Forest Carbon Partnership Facility
Guyana’s REDD Readiness-Plan
Technical Advisory Panel Review
Participants Committee Meeting (FCPF PC3)
Montreux, Switzerland, June 16-18, 2009
High Potential for REDD
• Large tracts of intact and unexploited
forests
• Forest is a key land use on the soils of the
Guyana shield
• Strong forest management agency (GFC)
and high political support (Presidency)
• Willingness to manage forests for REDD
Forests cover in Guyana
Total Area
21.5 million ha
Population
765, 283
inhabitants
Population
growth
0.1%/yr.
Forested Area
18.6 million ha
Def. Rate: 0.1-0.3%
Forest Cover
87%
State Forest
13.8 million ha
(74 % of forested
area)
Contribution of 4.5% as a primary
Forest sector
product
to GDP
Direct
Employment
>25,000 persons
R-Plan Preparation
• A lot of efforts and positive responses to the
TAP’s first assessment
 submission of a revised R-Plan (in a very
short time period)
 addressed some of the issues raised by TAP
 led to changes in the TAP’s appreciation in
various items, though it did not fundamentally
change the TAP review outcome (which were
based on the required criteria and standards)
R-Plan Strengths
• Full ownership within Government (and GFC)
(invested time, commitment, interest)
• REDD is treated as an integral part of FM (and
proposed to be part of the recently launched LCDS)
• Points to key governance issues
• Intends to have full inclusion of all relevant
stakeholders
• Understandings of key issues on MRV and carbon
accounting
• Links Forest Management with biodiversity
conservation and carbon management
Issues – 1  Forestry centric approach
(instead of a forest centric approach)
• Need to fully recognize and define deforestation
and degradation drivers that are outside the forest
sector
• Improved forest management is important, but
there are limitations in its use for REDD
• More clear targeting of REDD interventions needed
(broader ownership)  cross-cutting issues
Issues –2 Integration of local stakeholders
• A fully capacitated REDD-Secretariat is proposed that will
support and facilitate stakeholder participation
• Inclusive and informed consultations of all stakeholders,
and particularly Indigenous Peoples, will be key.
• Clear mechanisms need to be identified for benefit
sharing.
Issues –3 Future Reference Level Projections
• Projected deforestation rates can be challenged, considering
the low fertility of Guyana’s soil and its limited use for
economic activities other than forestry
• The methodological issues involved and their compliance
with IPCC guidelines is critical
• More specific reference scenarios considering infra-structural
development and uncontrolled mining
• Clearly indicate the capacity needs to establish a reference
level scenario and future monitoring of emission reductions
Issues –4 Economics of major land uses causing DD
• The economics of competing land uses causing
deforestation and forest degradation need to be
understood and described
• Need to address main land tenure and natural
resources rights
• Carbon ownership across tenure and management
options and more clarity on benefit sharing
arrangements for financial REDD incentives
Recommendations -1 Consider both types of recommendations,
“cross-cutting criteria” and “standards to be
met”
• Identify the magnitude, location, and direct and
underlying causes of changes in forest cover and
quality
• Design a REDD strategy that is specifically focused
on addressing those direct and underlying causes
of deforestation and degradation
Recommendations -2• Pay attention to policies from outside that
affect the forest sector
• Strengthen cross-sectoral work by fully
involving the Government agencies dealing with
mining and agriculture and the national
development policy frameworks
• Integrate a full consultation process with all
stakeholders, based on the Bank’s safeguards in
the REDD-Strategy development
• Address remaining issues of land tenure and
territorial rights.
What really needs to be delivered at an R-Plan
stage for Guyana?  PC to decide upon
 Need to have a clear understanding of the strategy to be
developed and the technical issues involved (e.g. on how to
produce a reference scenario, information need for MRV, etc)
 Develop further the R-Plan/
REDD-Strategy with considerable
FCPF support and continuous
exchange
 Stepwise approach with technical and financial support of FCPF