FORESTS REPORT DURBAN – WEDNESDAY 30 NOVEMBER

from the Ecosystems Climate Alliance

 REDD+ report for Wednesday 30 November

Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation and the role of conservation, sustainable management of forests and enhancement of forest carbon stocks in developing countries

Contact group on methodological guidance for activities relating to REDD+

Time:  10:45 – 11:30 (open to observers) and 15:00 – 16:30 (closed to observers)

Background: The Cancun Agreement (paragraph 75) requested SBSTA (Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice) to provide guidance relating to:

·         forest reference emission levels or forest reference levels (71(b))

·         how safeguards (social, environmental and governance) are being addressed and respected (71(d))

·         measuring, reporting and verifying forest-related emissions activities and carbon stock changes (70)

Outlook: Progress on clarifying how REDD+ can work equitably on the ground has been slow and nowhere near the speed with which projects are underway in many countries.

LULUCF report for Wednesday 30 November

Land Use, Land-Use Change and Forestry (LULUCF) in attempts to secure a second commitment period for the Kyoto Protocol

Spin-off group on Chapter II

Time:  11:30 – 13:00

Background: A mess. Significant concerns include: 

·         Definition of forest remains so broad as to exclude conversion of natural forests to plantations (primary forests to secondary forests);

·         Backwards step – inclusion of wetland drainage and rewetting as an activity with mandatory accounting by developed countries is no longer agreed. Wetlands (peatlands) comprise only .3 percent of the world’s surface but are responsible for approximately 6 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions.

·         proposal to include harvested wood products (pulpwood, timber, etc.) in forest accounting will make a country’s greenhouse gas emissions appear less than they are;

·         burning of biomass (wood harvested for energy purposes) included in accounting but nullified by being included in the baseline from which net emissions are calculated;

Outlook: Closed to observers. ECA observers will obtain information when possible.

The Ecosystems Climate Alliance is comprised of eleven NGOs and a variety of affiliate organizations and individuals committed to keeping natural terrestrial ecosystems intact and their carbon out of the atmosphere. We are available for interviews, background and analysis. CONTACT: Don Lehr on +1 917 304 4058 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              +1 917 304 4058      end_of_the_skype_highlighting, dblehr@cs.com, or find us at the outside tables under the tent at the main entrance to ICC.