According to the FAO (2005), deforestation, mainly conversion of forests to agricultural land, continues at an alarming rate of approximately 13 million hectares per year (for the period 1990–2005).  Deforestation results in immediate release of the carbon originally stored in the trees as CO₂ emissions (with small amounts of CO and CH₄), particularly if the trees are burned and the slower release of emissions from the decay of organic matter.  The IPCC WGIII (2007) estimated emissions from deforestation in the 1990s to be at 5.8 GtCO₂/yr.  The IPCC also notes that reducing and/or preventing deforestation is the mitigation option with the largest and most immediate carbon stock impact in the short term per hectare and per year globally as the release of carbon as emissions into the atmosphere is prevented. 

The agenda item on “Reducing emissions from deforestation in developing countries and approaches to stimulate action” was first introduced into the COP agenda at its eleventh session in Montreal (December 2005).  The governments of Papua New Guinea and Costa Rica, supported by 8 other Parties, through their submission FCCC/CP/2005/MISC.1, requested for this issue to be taken up on the agenda.  This proposal received wide support from Parties and there was general agreement on the importance of the issue in the context of climate change mitigation, particularly in light of the large contribution of emissions from deforestation in developing countries to global greenhouse gas emissions.  The COP established a contact group on this item which drafted conclusions on initiating a process to address the issue of reducing emissions from deforestation.

This page presents information and the status of negotiations of this agenda item from the most recent development at the SBSTA to outcomes from previous sessions.  It also provides an outlook on the agenda item at the next session.

The SBSTA, at its thirty-first session, will continue its work on the basis of the text of a draft decision on methodological guidance for the implementation of activities relating to decision 2/CP.13, (contained in the annex to the conclusions of SBSTA30). 

The SBSTA aims to complete this work by its thirty-first session and report to the COP at its fifteenth session on progress made, including any recommendations on the remaining outstanding methodological issues.

Reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation in developing countries at SBSTA30  

The SBSTA, at its thirtieth session, continued its programme of work on methodological issues, as contained in decision 2/CP.13, paragraphs 7 (a) and 11.  At this session, the SBSTA considered the text of a draft decision on methodological guidance (contained in the annex to the conclusions), taking into account the following, inter alia:

1. The outcomes of the expert meeting on methodological issues relating to reference emission levels and reference levels that was held in Bonn, Germany, from 23 to 24 March 2009;   
2. The information contained in the technical paper entitled “Cost of implementing methodologies and monitoring systems relating to estimates of emissions from deforestation and forest degradation, the assessment of carbon stocks and greenhouse gas emissions from changes in forest cover, and the enhancement of forest carbon stocks”.

The SBSTA will continue its work on this matter at its thirty-first session, on the basis of the draft text contained in the annex. 

The SBTA also:

1. Took note of the submission of views by Parties on needs for technical and institutional capacity-building and cooperation (contained in FCCC/SBSTA/2009/MISC.2, Add.1 and Add.2) and on issues relating to indigenous peoples and local communities for the development and application of methodologies (contained in FCCC/SBSTA/2009/MISC.1, Add.1 and Add.2);
2. Recognized that in order to generate accurate and precise data and information for establishing reference emission levels and reference levels as contained in document FCCC/SBSTA/2008/13, paragraph 40, and for establishing and operating monitoring systems, there are research priorities and capacity-building needs, such as those identified in the outcomes of the expert meeting and the views submitted by Parties referred to above;
3. Noted that it may need to consider further guidance on methodological issues in accordance with any relevant decisions adopted by the COP at its fifteenth session.

The Chair provided oral reports to the SBSTA and the AWG-LCA (at its sixth session) respectively, on the following matters:

1. Preliminary information on ways of facilitating the coordination of activities relating to decision 2/CP.13; and
2. Results of consultations and progress made at the thirtieth session of the SBSTA and the outcomes of the expert meeting.

