United Nations REDD Programme
||It has been suggested that this article be merged into Reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation. (Discuss) Proposed since February 2013.|
|This article relies on references to primary sources. (April 2012)|
The United Nations Programme on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (or UN-REDD Programme) is a collaborative initiative in developing countries, created in response to the UNFCCC decision on REDD at COP 13 and the Bali Action Plan. It builds on the convening role and technical expertise of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
The UN-REDD Programme supports nationally-led REDD+ processes and promotes the informed and meaningful involvement of all stakeholders, including Indigenous Peoples and other forest-dependent communities, in national and international REDD+ implementation. The Programme also works to build international awareness and consensus about the importance of including REDD+ mechanisms in a future climate change agreement.
The UN-REDD Programme is not the only initiative assisting countries that wish to engage in REDD+ activities. Other initiatives include the 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.
The UN-REDD Programme assists developing countries to prepare and implement national REDD+ strategies and mechanisms. These actions help countries develop the capacity to implement REDD+ strategies and become "REDD-readiness"; and provide practical experience and lessons learned that can inform the international dialogue on a post-2012 REDD+ mechanism.
The Programme currently has 46 partner countries spanning Africa, Asia-Pacific and Latin America and the Caribbean. Sixteen of these countries are receiving direct support to National Programmes. These 16 countries are: Bolivia, Cambodia, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Ecuador, Indonesia, Nigeria, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, the Philippines, Republic of Congo, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Viet Nam and Zambia. To-date, the UN-REDD Programme’s Policy Board has approved a total of US$67.3 million for National Programmes in these 16 partner countries. These funds help to support the development and implementation of national REDD+ strategies.
UN-REDD Programme countries not receiving direct support to national programmes engage with the Programme in a number of ways, including as observers to the Programme's Policy Board, and through participation in regional workshops and knowledge sharing, facilitated by the Programme’s interactive online workspace. These countries are: Argentina, Bangladesh, Benin, Bhutan, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Kenya, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Peru, South Sudan, Sudan, Suriname and Uganda.
Activities of the Global Programme
At the international level, the UN-REDD Programme seeks to build consensus and knowledge about REDD+ and raise awareness about the importance of including a REDD+ mechanism in a post-2012 climate change agreement. It also provides opportunities for dialogue between governments, civil society organizations and technical experts, to ensure that REDD+ efforts are based on science and take into account the views and needs of all stakeholders.
The UN-REDD Programme brings together technical teams from around the world to develop common approaches, analyses and guidelines on issues such as measurement, reporting and verification (MRV) of carbon emissions and flows, remote sensing, and greenhouse gas inventories. It provides guidance on how best to design and implement REDD+, to ensure that forests continue to provide multiple benefits for livelihoods and biodiversity to societies while storing carbon at the same time. The Programme is also deeply committed to supporting the engagement of Indigenous Peoples and Civil Society organizations in the design and implementation of REDD+ strategies.
Organization and Governance
The Policy Board of the UN-REDD Programme convenes twice a year to decide on the strategic orientations and budget allocations of the Programme. Meetings are co-chaired by a representative from a UN-REDD Programme partner country and a representative from either FAO, UNDP or UNEP. The composition of the Board is:
- One representative per UN agency (FAO, UNDP, UNEP)
- Nine partner country representatives (from Africa, Asia-Pacific and Latin America and the Caribbean)
- One Indigenous Peoples representative
- One representative from a Civil Society organization
- One representative per donor country, up to three
- Three Indigenous Peoples representatives (from the three regions Africa, Asia & the Pacific, Latin America and the Caribbean), self-selected
- Three representatives from Civil Society Organizations (from the regions above, plus an NGO from an industrialized country)
- UNFCCC Secretariat
- Forest Carbon Partnership Facility represented by the World Bank
- GEF Secretariat
Ex- officio member
This governance system ensures broad representation from a variety of voices.
- Official UN-REDD Programme Website
- Official UNFCCC Website
- UN-REDD Programme Multi-Partner Trust Fund Factsheet
- Forest Carbon Partnership Facility (FCPF)
- Global Environment Facility (GEF)
- Forest Investment Program (FIP)