GLOBAL GOAL FOR REDUCING
DEFORESTATION AND DEGRADATION
BRIEF
A clear and ambitious global goal for reduced emissions from deforestation and forest degradation
is a vital part of a global carbon budget that limits warming to well below 1.5°C
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© A. Christy Williams / WWF-Canon
2010
Forests for GOOD
Why do we need a global goal?
Tropical forests are essential to the wellbeing of people, biodiversity and the climate. They are the world’s
largest storehouses of terrestrial carbon, are home to two-thirds of all terrestrial biodiversity and they
underpin the livelihoods of roughly 1.6 billion people. Yet, deforestation continues at an alarming rate of 13
million hectares per year, or 36 football fields a minute2. Deforestation and forest degradation are responsible
for approximately 15% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Scientists predict that if we do not address
this important source of emissions, there is little chance of keeping the average global temperature increase
below 1.5°C.
Any REDD+ mechanism must include an ambitious global goal. Here’s why:
1. A global goal will be a vital part of a global carbon budget that ensures we limit warming to 1.5°C;
2. A global goal will set the benchmark for an associated global target for REDD+ financing to ensure that
adequate resources are available to implement REDD+;
3. A global goal will serve as an important guidepost for associated national REDD+ targets.
How can a global goal be feasibly achieved?
•Only with adequate financing. A global goal must go hand-in-hand
with commitments from developed countries to provide long-term,
adequate, predictable REDD+ financing. Long-term REDD+ financing
will give countries confidence to do their part to achieve a global goal.
•All parties must do their fair share. REDD+ must be designed
to address drivers of deforestation and degradation at all levels in all
countries. This includes both drivers within tropical forest countries
and international demand for forest-derived products that cause
deforestation and degradation.
ANY AMBITIOUS GOAL ON
DEFORESTATION AND FOREST
DEGRADATION CAN ONLY
BE REACHED IF REDD+
IS APPROACHED
COMPREHENSIVELY
Compared to pre-industrial levels.
According to FAO (March 2010) “net” forest loss has dropped to 5,2 million hectares/yr because of large afforestation and reforestation programmes
particularly carried out in Asia.
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Forests for GOOD
•Private sector involvement is critical. The forestry,
agriculture and extractive industries need to implement better
management practices that are consistent with environmental
and social safeguards and certification standards, while
manufacturers, traders and end-users must shift to sustainable
procurement policies that reject products linked to forest
destruction.
What does ZNEDD mean?
TO SET THE SCALE AND
TIME-PERIOD FOR MAKING
PROGRESS TOWARD REDD+,
WWF PROPOSES AN
OVERARCHING GOAL OF
ZERO NET EMISSIONS FROM
DEFORESTATION AND
FOREST DEGRADATION
BY 2020 (ZNEDD)
•Zero Net Emissions from
Deforestation and Forest
Degradation by 2020 (ZNEDD)
should be the core medium-term
goal for REDD+ programmes. Yet,
ZNEDD doesn’t mean no emissions
from deforestation and degradation anywhere. Rather, ZNEDD recognizes
that in some circumstances, conversion of forests in one site may contribute
to the sustainable development and conservation of the wider landscape,
provided that biodiversity and high value conservation forests are
protected and that the net quantity, quality and carbon density of forests is
maintained.
• FOREST CARBON INITIATIVE • 2010
© Alain Compost / WWF-Canon
•Government-level commitments are vital. Governments
need to develop policies and land-use plans integrating various
cross-sectoral policies such as agriculture, energy, finance and
trade.
•However, conversion of carbon-dense natural forest into plantations is
not the answer. Meeting a ZNEDD goal means reducing the conversion
of natural forests close to zero (by 95% or greater). Additionally, it means
ensuring that emissions reductions are largely met by conserving standing
natural forests rather than through enhanced sequestration (such as
reforestation and afforestation), ZNEDD should be achieved through a 75%
reduction in gross emissions from deforestation and forest degradation.
•Degradation is a significant source of emissions and should be included
in a global goal in order to prevent natural forests from being degraded or
replaced by other land uses. Maximising the conservation of biodiversity and
emissions reductions requires keeping the world’s remaining natural and
primary forests intact.
Key recommendations for the LCA text:
For more information:
Gerald Steindlegger
Policy Director
WWF Forest Carbon Initiative
[email protected]
® WWF Registered Trademark Owner © 1986, WWF-World Wide Fund for Nature
(formerly World Wildlife Fund), Gland, Switzerland
Melissa Tupper
Communications Director
WWF Forest Carbon Initiative
[email protected]
PANDA.ORG/FORESTCARBON
•In the August 2010 (UNFCCC/AWG-LCA2010/14) version, “placeholder text” in the preamble
should be replaced by a clear statement that a global goal for reduced deforestation and
degradation should be negotiated and included in a final international treaty. This global goal
must be clearly linked to a clear target for Annex 1 financing for REDD+ in the text.