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Narration: In this presentation you will learn about the Reducing Emissions from Deforestation
and Degradation (REDD) programme. You will also learn about the latest developments of the
REDD+ programme.
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Narration: The presentation is divided into six main sections.
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Narration: In order to address REDD, it is important to know the underlying causes of
deforestation, which are often understated compared with the direct causes of deforestation.
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Narration: Land use and land-use change has been reported to be one of the important sources
of greenhouse gas emissions. Emissions from tropical deforestation has contributed about 20 per
cent of global emissions.
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Narration: There are 10 major forested countries in the tropics. The figures here indicate the
annual rate of deforestation in thousands of hectares during 2000-2005, with a total rate of 11
million hectares per year or 1 per cent of the total global forest cover.
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Narration: Most developing countries are undergoing extensive deforestation, causing CO2
emissions. There are a few exceptions, including India, China and Vietnam.
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Narration: So far, afforestation and reforestation through the CDM has not been promising.
However, there is the potential to address 20 per cent of global emissions through afforestation
and reforestation projects.
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Narration: The REDD framework is a mechanism initially proposed at the 2005 COP 11 meeting
of the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Montreal, which aims to reduce the global
greenhouse gas emissions resulting from deforestation and degradation of forests, by providing
economic incentives to rainforest nations to keep their tropical forests intact. At the upcoming
COP 15 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in December of 2009 in
Copenhagen (Denmark), nations will negotiate a new treaty to address international climate
change that may include a REDD framework.
Source: http://www.bioenergywiki.net/index.php/REDD
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Narration: The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change is an international
treaty. 192 countries around the world have joined the treaty, which sets general goals and rules
for confronting climate change. The Convention has the goal of preventing ‘dangerous’ human
interference with the climate system. Before the Kyoto Protocol expires in 2012, there is a lead
time to get ready with REDD. Demonstration activities or REDD pilots are, therefore, very
important as they will test and evaluate REDD before it is fully implemented.
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Narration: National governments are basically held responsible for implementing REDD. They are
politically and technically involved in the initiation of REDD demonstration activities. Policy
processes and choices of methodologies are equally important. Although the sub-national
approach is limited, it would provide the opportunity to evaluate displacement of emissions or
leakage.
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Narration: However, evolution from the sub-national to national approach is encouraged. The
guidance also indicates the linkages with other Multilateral Environmental Agreements.
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Narration: For the definition of forest, countries will have to choose a value within the ranges.
The definition of forest degradation, however, is a framework definition suggested by
Intergovernmental Panel of Climate Change, or IPCC. It is recognised that it is difficult to
operationalise the definition, especially when determining the thresholds.
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Narration: Both deforestation and forest degradation contribute to the emissions of greenhouse
gases. The difference between the two is that deforestation would lead to other land uses, while
in forest degradation, the forest will remain as forest but with less carbon density.
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Narration: Not all countries are in the same phase of deforestation and forest degradation. They
are in different stages of forest transition in terms of both forest cover and rate of deforestation.
Countries such as Papua New Guinea and Democratic Republic of Congo would have high forest
cover with lower deforestation rate compared with, for example, Indonesia and Brazil in terms of
the rate. In contrast, in countries such as Costa Rica, although the forest cover is low they also
experience low or even negative deforestation. This implies that these countries would have
different interests in REDD with different political economy involved.
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Narration: REDD has the potential to reduce a significant portion of the sources of emissions. It is
CHEAPer than other sectors. The abetment cost through avoided deforestation is relatively low
compared with other sectors in climate regime. It would even lower over time when other
sectors turn out to be more efficient. Although it is not a QUICK fix to the problems it could
possibly be quickly implemented, and that’s why developing country readiness is crucial. At the
same time it can offer a WIN-WIN solution regarding financial benefits and improved forest
governance.
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Narration: There are trade-offs between negotiating parties and wide support from
other concerned groups.
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Narration: The ideal REDD scheme should engage multi-level processes and multi-stakeholders.
Considering national circumstances, there is no such thing as one size fits all. One thing that is
common, however, is that the national government should play a key role in facilitating national
and sub-national processes while linking with the international processes and markets. If REDD is
an objective rather than a process, then initial payment to compensate emission reductions may
be linked with Payment for Environmental Services (see Topic 5 Section B).
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Narration: The following section examines 10 key issues about REDD and their implications.
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Narration: A CIFOR report published in 2008 discusses a number of emerging REDD issues, along
with options to resolve them and their respective implications. The report also discusses the
technical and political dimensions of REDD while considering national circumstances.
