Biodiversity and REDD+

The conservation community are in broad agreement that Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation (REDD and now REDD+) is an essential development in steps to tackle climate change and could bring significant benefits for biodiversity. However, this will require a number of key issues to be resolved; and there are risks to both biodiversity and development goals if these are not addressed comprehensively and at an early stage.

Though there is significant existing work on REDD, in October 2008 CCI identified a need for a workshop to take stock of recent developments, to explore key issues and identify how these might be addressed through new collaborative projects. A workshop at UNEP-WCMC brought together policy makers, NGOs and academics to share an update on REDD policy negotiations; to discuss alternative mechanisms for REDD and REDD implementation; and to identify research priorities on biodiversity and REDD.

In 2010, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) called for developing country parties intending to establish programmes to develop ‘a system for providing information on how safeguards are being addressed and respected’ (Decision 1/CP.16 p71d). This has become commonly known as REDD+.

A new Shared Challenges project in 2012 focused on the monitoring and assessment of biodiversity safeguards for REDD+. A workshop on 19th January 2012 brought together CCI partners and others to discuss what information needs to be provided in order to demonstrate whether and how biodiversity safeguards are being addressed.

Project Aims

The aim of the first workshop in October 2008 was to share an update on REDD policy negotiations; to discuss alternative mechanisms for REDD and REDD implementation; and to identify research priorities on biodiversity and REDD. In January 2012, a second workshop discussed what information needs to be provided in order to demonstrate whether and how biodiversity safeguards for REDD+ are being addressed.

Key Activities

• A workshop at UNEP-WCMC brought together nearly 50 policy makers, NGOs and academics to share an update on REDD policy negotiations (14th October 2008).
• Following the development of REDD+, a second workshop at UNEP-WCMC discussed monitoring and assessment of biodiversity safeguards (19th January 2012).

Conservation Impact

The workshop in 2008 was held at an early stage in development of REDD and was one of the first opportunities to bring Defra and DECC policy makers together to discuss this issue. They reported that this started a much closer collaboration between the two of them as well as catalyzing a discussion between CCI partners.

The 2012 in January meeting also served to greatly strengthen the communication and sharing of ideas and activities amongst CCI partners regarding REDD+.

Outputs

1. CCI Workshop report: ‘Biodiversity and REDD’ summarises the discussion on the 14th October, 2008.