeholders to continue sharing information and experiences on these activities via the web platform on the UNFCCC website.

Annex

General guidance for submissions and future work regarding: guidance on systems for providing information on how safeguards referred to in appendix I to decision 1/CP.16 are addressed and respected; modalities relating to forest reference emission levels and forest reference levels; and modalities for measuring, reporting and verifying as referred to in appendix II to decision 1/CP.16

1. Guidance on systems for providing information on how safeguards are addressed and respected:

(a) Characteristics;

(b) Design;

(d) Potential barriers, including barriers, if any, to providing information, on addressing and respecting safeguards;

(e) Other relevant issues.

2. Guidance for modalities relating to forest reference levels and forest reference emission levels:

(a) Scope and/or purpose;

(b) Characteristics, including elements listed in paragraph 1 of appendix I to decision 1/CP.16;

(d) Process for communication;

(e) Other relevant issues.

3. Guidance on modalities for measuring, reporting and verifying, as referred to in appendix II to decision 1/CP.16:

(a) Characteristics, including elements listed in paragraph 1 of appendix I to decision 1/CP.16;

(b) Elements;

(d) Other relevant issues.

Kenyan Ministry Funds Millions To Expand Forest Cover

2011-06-27T12:10:00.000-07:00

Courts OK CA cap and trade work to continue

2011-06-27T12:00:00.000-07:00

This article (hyperlinked in blog title) suggests California regulators may be planning on a stall court campaign for the next rounds of legal challenges, hoping that creating a cap and trade program may help repel any eventual challenge.

SBSTA 34, REDD+, reference levels

2011-06-15T05:19:00.000-07:00

TFG's SBSTA recommendations includes 3 elements of a decision:

(1) SBSTA recommends that COP17 invites developing Country Parties to submit to the secretariat, for publication on the REDD Web Platform, proposed REDD+ reference levels and reference emission levels, with the following information:

• Historical rates of emissions from deforestation and degradation

• The time period used for estimating historical activity data and any relevant explanation of these time periods

• Information on forest classes, activity data, and emissions factors used in proposing REDD+ reference levels and the methods used for following IPCC guidance, including use of the IPCC Emission Factor Database, and any relevant estimates of uncertainty.

• A weighting factor to adjust historical levels for national circumstances

• Any proposed quantitative adjustment to historical rates based on the weighting factor.

• Any subnational allocations of REDD+ reference levels and reference emission levels and any explanation as to how subnational allocations were made.

(2) SBSTA recommends that COP17 request SBSTA, in cooperation with the Secretariat, and based on REDD+ reference levels and reference emission levels published on the REDD Web Platform, to establish a system for encouraging transparent expert review of the levels in (1).

(3) SBSTA annually publishes summary reports of the levels (1) and the outcomes of the review (2) and forward these to COPs for consideration, beginning at COP19.

wow

2011-05-27T22:23:00.000-07:00

Contact: Tara Setmayer (202) 225-2415

***PRESS STATEMENT*** Rohrabacher Response to Misleading Reports on His Position Concerning Rainforests and Climate Change

Washington, May 27 - “Once again those with a global agenda have created a straw man by misrepresenting the position of their critics. I do not believe that CO2 is a cause of global warming, nor have I ever advocated the reduction of CO2 through the clearing of rainforests or cutting down older trees to prevent global warming. But that is how my question to a witness during my subcommittee hearing on May 25th is being reported. I simply asked the witness, Dr. Todd Stern, who is a supporter of a global climate treaty that would dramatically hurt the standard of living for millions of human beings, if he was considering a policy that would address naturally emitted carbon dioxide, which makes up over 90% of emissions.

“To suggest that I’m advocating such a radical approach instead of simply questioning the policy is a total misrepresentation of my position.”

ClientEarth's Daniela Rey blog on Amazon legislation

2011-05-25T08:49:00.000-07:00

ClientEarth has a good blog on some recent developments in Brazil.

It should be clarified that overall in the past 5 years, Brazil's rates of deforestation have been falling/declining very dramatically. It is one of the greatest global conservation success stories of our time.