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Narration: REDD may be approached by reducing negative change, such as avoided
deforestation and forest degradation, and by enhancing positive change through afforestation,
reforestation, and enhancement of carbon stocks.
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Narration: Policies and measures dealing with REDD may generate ecosystem services other
than carbon sequestration. Payment mechanisms that are directly targeted towards emission
reduction credits would likely attract compliance markets. Voluntary markets could possibly
accept other services with low additionality.
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Narration: Although the choice will be very much guided by national circumstances, allowing an
early start at the sub-national level, which is likely to be less complicated, would buy time and
increase confidence. The challenge of domestic leakage, however, would be very difficult to
address unless a nested approach is initiated.
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Narration: Where would the money come from? Who is going to buy REDD credits? Public funds
are generally used to develop or build capacity of host countries before voluntary markets come
into the stage. Such markets are usually not regulated, meaning that while following the general
rules and procedures of compliance markets, they are less stringent in terms of policy and
measures. Some examples of compliance markets can be seen in the table here. They mainly
work in the energy sector under the Kyoto Protocol.
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Narration: The terms ‘baseline’ or ‘reference line/level’ refer to at least three different
things. First, baseline can refer to the historical baseline, that is, the rate of deforestation
and degradation and the resulting CO2e emissions over the past x years. Second, baseline can
refer to the projected business-as-usual (BAU) scenario. In other words, how would emissions
from deforestation and degradation evolve without the REDD activity? Third, baseline can refer
to the crediting baseline, which is like an emissions quota.
A business-as-usual baseline is the benchmark for judging the impact of the REDD measures
implemented and for ensuring additionality, while the crediting baseline is the benchmark for
rewarding the country or project if emissions are below that level.
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Narration: The business-as-usual reference level may be projected from historical deforestation.
But depending on a country’s circumstances, the trend can vary enormously. It is important to set
the reference level based on the change in carbon stocks rather than on the forest area. We are
interested in seeing emission reductions, not forest cover change.
Other factors, such as GDP per capita, would even provide a good proxy for what extent the
trend would be. The crediting baseline, which is usually lower than the BAU, would introduce nolose system.
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Narration: Leakage or emission displacement is an issue when projects are implemented on a
case-by-case basis. Sub-national level implementation may result in a similar problem. This issue
can be overcome by increasing the scale of the project, adjusting the baseline regularly, and
rewarding a good monitoring system. Leakage may also indicate a healthy economy, for
example, because more lands are needed. This may have to be accepted while gradually moving
to full national implementation.
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Narration: One of the main concerns related to the use of sinks as a greenhouse gas mitigation
option is the question of ‘permanence’, the length of time under which carbon will remain stored
after being fixed in vegetation. In reality, the concern is about lack of permanence, or
‘reversibility’ of the benefits of storage, as a result of the discontinuation of forestry activities,
whether on purpose or as a result of undesirable events, such as forest fires and other natural
disasters.
The treatment of permanence influences and is influenced by the choice of carbon accounting
methodologies, the timeframes chosen for carbon accounting, and the approach chosen for
dealing with liabilities.
Source:
http://www.ecosecurities.com/Assets/3155/Pubs_Carbon%20accounting,%20trading%20and%20the%20temporary%
20nature%20of%20carbon%20storage.pdf
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Narration: Monitoring is an important cycle, which will be followed by reporting and verification.
In general, it may be conducted using the ‘stock-difference’ approach and the ‘gain-loss’
approach. Both approaches are suggested by IPCC. The difference is that the second one needs
more rigorous annual information such as growth and harvest rates.
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Narration: Monitoring technology is getting better and better but finding a cost-efficient
monitoring system is a challenge. The choice of technologies depends on the justification
between accuracy and precision. In most cases, however, the combination of cost-efficient hightech methods and relatively cheap but accurate low-tech is desirable. Ultimately, it is up to the
host to decide, based on capacity, but better methods will receive higher rewards.
Monitoring technology is getting better and better but finding a cost-efficient monitoring system
is quite a challenge. The choice of technologies depends on the justification between accuracy
and precision. In most cases, however, the combination of cost-efficient high-tech methods and
relatively cheap but accurate low-tech is desirable. Ultimately, it is up to the host to decide,
based on capacity, but better methods will receive higher rewards.
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Narration: Forest Degradation is often interpreted in different ways. From a climate change
point of view, degradation could significantly reduce carbon stocks. Therefore, managing and
including forest degradation in the REDD mechanism would increase effectiveness in reducing
emissions, and enhance equity for broader participation.
