News

By – Reinhard Wolf

More than 30 representatives from Cambodia, Fiji, Indonesia, Lao, Myanmar, Nepal, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Thailand and Viet Nam met in the heart of Bangkok to discuss REDD+ and FLR (Forest Landscape Restoration) for Asian Pacific countries from 17-19 October 2017.

“The Warsaw Framework for REDD+ provides guidance on data collection for creating deforestation reference levels, but issue on results-based finance upon the full implementation of the activities remains challenging. There is hope that REDD+ is still workable and feasible implemented as part of country NDC from land sector in ASEAN and Pacific Island countries. It is widely recognized the need to strengthen forest governance through various policy framework at national levels. Harmonization of law/regulations related to natural resource management is among important factors needed to be addressed comprehensively in order to tackle technical issues required for implementing REDD+ successfully,” said one of the participants

The expert exchange was organized by GIZ (SNRD Asia, ASEAN Program and IWP) together with UNIQUE forestry and land use GmbH. Inputs were provided from experts in academia, multilateral organizations as well as from high level officers in ministries and field practitioners in Asia covering topics such as multilateral programs for results-based payments from REDD+ (World Bank, Green Climate Fund), key drivers of deforestation, nationally determined contributions (NDCs), reference levels, governance and safeguards as well as deforestation free supply chains and the Bonn Challenge (for FLR).

The experience based approach focused on lessons learned and challenges or opportunities in different countries and programs led to vivid discussions, which were well received by the participants. Presentations can be found here.