What Daniela is referring to is a recent spike in deforestation (in March and April 2011), mostly in Mato Groso state. Many people believe this recent rise in deforestation is related to federal discussions to weaken the Forest Code and grant certain types of amnesty.

Surge in Amazon (Mato Grosso) deforestation

2011-05-18T10:42:00.002-07:00

Mongabay is reporting on fairly substantial increases in deforestation in the bell-weather state of Mato Grosso, Brazil. Mato Grosso had experienced fairly substantial declines in deforestation in recent years.

Climate Laws Gain in 16 major economies

2011-04-27T10:06:00.000-07:00

This is a very informative article about a recent study by Globe International.

You can find the original report here:

http://www.globeinternational.info/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/GLOBE-CLIMATE-LEGISLATION-STUDY.pdf

Policy Nominations for Visionary Forest Policies

2011-03-31T13:04:00.000-07:00

This is an interesting article on nominations for Visionary Forest Policies, an award by the World Future Council. The article at the bottom provides a link to 19 nominated policies from around the world, including the US 2008 Lacey Act, Aceh's 2007 Logging Moratorium, and Brazil's 2008 law authorizing the Amazon Fund (among many others).

What is the current status of REDD+? Mongabay interview

2011-03-24T10:31:00.000-07:00

FIELD's REDD+ Negotiations Guide

2011-03-21T10:21:00.000-07:00

The purpose of this guide is to assist developing country negotiators and others who are working on REDD-plus*.

FIELD provides this information on a neutral, non partisan basis. The guide is available in English, French and Spanish. Electronic versions can be found at www.field.org.uk.

This is an updated version (February 2011) of the guide that was released in October 2010.

REDD-plus is a very complicated issue. It is complicated technically. It is complicated politically. Although many countries are interested in reaching agreement on REDD-plus they also have different priorities and different views on key issues in the negotiations.

The negotiations on REDD-plus have complicated links with several other issues that are also under negotiation, which can make it difficult to maintain an overview and keep up with the implications of different proposals.

Cancun Agreements text formalized by UNFCCC

2011-03-16T09:10:00.001-07:00

The Cancun Agreements text has been converted to an official document (FCCC/CP/2010/7/Add.1).

A Brief History of REDD-Plus Negotiations

2011-03-11T13:58:00.000-08:00

Note: this article has been excerpted from The Cancun Agreements: Do they advance global cooperation on climate change?, which was published by the Field Foundation for International Environmental Law and Development.

By: Tony La Viña, Lawrence Ang and Joanne Dulce

TFG report calls for new UNFCCC REDD+ Mechanism

2011-03-07T14:57:00.000-08:00

TFG released a report calling for a new UNFCCC REDD+ Mechanism. The brief 10-page report can be downloaded from TFG's home page or from the link in the blog title.

The report has the following sections:

Executive Summary

Context & Justification for Creating a New UNFCCC REDD+ Mechanism

Key Components of a UNFCCC REDD+ Mechanism

Annex on Key REDD+ Developments Outside the UNFCCC Process

NYT reporting US House cuts REDD+, adaptation, clean tech & IPCC funding

2011-03-05T19:22:00.000-08:00

NYT is reporting the US House of Representatives has cut the administration's FY 2011 request for climate change programs run by the world bank to $0. These cuts include:

$95m for REDD

$400 m for clean tech

$90 for adaptation.

The White House request for supporting the IPCC was also cut from $2.3 million to $0.

REDD+ Partnership: Brazil/France Proposed Plan of Action

2011-02-25T15:55:00.000-08:00

The new chairs of the REDD+ Partnership posted a new proposed work plan on February 18, 2011.

U.S. REDD+ Fast Track in peril with DC budget debate

2011-02-17T21:52:00.000-08:00

Eric Haxthausen, U.S. climate policy director for The Nature Conservancy, has a good blog hyperlinked in the blog title. It is briefly cited below:

It is a busy week on the Hill, between the release of President Barack Obama’s budget proposal and the debate in Congress about H.R. 1, the U.S. House of Representatives’ bill to provide funding for federal programs for the rest of the current fiscal year. Current funding for the federal government runs out on March 4, so the next two weeks is shaping up as a showdown between the parties on the country’s fiscal course.

