Scope and objectives of the event:
As part of the 2nd Climate Week in Africa, the UNFCCC Secretariat will organize an implementation lab on forests as part of the Implementation Forum. This will highlight the strong consensus and mandate for forest climate action, and then empower Party delegates and stakeholders to discuss implementation of best practices, current trends and future solutions.
The implementation lab on forests will combine short dynamic action-oriented input presentations with interactive roundtable discussions centered on the potential of forests to contribute to the objectives of the Paris Agreement, with a focus on halting and reversing deforestation and forest degradation by 2030.
Expected outcomes:
- Draft framework for prioritizing forest climate action
- Overview of requirements for REDD+ results-based payments
- Identification of financial and capacity-building resources for implementation
- Overview of considerations for partnerships with research institutes, private sector and civil society
- Checklist with possible sources for REDD+ results-based payments
- Identification of practitioners and priority issues for consideration by the REDD+ Community of Practice
Category/type:
Implementation lab
Participants profile:
- Government representatives including REDD+ focal points
- Private sector (Investors, standard setters, buyers)
- Financial institutions and carbon market intermediaries
- NGOs, Indigenous groups, academia, and youth organizations
- Multilateral and bilateral development organizations.
Number of expected participants:
120 (non-funded)
Cross cutting/connections:
Strong links with COP 30 Presidency priorities. Related to capacity-building for accessing climate finance for a specific sector, including exploring potential of carbon markets. May also relate to NDC clinics, given the importance of the AFOLU sector in many developing countries.
Draft Agenda:
Thursday, 4 September 2025, 9.00 – 10.30
9.00: Opening (10 minutes)
- Introduction and organization of work by the secretariat
- Opening remarks by Dan Ioschpe, Climate High-Level Champion, COP 30
| ID |
Solution title |
Presenter |
Description |
| 1 |
Cross River State REDD+ Strategy for Forest Conservation and Climate Resilience |
Government of Cross River State - Nigeria |
Focuses on forest conservation and sustainable land use to reduce emissions from deforestation and degradation, while promoting community livelihoods and biodiversity protection in Nigeria’s Cross River State. |
| 2 |
Global Fire Management Hub |
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) |
Supports countries in building integrated fire management systems to reduce wildfire impacts, enhance climate stability, and promote wildfire-resilient communities, with a focus on developing nations and Indigenous-led stewardship |
| 3 |
Nature-Based Forest Solutions: Strengthening Ecosystems and Communities through Mangrove Restoration |
SLYCAN Trust (GTE) Ltd. |
Utilizes a community-driven approach to restore degraded mangrove forests, enhance ecosystem resilience, and support sustainable livelihoods through activities like ecotourism and waste management in Sri Lanka |
| 4 |
Scaling Urban Nature-based Solutions for Climate Adaptation in Sub-Saharan Africa |
World Resources Institute |
plants over 4 million trees in climate-vulnerable African cities (Ethiopia (Dire Dawa), Rwanda (Kigali), South Africa (Johannesburg), focusing on gender-responsive, nature-based solutions for climate adaptation, specifically addressing flooding, heatwaves, and biodiversity loss |
| 5 |
Showcasing, Incentivizing and Upscaling Deforestation and Conversion Free (DCF) Supply Chains |
World Wildlife Fund |
Aims to prove the feasibility of transparent and sustainable supply chains across continents, including key commodities like soy, beef, palm oil, and cocoa, through verified, traceable trade solutions in South America, Africa, Europe, Asia |
9.10: Scene-setting presentation (10 minutes)
Dirk Nemitz, Team lead AFOLU, UNFCCC Secretariat
Title: Forests in the UNFCCC (Presentation)
9.20: Deep-dive session on solutions 1, 2 and 3 (25 minutes)
- Introductory presentations by solutions 1, 2 and 3
- Breakout groups on solutions 1, 2 and 3
9.45: Deep-dive session on solutions 4 and 5 (25 minutes)
- Introductory presentations by solutions 4 and 5
- Breakout groups on solutions 4 and 5
10.10: Reporting back from deep-dive sessions (15 minutes)
- Rapporteurs to report back key discussion points and ideas from each breakout group
10.25: Closing remarks and next steps (5 minutes)
10.30: End of session