Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
REDD+
The idea of developing an instrument on deforestation within the climate change negoti-
ations was first suggested at COP11 (2005) in Montreal and was referred to as RED (Re-
duced Emissions from Deforestation). The UN REDD Programme (Reducing Emissions
from Deforestation and Forest Degradation) was agreed in principle at COP13 (2007) in
Bali. This has been subsequently refined as REDD+, the '+' representing safeguards to pro-
tect local people and REDD++, with the second '+' representing safeguards to the local
ecosystem and biodiversity. REDD++ is visualized as a win-win solution that can protect
forests and ecosystems, promote reforestation, and protect and compensate forest dwellers
from/for lost income from exploiting their forested land. But REDD++ has not been well
designed and there is still discussion on a whether it is fund or market driven process.
There have also been problems dealing with the issue of 'leakage'. Leakage refers to the
fact that forest maintenance in one place may lead to deforestation in another. Hence
REDD++ needs to be adopted at a national level so that domestic leakage can be avoided.
There is also the problem of 'additionality' because pristine rainforest is already absorbing
a lot of atmospheric carbon dioxide, part of the 25 per cent of our pollution take up is by
the land biosphere. So there is no additional benefit from that forest except if it is under
threat and then, if cut down, it would release all that stored carbon. So REDD++ projects
would have to show additional carbon benefits. The final problem is how to find an eco-
nomic way to measure, report, and verify (MRV) carbon stored in protected forest or
gained in reforested areas. Currently a combination of satellite data with ground truthing
seems the most cost effective approach.
Despite these problems REDD has built up considerable momentum and relevant policies
are being developed in 40 countries to make them REDD-ready. Considerable funding has
been made available for this through World Bank's Forest Carbon Partnership Facility,
Norway's International Climate and Forest Initiative, the Global Environment Facility,
Australia's International Forest Carbon Initiative and the Collaborative Partnership on
Forests. Some successes have already occurred, for example the bilaterial agreement
between Norway and Indonesia led to a two-year ban on government issued licences to
convert forest-land to other uses. So the confusion in REDD++ design and lack of strong
leadership through the UNFCCC process has not stopped countries pushing ahead with this
approach.
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