The SBSTA requested its chair to continue exploring ways of facilitating the coordination of activities in (a) above and to report back at its thirty-first session.

The conclusions for this agenda item are contained in document FCCC/SBSTA/2009/3 (paras 31-42).

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When the item on “Reducing emissions from deforestation in developing countries” was initially taken up at the eleventh session of the COP (December 2005) (FCCC/CP/2005/5, paragraphs 76–84), Parties agreed to initiate consideration of this matter beginning at the twenty-fourth SBSTA session (May 2006).  Consideration of the agenda item would take into account the views of Parties on issues related to reducing emissions from deforestation in developing countries, focused on relevant scientific, technical and methodological issues, and the exchange of relevant information and experiences, including policy approaches and positive incentives.  Parties also provided recommendations on any further process to consider the issues.

The COP also requested the SBSTA to report on these issues raised by Parties in their submissions and that they would be discussed at the next sessions, including any recommendations, at its twenty-seventh session.

Outcomes of SBSTA 24 to SBSTA 27  more  >>

Outcomes at SBSTA 28

As part of the programme of work on methodological issues by the SBSTA, Parties submitted their views on how to address outstanding methodological issues (e.g. assessments of changes in forest cover and associated carbon stocks, reference emissions levels, implications of national and subnational approaches, options for assessing the effectiveness of actions relating to ongoing efforts, capacity building, technical assistance and transfer of technology, demonstration activities and mobilization of resources to support efforts, etc.).  These views by Parties are contained in document FCCC/SBSTA/2008/MISC.4, Add.1, Add.2 and Add.3.  

SBSTA 28 (FCCC/SBSTA/2008/6, paras 92-96) took note of these views by Parties and initiated consideration of how to address outstanding methodological issues.  It identified the main methodological issues that could be included in its report to the COP, at its fourteenth session (in annex III of the SBSTA report). 

SBSTA28 was followed by a workshop on methodological issues, held on June 25 to 27, 2008 in Tokyo, Japan.  The report on the workshop containing a summary of the discussions, including main outcomes, on the outstanding methodological issues is contained in FCCC/SBSTA/2008/11. 

Outcomes at SBSTA 29

SBSTA 29 (FCCC/SBSTA/2008/13, paragraphs 35-48 and annex II), on the basis of work on methodological issues set out in decision 2/CP.13, recommended the following methodological guidance:

1. The use of the Revised 1996 IPCC Guidelines For National Greenhouse Inventories and encouraging the use of the Good Practice Guidance For Land Use, Land-Use Change and Forestry, as appropriate, as a basis for estimating anthropogenic forest-related emissions by sources and removals by sinks;
2. The need to establish robust and transparent national forest monitoring systems, following consideration of their requirements;
3. If appropriate, the need to establish robust and transparent sub-national forest monitoring systems, following consideration of their requirements;
4. The encouragement of national forest monitoring systems that allow transparent and independent review of their results;
5. The consideration of national circumstances and respective capabilities and capacities.  

The SBSTA also noted the importance of several elements in relation to its programme of work initiated under decision 2/CP.13 including promoting readiness, further mobilization of resources, promoting the full and effective participation of indigenous people and local communities, exploring co-benefits and sharing lessons learned and experiences.  

The SBSTA also requested its Chair:

1. To explore ways of facilitating the coordination of activities relating to decision 2/CP.13; and
2. To inform the AWG-LCA, at its sixth session, of the results of consultations and progress made at SBSTA30 and outcomes from the expert meeting.

The SBSTA concluded that in addition to work identified in these conclusions, guidance from the Ad Hoc Working Group on Long-term Cooperative Action under the Convention (AWG-LCA) in relation to decision 1/CP.13, paragraph 1 (b) (iii), would facilitate further progress on methodological issues.

The SBSTA decided to continue its programme of work on methodological issues at its thirtieth session.  See “Recent developments at SBSTA 30”.