One important element that might get lost in all of the public discussion is this: H.R. 1 would slash U.S. direct foreign assistance and support for multilateral institutions. The total funding of these programs amounts to less than 1 percent of the federal budget, but they play a critical role in protecting U.S. security, contributing to a strong economy, providing stability in many countries, and preserving the U.S. as a strong global partner.

New social media tool for reporting deforestation

2011-02-17T09:57:00.000-08:00

DeforLeaks provides a platform for any concerned individual anywhere in the world to report on deforestation events and/or their impacts on wildlife and humans. DeforLeaks shares your stories and contributions with the wider environmental and conservation community through its social media network.

Ban Ki-moon signals lowered expectations for climate deal

2011-02-09T13:00:00.000-08:00

This announcement confirms what many have felt since Copenhagen - the world will not reach an overarching pact like the KP in the near term. With "Plan A" out-the-window, "Plan B" is emerging as a series of loosely coordinated gestures and smaller incremental gains. For REDD+, this will mean bundling and coordinating a UNFCCC REDD+ Mechanism (hopefully some day), the GCF, California's sectoral cap-and-trade rules, commodity roundtables, and leveraging public funds for long-term reductions. Hopefully down the road we can stitch it all back together...

VCS issues 1st REDD credits to Wildlife Works!

2011-02-09T10:39:00.000-08:00

Kenyan Carbon Project Earns First-Ever Voluntary REDD Credits.

CIFOR's Lou Verchot: REDD+ Dance Analysis

2011-02-09T08:45:00.000-08:00

The analysis hyperlinked in the blog title is a solid overview, although TFG does not quite have the same take on Cancun. While there was remarkable progress in Cancun on REDD+, negotiators fell short of creating an actual REDD+ Mechanism. There was agreement on key parts of REDD+ and decisions to consider other mechanisms, but for now we still have no actual entity within the UNFCCC on REDD+ that can start operating.

Lou is right that more and more pieces are falling into place. The decisions in Cancun were a very good indication the UNFCCC will eventually do something soon on REDD+, provided either larger issues (legal nature, commitments, MRV, finance) can be resolved or REDD+ gets some blessing to move ahead without a total package (as happened with the Adaptation Committee and the Green Climate Fund in the Cancun Agreements).

The latest version (with apparently still a few typos) of the Cancun Agreements are here:

http://unfccc.int/files/meetings/cop_16/application/pdf/cop16_lca.pdf

VCS nested REDD+Initiative

2011-02-08T08:41:00.000-08:00

CAR's nested REDD+protocol process in Mexico

2011-02-08T08:37:00.000-08:00

CAR's Mexico Forest Project Protocol

The Climate Action Reserve (Reserve) is developing a Forest Project Protocol for use throughout Mexico. The Mexico protocol will be based on the U.S. Forest Project Protocol and will include guidance for the types of projects covered under the U.S. version of the Forest Project Protocol: Reforestation, Avoided Deforestation (Avoided Conversion), and Sustainable Forest Management (Improved Forest Management). Development of all three project types will be conducted contemporaneously, with initial efforts focused on areas of shared application.

Reserve staff will work with the Mexico forest workgroup (see below) to refine the Forest Project Protocol for use in Mexico by developing guidance and standards for nested projects within a REDD framework, environmental integrity, land tenure issues, and permanence of forest carbon sequestration specific to projects in Mexico.

Director of Policy on Climate Will Leave, Her Goal Unmet

2011-01-25T02:33:00.000-08:00

Carol Browner didn't seem to have much to do with US REDD+ policies and programs. No word yet on a replacement.

Link to US REDD Strategy (Feb 3 2011 update)

2011-01-20T12:02:00.000-08:00

The US government put out its REDD strategy in December 2010. You can find it hyper-linked in the title bar. Thus far, there seems to be little reaction to the plan.

(The original post was modified 2/3/2011 to link to the full USG REDD+ strategy. Previously the link went to the brochure of that strategy - the two documents are quite similar).

