Background

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.

(i) Work on matters relating to methodological guidance

In addition to continuing its work on methodological guidance relating to modalities for national forest monitoring systems and measuring, reporting and verifying, the SBSTA will also be resuming its consideration of issues relating to the presentations of the summary of information on how all the safeguards referred to in decision 1/CP.16, appendix I, are being addressed and respected and to drivers of deforestation and forest degradation.

The SBSTA at this session will consider the request by the COP in decision 12/CP.17, paragraphs 5 and 6, on the timing and the frequency of the presentations of the summary of information on how all the safeguards are being addressed and respected and on the need for further guidance for the presentation of the summary of information, with a view to concluding its consideration of these matters at its thirty-ninth session.

In addition, the SBSTA will also continue its consideration of issues relating to drivers of deforestation and forest degradation, taking into account decision 1/CP.16, paragraph 72 and appendix II, paragraph (a), and the views of Parties contained in document FCCC/SBSTA/2012/MISC.1 and Add.1 and those of admitted observer organizations (IGOs and NGOs)

(See also section on Outcomes of SBSTA37.)

(ii) New issues for consideration by the SBSTA

The COP in its decision 1/CP.18, paragraphs 39 and 40, requested the SBSTA, at its thirty-eighth session, to also consider the following:

(a). How non-market-based approaches, such as joint mitigation and adaptation approaches for the integral and sustainable management of forests, as referred to in decision 2/CP.17, paragraph 67, could be developed to support the implementation of the activities referred to in decision 1/CP.16, paragraph 70, and for it to report on this matter to the COP at its nineteenth session;

(b). Methodological issues related to non-carbon benefits resulting from the implementation of the activities referred to in decision 1/CP.16, paragraph 70, and for it to report to the COP at its nineteenth session.

(iii)  Joint SBSTA and SBI process

The SBSTA, at its thirty-seventh session, continued its consideration of methodological guidance relating to modalities for a national forest monitoring system as referred to in decision 1/CP.16, paragraph 71(c), and for measuring, reporting and verifying as referred to in decision 1/CP.16, appendix II, paragraph (c), using the draft text contained in annex I to document FCCC/SBSTA/2012/2 as a basis for its consideration. The SBSTA did not complete its work on these matters and agreed to continue this work at its thirty-eighth session, with the aim of completing this work at its thirty-ninth session and preparing any recommendations for a draft decision on these matters for consideration and adoption by the COP at its nineteenth session. (Refer to FCCC/SBSTA/2012/5 and Add.1)

The SBSTA encouraged Parties, relevant international organizations and stakeholders to share information, via the REDD web platform, on how developing countries are addressing the drivers of deforestation and forest degradation and on the experiences gained in addressing such drivers in the implementation of the activities referred to in decision 1/CP.16, paragraph 70.

Refer to the adopted conclusions of this session: FCCC/SBSTA/2012/5 and Add.1

At its thirty-sixth session, the SBSTA continued its consideration of methdological guidance relating to modalities for a national forest monitoring system as referred to in decision 1/CP.16, paragraph 71(c) and for measuring, reporting and verifying as referred to in the same decision, appendix II, paragraph (c), taking into account the issues identified in this decision, appendix II and the views submitted by Parties (FCCC/SBSTA/2012/MISC.1 and Add.1). It elaborated elements for a possible draft decision on these matters as contained in the annex to the conclusions for this session ( FCCC/SBSTA/2012/2, annex).

The SBSTA also initiated consideration of issues relating to drivers of deforestation and forest degradation, taking into account decision 1/CP.16, paragraph 72 and appendix II, paragraph (a) and the views of Parties and admitted observer organizations. It agreed to continue this work at its next session.

The SBSTA recognized that:
• Further work on methodological guidance may be needed pending the outcome of the work of the Ad Hoc Working Group on Long-term Cooperative Action under the Convention;
• Parties aiming to undertake the activities referred to in decision 1/CP.16, paragraph 70, could consider the adaptation needs of the country concerned.

The SBSTA continued its consideration of the methodological guidance for activities relating to 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, taking into account issues identified in appendix II to decision 1/CP.16 and relevant issues, and the elements identified in the annex to the conclusions of SBSTA34 ( FCCC/SBSTA/2011/2, paragraph 30 and annex II).

The SBSTA took note of the views submitted by Parties (FCCC/SBSTA/2011/MISC.7, Add.1, Add. 2 and Add. 3) and accredited observers on a range of methodological issues referred to above and those identified in the annex to the conclusions. It also took note of the report on the expert meeting on guidance on systems for providing information on how safeguards for REDD-plus activities are addressed and respected and the report on the expert meeting on forest reference emission levels and forest reference levels for implementation of REDD-plus activities.

The SBSTA recommended a draft decision on guidance on systems for providing information on how safeguards are addressed and respected and modalities relating to forest reference emission levels and forest reference levels as referred to in decision 1/CP.16 for adoption by the COP at its seventeenth session. This decision was adopted by the COP.

REDD outcomes at SBSTA 29 - 34

REDD outcomes at SBSTA 24 - 28