Expert Panel on Biodiversity, Forest Management and REDD+ 2012

Report

Understanding Relationships between Biodiversity, Carbon, Forests and People: The Key to Achieving REDD+ Objectives

At their 16th meeting, the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) adopted in December 2010 an agreement on "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" (REDD+). A strong scientific basis was needed for implementing REDD+, to inform about the best possible management and policy approaches.

To that end, GFEP established the Expert Panel on Biodiversity, Forest Management, and REDD+. More than 60 scientists from around the world collaborated on writing this peer-reviewed publication, which was coordinated by IUFRO on behalf of the Collaborative Partnership on Forests (CPF). The report was formally presented during the event "Forest Day 6" at the UNFCCC meeting in Doha, Qatar (26 November-7 December, 2012).

Full Report

Understanding Relationships between Biodiversity, Carbon, Forests and People:
The Key to Achieving REDD+ Objectives

Editors: John A. Parrotta, Christoph Wildburger, Stephanie Mansourian

For hard copies of the global assessment report, please write to office(at)iufro.org.

 

Policy Brief

REDD+, Biodiversity and People: Opportunities and Risks

This policy brief summarizes the key messages of the GFEP report "Understanding Relationships between Biodiversity, Carbon, Forests and People: The Key to Achieving REDD+ Objectives" and reaches out to international as well as national policymakers and other stakeholders.

Following key messages are highlighted:

  • Biodiversity is a key determinant of forests' ability to effectively provide ecosystem services, notably carbon sequestration, and to remain resilient in the face of disturbances such as climate change.
  • The most immediate and greatest benefits for both carbon and biodiversity are likely to come from actions that reduce deforestation and degradation.
  • REDD+ actions can have highly variable impacts on carbon and biodiversity, at different spatial and temporal scales.
  • Pursuing social objectives alongside REDD+ will also increase the likelihood of achieving carbon and biodiversity goals.
  • For REDD+ implementation to be effective, tenure and property rights, including rights of access, use and ownership, need to be clear.
  • An integrated landscape management approach provides a useful tool to reconcile environmental, social and economic considerations relevant to REDD+.
  • There is a tension between national REDD+ efforts aimed at international standardisation, the strengthening of national sovereignty, and efforts to empower local communities as key actors in REDD+.
  • Understanding the relationship between biodiversity, carbon forests and people is the key to achieving REDD+ objectives.
     

Policy Brief

REDD+, Biodiversity and People: Opportunities and Risks