Reducing and limiting greenhouse gas emissions from deforestation and forest degradation in developing countries (REDD+) plays a crucial role in tackling climate change and is an important element under the UN climate change negotiations.
Among the international initiatives underpinning efforts to conserve forests is Norway’s International Climate and Forest Initiative (NICFI), administered by the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (Norad).
Following an evaluation to assess the results of the initiative covering the period 2007-2013, Norad has published a report showing that positive results have been achieved towards three goals.
These goals are:
- To help ensure that forests are included in a new international climate regime.
- To take early action to reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation in developing countries.
- To promote the conservation of natural forest areas in order to maintain their carbon storage capacity.
Lack of certainty over funding is a challenge
The evaluation report also points out areas with room for improvement, such as insecurity over financing. It states that one of the main motivating factors to encourage a country to commit itself to forest conservation and emission reductions is the pledge of disbursements for results achieved, and that uncertainty about the future financing of such result-based payments is the greatest risk for further progress.
Changes recommended
The evaluation suggests as a next step to draw up an overall strategy that also encompasses results reporting and recommends an assessment of how collaboration with the multilateral organizations within REDD+ can be coordinated and made more effective.
Photo by Terrien Cyril