UNFCCC documents relevant for REDD+

Recalling the relevant provisions of the Convention, in particular Article 2, Article 3, paragraphs 1, 3 and 4, and Article 4, paragraphs 1(a)–(d), 3, 5 and 7,

Acknowledging the contribution of the emissions from deforestation to global anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions,

Acknowledging that forest degradation also leads to emissions, and needs to be addressed when reducing emissions from deforestation,

Recognizing that efforts and actions to reduce deforestation and to maintain and conserve forest carbon stocks in developing countries are already being taken,

Recognizing the complexity of the problem, different national circumstances and the multiple drivers of deforestation and forest degradation,

Recognizing the potential role of further actions to reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation in developing countries in helping to meet the ultimate objective of the Convention,

Affirming the urgent need to take further meaningful action to reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation in developing countries,

Noting that sustainable reduction in emissions from deforestation and forest degradation in developing countries requires stable and predictable availability of resources,

Recognizing that reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation in developing countries can promote co-benefits and may complement the aims and objectives of other relevant international conventions and agreements,

Recognizing also that the needs of local and indigenous communities should be addressed when action is taken to reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation in developing countries,

1. Invites Parties to further strengthen and support ongoing efforts to reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation on a voluntary basis;

2. Encourages all Parties, in a position to do so, to support capacity-building, provide technical assistance, facilitate the transfer of technology to improve, inter alia, data collection, estimation of emissions from deforestation and forest degradation, monitoring and reporting, and address the institutional needs of developing countries to estimate and reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation;

3. Further encourages Parties to explore a range of actions, identify options and undertake efforts, including demonstration activities, to address the drivers of deforestation relevant to their national circumstances, with a view to reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation and thus enhancing forest carbon stocks due to sustainable management of forests;

4. Encourages, without prejudice to future decisions of the Conference of the Parties, the use of the indicative guidance provided in the annex to this decision as an aid in undertaking and evaluating the range of demonstration activities;

5. Invites Parties, in particular Parties included in Annex II to the Convention, to mobilize resources to support efforts in relation to the actions referred to in paragraphs 1–3 above;

6. Encourages the use of the most recent reporting guidelines¹ as a basis for reporting greenhouse gas emissions from deforestation, noting also that Parties not included in Annex I to the Convention are encouraged to apply the Good Practice Guidance for Land Use, Land-Use Change and Forestry;²

7. Requests the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice to undertake a programme of work on methodological issues related to a range of policy approaches and positive incentives that aim to reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation in developing countries noting relevant documents;³ the work should include:

1. ​Inviting Parties to submit, by 21 March 2008, their views on how to address outstanding methodological issues including, inter alia, assessments of changes in forest cover and associated carbon stocks and greenhouse gas emissions, incremental changes due to sustainable management of the forest, demonstration of reductions in emissions from deforestation, including reference emissions levels, estimation and demonstration of reduction in emissions from forest degradation, implications of national and subnational approaches including displacement of emissions, options for assessing the effectiveness of actions in relation to paragraphs 1, 2, 3 and 5 above, and criteria for evaluating actions, to be compiled into a miscellaneous document for consideration by the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice at its twenty-eighth session;
2. Requesting the secretariat, subject to availability of supplementary funding, to organize a workshop on methodological issues identified in paragraph 7 (a) above, before its twenty-ninth session, and to prepare a report on the workshop for consideration by the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice at that session;
3. Advancing the development of methodological approaches, taking into account the outcome of the workshop referred to in paragraph 7 (b) above at its twenty-ninth session;

8. Requests the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice to report to the Conference of the Parties, at its fourteenth session, on the outcomes of the work referred to in paragraph 7 (a)–(c) above, including any recommendations on possible methodological approaches;

9. Invites relevant organizations and stakeholders, without prejudice to any future decision of the Conference of the Parties on reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation in developing countries, to support efforts in relation to paragraphs 1, 2, 3 and 5 above and to share outcomes of these efforts with the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice by providing corresponding information to the secretariat;

10. Requests the secretariat to support, subject to the availability of supplementary funding, the activities of all Parties, in particular developing countries, in relation to paragraphs 3, 5, 7 and 9 above, by developing a Web platform where information submitted by Parties, relevant organizations and stakeholders will be made available;

11. Notes the further consideration, under decision 1/CP.13, of policy approaches and positive incentives on issues relating to reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation in developing countries; and the role of conservation, sustainable management of forests and enhancement of forest carbon stocks in developing countries;

12. Notes further that when addressing policy approaches and positive incentives on issues relating to reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation in developing countries, the efforts described in paragraph 3 above should be considered.

1 At the time of this decision, the most recent reporting guidelines for national communications from Parties not included in Annex I to the Convention are found in decision 17/CP.8.

2 Decision 13/CP.9.

3 FCCC/SBSTA/2006/10, FCCC/SBSTA/2007/3, FCCC/SBSTA/2007/MISC.2 and Add.1, FCCC/SBSTA/2007/MISC.14 and Add. 1–3; and the background paper prepared for the workshop on reducing emissions from deforestation held in Rome, Italy, from 30 August to 1 September 2006, available at <http://unfccc.int/methods_and_science/lulucf/items/3757.php>.

ANNEX

Indicative guidance
1. Demonstration activities should be undertaken with the approval of the host Party.
2. Estimates of reductions or increases of emissions should be results based, demonstrable, transparent and verifiable, and estimated consistently over time.
3. The use of the methodologies described in paragraph 6 of this decision is encouraged as a basis for estimating and monitoring emissions.
4. Emission reductions from national demonstration activities should be assessed on the basis of national emissions from deforestation and forest degradation.
5. Subnational demonstration activities should be assessed within the boundary used for the demonstration, and assessed for associated displacement of emissions.
6. Reductions in emissions or increases resulting from the demonstration activity should be based on historical emissions, taking into account national circumstances.
7. Subnational¹ approaches, where applied, should constitute a step towards the development of national approaches, reference levels and estimates.
8. Demonstration activities should be consistent with sustainable forest management, noting, inter alia, the relevant provisions of the United Nations Forum on Forests, the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification and the Convention on Biological Diversity.
9. Experiences in implementing activities should be reported and made available via the Web platform.²
10. Reporting on demonstration activities should include a description of the activities and their effectiveness, and may include other information.
11. Independent expert review is encouraged.
8th plenary meeting
14–15 December 2007

¹ Activities carried out within the national boundary.

² To be developed by the secretariat as referred to in paragraph 10 of this decision.