The brochure link is here:

http://www.usaid.gov/our_work/environment/climate/docs/UnitedStatesREDD+Brochure.pdf

Excellent EDF summary on what to expect in 2011

2010-12-29T11:57:00.000-08:00

Jennifer Haverkamp's excellent article is hyper-linked in the blog title bar. It notes that REDD+ and finance saw the most progress in the Cancun Agreements and that more work lays ahead. Happy New Year TFG blog readers - please don't forget to kiss a dinosaur this year!

Sectoral (and REDD) language in ARB's Regulations Order

2010-12-17T12:34:00.001-08:00

The 188-page ARB rule is hyperlinked in the blog title bar. TFG has also transcribed the portion of the decision on sectoral crediting, where REDD is located. Below is our unofficial transcription of the relevant sections (from pages 176 to 178).

§ 95991. Sector-Based Offset Credits.

Sector-based offset credits may be generated through reduced or avoided GHG emissions from within, or carbon removed and sequestered from the atmosphere by, a specific sector in a particular jurisdiction. The Board may consider for acceptance compliance instruments issued from sector-based offset crediting programs that meet the requirements set forth in section 95994 and originate from developing countries or from subnational jurisdictions within those developing countries, except as specified in subarticle 13.

§ 95992. Procedures for Approval of Sector-Based Crediting Programs.

The Board may approve a sector-based crediting program in an eligible jurisdiction after public notice and opportunity for public comment in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act (Government Code section 11340 et seq.). Provisions set forth in this article shall specify which compliance instruments issued by an approved sector-based crediting program may be used to meet a compliance obligation under this Article.

§ 95993. Sources for Sector-Based Offset Credits.

Sector-based credits may be generated from:

(a) Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD) Plans; and

(b) Reserved for other sources of sector-based credits.

§ 95994. Requirements for Sector-Based Offset Crediting Programs.

(a) General Requirements for Sector-Based Crediting Programs. The Board may consider for approval a sector-based crediting program which may include the following sectoral requirements:

1. Sector Plan. The host jurisdiction has established a plan for reducing emissions from the sector.

2. Monitoring, Reporting, Verification, and Enforcement. The program includes a transparent system that regularly monitors, inventories, reports, verifies, and maintains accounting for emission reductions across the program’s entire sector, as well as maintains enforcement capability over its reference activity producing credits.

3. Offset Criteria. The program has requirements to ensure that offset credits generated by the program are real, additional, quantifiable, permanent, verifiable and enforceable.

4. Sectoral Level Performance. The program includes a transparent system for determining and reporting when it meets or exceeds its crediting baseline(s), and evaluating the performance of the program’s sector during each program’s crediting period relative to the business as usual or other emissions reference level.

5. Public Participation and Participatory Management Mechanism. The program has established a means for public participation and consultation in the program design process.

6. Nested Approach. If applicable, the program includes:

(A) Offset project-specific requirements that establish methods to inventory, quantify, monitor, verify, enforce, and account for all project-level activities

(B) a system for reconciling offset project-based GHG reductions in sector-level accounting from the host jurisdiction.

(b) Sector-Specific Requirements. Pursuant to section 95996, specific sectors may have specific requirements unique to that sector.

§ 95995. Quantitative Usage Limit.

Sector-based offset credits approved by ARB for compliance pursuant to section 95821(d) are subject to the quantitative usage limit specified in section 95854.

§ 95996. Reserved for Sector-Specific Requirements

§ 95997. Reserved for Approved Sector-Based Crediting Programs.

California's Historic Vote on Climate Change and RED

2010-12-16T18:15:00.000-08:00

Tonight at 7:07 pm, the California Air Resources Board voted to adopt the cap and trade regulations for AB32, California's global warming law. The final vote passed 9 -1.

The new regulations include, among many things, strong preliminary support for sub-national RED international emissions reductions.

Just before passing the new rules (resolution 1043), many CARB board members highlighted that more work lays ahead, in terms of details, the operation of a market, protocols, and oversight. The overarching suggestion from Board members to the staff was a call for transparency in implementation of this new market. "If things go bad, they can go really bad" said board member Sperling, as he called on ARB staff to report back to the Board on ensuring appropriate market oversight.

Anyone watching CARB's process today should be proud of the integrity and openness behind this new bold direction for California. Said CARB member Berg near the end of the meeting, "today is the beginning of a new level of details".

