REDD+ and REDD Readiness

1. REDD+ and REDD Readiness A. N. Gichu Kenya Forest Service

2. Content • Introduction • International framework • REDD Building Blocks • Readiness activities • Key steps • Readiness preparation proposal

3. Introduction • REDD an acronym for Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation • A proposed CC mitigation process in the forest sector • A policy framework with the goal of creating an economic value for the carbon in standing forests • An incentive system that motivates multiple actors across scales to address the drivers of deforestation and to undertake restoration and • Both incentive based process and performance based. • Participatory and country driven.

4. International Framework • Derives mandate from COP 13, Bali, Indonesia • REDD must be part of a post-2012 agreement • Members affirmed the urgent need to take meaningful action to reduce emissions from DD, • agreed to support capacity-building, • technical assistance and transfer of technology and explore a range of actions, • identify options and undertake demonstration activities; • and mobilize resources to support the efforts. FCPF formed to build the capacity of developing countries to tap into any future system of positive incentives for REDD (Readiness Activities).

5. Building Blocks for REDD • carbon accounting;While many efforts to reduce deforestation may result in a net benefit to the atmosphere in the form of reduced greenhouse gases, a REDD strategy must explicitly quantify that benefit using recognized methodologies in order to receive compensation or acknowledgement of that benefit. • Baseline; A baseline is the level of carbon emissions that would have occurred in the absence of the financial mechanism and field interventions. The simplest method for calculating a baseline is using an average of historic annual emissions over the past 5, 10, or 15 years (known as a 'reference period'), • emissions reductions strategies, Conservation or increased sequestration strategies. Strategies must credibly and verifiably reduce emissions, additional to actions that would have occurred in the absence of REDD financing, and they must provide for permanent forest protection.

6. monitoring and verification: Emissions reductions made through a REDD project or program should be verified by an independent third party verifier. This includes an assessment of the project's additionality, baseline, monitoring plan, and environmental and social impacts. Through the verification process, emissions reductions achieved by a project will be certified, at which point they can be sold, traded, or retired. • sale of emissions reduction credits: once the emissions reductions from a project have been verified and certified, they can be offered for sale either through a carbon market, to a private buyer, or in exchange for donations made from a public fund.

7. Readiness Activities • Readiness activities include • A national strategy for implementation with strategy options and the institutional and legal implementation framework • Development of a historical reference emissions scenario for greenhouse gases (GHG) from deforestation and/or forest degradation; and • A monitoring system to measure, report and verify (MRV) the effect of the REDD strategy on GHG emissions, livelihoods and biodiversity

8. Key Steps • Development of a REDD Plan Idea Note R-PIN. Provide an overview of land use patterns, causes of DD, stakeholder consultation process, and potential institutional arrangements in addressing REDD. Used as a basis for the selection of countries into the FCPF • Participation Agreement and a Grant Agreement with PC of the FCPF signed to support development of the Readiness activities. • Formulation of the REDD Preparation Proposal that will inform the framework for developing the Readiness activities. • REDD Preparation Proposal implementation that will see the formulation of a Readiness Package

9. Readiness Preparation Proposal (R-PP) • Summarizes the activities that would need to be undertaken to make the country ‘Ready' to participate in REDD. R-PP would propose work to be undertaken and funded to prepare the following core components of ‘REDD Readiness’, • An assessment of the situation with respect to DD; • REDD strategy options that addresses the drivers/ causes of deforestation and degradation identified in the assessment and the REDD institutional and legal implementation framework necessary to realize these options; • A reference scenario for greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from deforestation and/or forest degradation; and • A monitoring system to measure, report and verify (MRV) the effect of the REDD strategy on GHG emissions, livelihoods and biodiversity.

10. Key Issues for Consideration • Policy and Institutional Issues • Development of national REDD Strategy, including identification of drivers of deforestation and degradation; • Institutional dimensions of REDD: national, regional and local-level institutions; legal framework; governance dimensions, benefit-sharing mechanisms, land tenure, etc. • Methodology - Reference Scenario, Monitoring, Reporting, Verification system, Biomass estimation • Consultation and Participation - National dialogue, including participation of civil society and the private sector ,elaboration of a national consultation, participation and outreach plan; identification of participatory mechanisms.

11. Asante Sana