Forest Degradation is often interpreted in different ways. From a climate change point of view,
degradation could significantly reduce carbon stocks. Therefore, managing and including forest
degradation in the REDD mechanism would increase effectiveness in reducing emissions, and
enhance equity for broader participation.
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Narration: REDD could potentially generate benefits in addition to carbon. In a broader,
community, development agenda, REDD could be linked with efforts to reduce poverty. Each host
country is challenged to design polices that suit its national circumstances. Social issues,
including poverty, are recognised in the global REDD agenda.
REDD could potentially generate benefits in addition to carbon. In a broader, community,
development agenda, REDD could be linked with efforts to reduce poverty. Each host country is
challenged to design polices that suit its national circumstances. Social issues, including poverty,
are recognised in the global REDD agenda.
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Narration: The Forest Carbon Partnership Facility, or FCPF, assists developing countries in their
efforts to reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation by providing value to
standing forests. The FCPF is designed to set the stage for a large-scale system of incentives for
reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation, providing a fresh source of
financing for the sustainable use of forest resources and biodiversity conservation, and for the
more than 1.2 billion people who depend to varying degrees on forests for their livelihoods.
The United Nations Collaborative Programme on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and
Forest Degradation in Developing Countries, or UN-REDD, is a collaboration between the Food
and Agriculture Organization, the United Nations Development Programme, and the United
Nations Environment Programme. A multi-donor trust fund was established in July 2008 that
allows donors to pool resources and provides funding to activities towards this programme.
37 countries participate in FCPF. Five of them also participate in UN-REDD.
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Narration: These are the countries that participate in FCPF. Of the 37 FCPF countries, three Guyana, Panama, and Indonesia - submitted more comprehensive Readiness Plans after they
went through the R-PIN processes.
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Narration: The World Bank's FCPF was launched by the World Bank Group President
Robert B. Zoellick, seated fourth from the left, during the Bali COP13 in December 2007.
The World Bank described it as a financing mechanism designed to combat tropical
deforestation and climate change, by helping participating countries get ready for REDD.
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Narration: UN-REDD is a collaborative programmed that aims to help countries prepare for
REDD. The implementing agencies are the Food and Agriculture Organization, the United Nations
Development Programme, and the United Nations Environment Programme.
Unlike FCPF, which enjoys multiple donor support, UN-REDD has been solely funded by the Govt.
of Norway. The implementing agencies are three UN bodies (FAO, UNEP and UNDP) with their
respective roles.
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Narration: Not all countries with high forest cover experience high deforestation rates.
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Narration: The funding situation would change over time depending on the readiness of
countries and maturity of markets.
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Narration: While the implications of various issues and challenges are being discussed, the
negotiating parties came up with the idea of REDD-plus in early 2009. It is the same as REDD but
includes forest conservation, sustainable forest management and carbon stock enhancement.
REDD+ refers to "Reducing emissions from deforestation and degradation, conservation of
existing carbon stocks and enhancement of carbon stocks."
The REDD+ proposed mechanism is a new development in the REDD strategizing process
designed to support the voluntary efforts of developing country Parties to mitigate climate
change by reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation, [to promote]
conservation and the sustainable management of forests, and [to enhance] forest carbon
stocks."
Source: http://www.bioenergywiki.net/index.php/REDD
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Narration: By definition, forest land use and other land uses are represented in this diagram.
Deforestation begins when forest lands begin to change into non-forest lands and forestation
begins the other way around. Forest degradation, however, shows a decreasing stock in carbon
but forest lands remain forest lands.
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Narration: REDD would address deforestation and forest degradation in the landscape but
REDD+ encompasses a wider perspective ranging from protecting pristine forest to rehabilitating
empty and degraded lands. In a sense REDD+ allows for the two extremes of avoiding
deforestation to afforestation and reforestation.
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Narration: REDD+ is more comprehensive, so it could attract more participation from developing
countries. Some developing countries have already begun demonstration activities.
The phased approach is likely to be implemented. In the first phase, countries can build their
capacity in monitoring, reporting and verification. In the second phases, countries can exercise
policy processes, especially at the national level. The third phase gives an opportunity to buyers
and sellers to implement market mechanisms.
REDD+ is more comprehensive, so it could attract more participation from developing countries.
Some developing countries have already begun demonstration activities.
The phased approach is likely going to be implemented after Copenhagen. In the first phase,
countries have the opportunity to build their capacity in monitoring, reporting and verification.
In the second phases, countries can exercise policy processes, especially at the national level.
The third phase gives an opportunity to buyers and sellers to implement market mechanisms.
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