Congratulations CARB Board members, staff and of course California voters! A recent poll shows 64% of surveyed voters support the cap and trade parts of California's bill.

Historic Cancun Agreement for Sub-National REDD+

2010-12-11T09:45:00.000-08:00

The Tropical Forest Group is still reviewing the final negotiating text (the most recent electronic version is hyper-linked in the title), but it is clear:

1) The UNFCCC process is alive and well;

2) REDD+, including interim sub-national REDD+, is one of the most important United Nations decisions adopted by consensus since 1992's Rio Agreements;

3) It is a supersonic historic accomplishment for a wounded process that citizens worldwide should be proud of;

3) This agreement, combined with a REDD+ Mechanism in the Copenhagen Accord and California's recent decision to move forward with sectoral REDD crediting, and all the elements are in place for profound positive developments in the conservation of tropical forests.

4) The participation and role of forest communities, local people, indigenous peoples, and ordinary citizens in the subsequent decision-making will ultimately determine whether REDD+ will succeed.

5) You should get up and dance, this is epic. TFG has been working on sub-national REDD+ and the importance of setting forest reference levels for years, because of their importance.

(Below is TFG's transcription of the REDD+ parts of the LCA text of the Cancun Agreement, which is yet to be officially published. We have included the dedicated REDD+ paragraphs and the two relevant Annexes. This is not official text.)

Outcome of the work of the Ad Hoc Working Group on long- term Cooperative Action under the Convention

III C. Policy approaches and positive incentives on issues relating to reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation in developing countries; and the role of conservation, sustainable management of forests and enhancement of forest carbon stocks in developing countries

Affirming that, in the context of the provision of adequate and predictable support to developing country Parties, Parties should collectively aim to slow, halt and reverse forest cover and carbon loss, according to national circumstances, consistent with the ultimate objective of the Convention, as stated in Article 2,

Also affirming the need to promote broad country participation in all phases described in paragraph 73 below, including through the provision of support that takes into account existing capacities,

68. Encourages all Parties to find effective ways to reduce the human pressure on forests that results in greenhouse gas emissions, including actions to address drivers of deforestation;

69. Affirms that the implementation of the activities referred to in paragraph 70 below should be carried out in accordance with annex I to this decision, and that the safeguards referred to in paragraph 2 of annex I to this decision should be promoted and supported;

70. Encourages developing country Parties to contribute to mitigation actions in the forest sector by undertaking the following activities, as deemed appropriate by each Party and in accordance with their respective capabilities and national circumstances:

(a) Reducing emissions from deforestation;

(b) Reducing emissions from forest degradation;

(d) Sustainable management of forest;

(e) Enhancement of forest carbon stocks;

71. Requests developing country Parties aiming to undertake activities referred to in paragraph 70 above, in the context of the provision of adequate and predictable support, including financial resources and technical and technological support to developing country Parties, in accordance with national circumstances and respective capabilities, to develop the following elements:

(a) A national strategy or action plan;

(b) A national forest reference emission level and/or forest reference level (6) or, if appropriate, as an interim measure, subnational forest reference emission levels and/or forest reference levels, in accordance with national circumstances, and with provisions contained in decision 4/CP.15, and with any further elaboration of those provisions adopted by the Conference of the Parties;

(c) A robust and transparent national forest monitoring system for the monitoring and reporting of the activities referred to in paragraph 70 above, with, if appropriate, subnational monitoring and reporting as an interim measure,(7) in accordance with national circumstances, and with the provisions contained in decision 4/CP.15, and with any further elaboration of those provisions agreed by the Conference of the Parties;

(d) A system for providing information on how the safeguards referred to in annex I to this decision are being addressed and respected throughout the implementation of the activities referred to in paragraph 70, while respecting sovereignty;

72. Also requests developing country Parties, when developing and implementing their national strategies or action plans, to address, inter alia, drivers of deforestation and forest degradation, land tenure issues, forest governance issues, gender considerations and the safeguards identified in paragraph 2 of annex I to this decision, ensuring the full and effective participation of relevant stakeholders, inter alia, indigenous peoples and local communities;

