18 Million Dollars Approved Under UN-REDD Programme

UNEP 18 Mar 09;

Funds Will Back Forestry Programmes Combating Climate Change and Boosting Local Livelihoods

Nairobi, 18 March 2009- A United Nations programme aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions from forests and boosting livelihoods in tropical nations has approved $18 million in support of five pilot countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America.

The UN-Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation (UN-REDD) - a collaboration between the Food and Agriculture Organization, the UN Development Programme and the UN Environment Programme - promises to be an important component of a future agreement on climate change to be agreed under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change in December this at crucial meeting in Copenhagen, Denmark.

The $18 million-worth of funding, roughly a third of the sums currently available, has been approved by inaugural Policy Board meeting of Programme which met in Panama. The funding will support action plans to assist the countries concerned prepare for the inclusion of REDD in a new climate deal.

During the high level Policy Board meeting, senior government representatives of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Tanzania, and Viet Nam, presented their plans for preparing national strategies for a future REDD regime. The presentation of the national programmes served as valuable learning and sharing experiences among participants on the way forward.

"This is a very significant first step for the UN-REDD Programme", said Angela Cropper, UN Assistant Secretary General and UNEP Deputy Executive Director, who chaired the meeting.

"I am heartened to see such a dedicated group of countries, indigenous peoples, civil society, donors and the United Nations come together to reach consensus on this important programme. I am confident that the Programme will have a substantial input to the continuing REDD debate."

Many countries will implement their individual strategies aimed at maintaining their ecosystems through sustainable forest management that provides environmental and economic benefits to their citizens and communities while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Activities will include monitoring programmes, consultative processes for engaging indigenous peoples and civil society, links to other benefits such as biodiversity and the strengthening the capacity of national institutions to address these issues.

In addition to the countries currently engaged in the programme implementation, the Policy Board includes members of indigenous peoples groups and civil society as well as donors and many other interested parties such as the World Bank and the Global Environment Facility secretariat.

Ambassador Hans Brattskar, Director of Norway's Forest and Climate Programme whose country is funding the UN-REDD Programme said: "I am pleased with this significant outcome. We are moving in the right direction and I am very happy to see the approval of country programmes that will begin to address REDD at the national level. We are convinced that these countries will help to advance REDD and serve as demonstrations from which others can learn."

Between 1990 and 2005 the rate of deforestation averaged 13 million hectares, mostly in the Tropics.

Greenhouse gas emissions with felling, slash and burn agriculture and other deforestation effects, account for around 17 per cent or more of global emissions-the second largest source after the energy sector.

By 2100 clearing of tropical forests could release 87 to 130 Gigatonnes of carbon to the atmosphere.