73. Decides that the activities undertaken by Parties referred to in paragraph 70 above should be implemented in phases beginning with the development of national strategies or action plans, policies and measures, and capacity-building, followed by the implementation of national policies and measures and national strategies or action plans that could involve further capacity-building, technology development and transfer and results-based demonstration activities, and evolving into results-based actions that should be fully measured, reported and verified;

74. Recognizes that the implementation of the activities referred to in paragraph 70 above, including the choice of a starting phase as referred to in paragraph 73 above, depends on the specific national circumstances, capacities and capabilities of each developing country Party and the level of support received;

75. Requests the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice to develop a work programme on the matters referred to in annex II to this decision;

76. Urges Parties, in particular developed country Parties, to support, through multilateral and bilateral channels, the development of national strategies or action plans, policies and measures and capacity-building, followed by the implementation of national policies and measures, and national strategies or action plans, that could involve further capacity building, technology development and transfer and results-based demonstration activities including consideration of the safeguards referred to in paragraph 2 of annex I to this decision, taking into account the relevant provisions on finance including those relating to reporting on support;

77. Requests the Ad Hoc Working Group on Long-term Cooperative Action under the Convention to explore financing options for the full implementation of the results-based actions (8) referred to in paragraph 73 above, and to report on progress made, including any recommendations for draft decisions on this matter, to the Conference of the Parties at its seventeenth session;

78. Also requests Parties to ensure coordination of the activities referred to in paragraph 70 above, including of the related support, particularly at the national level;

79. Invites relevant international organizations and stakeholders to contribute to the activities referred to in paragraphs 70 and 78 above.

Footnotes

6 In accordance with national circumstances, national forest reference emission levels and/or forest reference levels could be a combination of subnational forest reference emissions levels and/or forest reference levels.

7 Including monitoring and reporting of emissions displacement at the national level, if appropriate, and reporting on how displacement of emissions is being addressed, and on the means to integrate subnational monitoring systems into a national monitoring system.

8 These actions require national monitoring systems.

Annex I. Guidance and safeguards for policy approaches and positive incentives on issues relating to reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation in developing countries; and the role of conservation, sustainable management of forests and enhancement of forest carbon stocks in developing countries

1. Activities referred to in paragraph 70 of this decision should:

(a) Contribute to the achievement of the objective set out in Article 2 of the Convention;

(b) Contribute to the fulfilment of the commitments set out in Article 4, paragraph 3, of the Convention;

(d) Be consistent with the objective of environmental integrity and take into account the multiple functions of forests and other ecosystems;

(e) Be undertaken in accordance with national development priorities, objectives and circumstances and capabilities and should respect sovereignty;

(f) Be consistent with Parties’ national sustainable development needs and goals;

(g) Be implemented in the context of sustainable development and reducing poverty, while responding to climate change;

(h) Be consistent with the adaptation needs of the country;

(i) Be supported by adequate and predictable financial and technology support, including support for capacity-building;

(j) Be results-based;

(k) Promote sustainable management of forests;

2. When undertaking activities referred to in paragraph 70 of this decision, the following safeguards should be promoted and supported:

(a) Actions complement or are consistent with the objectives of national forest programmes and relevant international conventions and agreements;

(b) Transparent and effective national forest governance structures, taking into account national legislation and sovereignty;

(c) Respect for the knowledge and rights of indigenous peoples and members of local communities, by taking into account relevant international obligations, national circumstances and laws, and noting that the United Nations General Assembly has adopted the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples;

(d) The full and effective participation of relevant stakeholders, in particular, indigenous peoples and local communities, in actions referred to in paragraphs 70 and 72 of this decision;

(e) Actions are consistent with the conservation of natural forests and biological diversity, ensuring that actions referred to in paragraph 70 of this decision are not used for the conversion of natural forests, but are instead used to incentivize the protection and conservation of natural forests and their ecosystem services, and to enhance other social and environmental benefits; (1)

(f) Actions to address the risks of reversals;

(g) Actions to reduce displacement of emissions.

Footnotes. 1 Taking into account the need for sustainable livelihoods of indigenous peoples and local communities and their interdependence on forests in most countries, reflected in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, as well as the International Mother Earth Day.

Annex II. Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice work programme on policy approaches and positive incentives on issues relating to reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation in developing countries; and the role of conservation, sustainable management of forests and enhancement of forest carbon stocks in developing countries

In the development of its work programme, the SBSTA is requested to:

(a) Identify land use, land-use change and forestry activities in developing countries, in particular those that are linked to the drivers of deforestation and forest degradation, to identify the associated methodological issues to estimate emissions and removals resulting from these activities, and to assess their potential contribution to the mitigation of climate change, and report on the findings to the Conference of the Parties at its eighteenth session on the outcomes of the work referred to in this paragraph;

(b) Develop modalities relating to paragraphs 71 (b) and (c), and guidance relating to paragraph 71 (d) of this decision, for consideration by the Conference of the Parties at its seventeenth session;

(c) Develop as necessary, modalities for measuring, reporting and verifying anthropogenic forest-related emissions by sources and removals by sinks, forest carbon stocks, forest carbon stock and forest area changes resulting from the implementation of activities referred to in paragraph 70 of this decision, consistent with any guidance for measuring, reporting and verification of nationally appropriate mitigation actions by developing country Parties agreed by the Conference of the Parties, taking into account methodological guidance in accordance with decision 4/CP.15, for consideration by the Conference of the Parties at its seventeenth session;

Ban Ki-moon addresses COP16

2010-12-09T08:56:00.000-08:00

Update from Cancun

2010-12-09T00:46:00.000-08:00

Dec 8 LCA text: nerdy SBSTA REDD stuff

2010-12-08T10:01:00.000-08:00

The new LCA text is out, with even more brackets on key issues. One area that has not received a lot of attending is the SBSTA mandate. In the new (and old) text, Annex III is a request to SBSTA for a REDD+ work program.

TFG believes the SBSTA mandate is a very good start (including national and sub-national modalities for key issues such as reference levels) but misses the most important work SBSTA should do in coming years.

The current SBSTA request is limited to paragraphs 67 and 68. TFG believes the text should also request SBSTA to cover MRV issues associated with results-based demonstration activities and results-based actions (that are discussed in paragraph 70). Improved language to deliver more comprehensive and coordinate technical work would go from initial designs and reference levels (67 and 68) all the way through results-based actions and MRV. SBSTA has taken years to have a good decision on REDD (especially reference levels) but must evaluate the full range of technical issues that will come in various phases in a coordinated manner. In fact, paragraphs 70 specifically refers to paragraph 67, but goes into more detail on key technical and scientific issues and MRV.

Other parts of the REDD text allow a country to use different starting phases, but if SBSTA is restricted to paras 67 and 68, then countries ready to go the fastest, and wanting the integrity of SBSTA, will have to wait. This could be accomplished by adding the following text to Annex III, paragraph (c):

…resulting from implementation of activities referred to in paragraph 67 [ …and paragraph 70 ] of this decision, consistent with….

This will ensure SBSTA develops modalities for the most important issue, the MRV of results-based demonstration activities and results-based actions.

We know that this is unlikely to change since it is not bracketed text, but if negotiations allow, such changes would ensure a more consistent (across time), equitable (countries can pick their starting phases) and supportive SBSTA process on REDD+.

Bolivia's rates of deforestation highest under Morales

2010-12-07T19:44:00.000-08:00

Here in Cancun at COP16, Bolivia is definitely trying to present itself as the moral guardian of forests and Mother Earth. However data by FAO and other sources and compiled on Mongabay (link is in the title bar) show that under the Morales Presidency (Morales was elected in 2006) rates of deforestation in Bolivia have jumped significantly. Currently, Bolivia is deforesting at a rate of approximately 840 hectares per day. This rate is in stark contrast to President Morales's eco-grandstanding. President Morales has sent a knee to the groin of Cancun climate change negotiations (as he did in a soccer match recently). Hopefully he gets a REDD card here....

Dan Nepstad (IPAM) addresses COP16

2010-12-07T07:21:00.000-08:00

President Felipe Calderon Hinojosa addresses COP16

2010-12-07T00:01:00.000-08:00