THINKING beyond the canopy

Step-wise progress for REDD+ monitoring

Martin Herold

28. November 2012

CIFOR / GOFC-GOLD side event at UNFCCC COP 18, Doha

Framework for national REDD+ monitoring

Past Current Future

National forest monitoring (i.e. carbon)

National GHG inventory (IPCC GPG)

Variability in country forest monitoring capacities

Romijn et al., ESP 2012 Capacity gap for REDD+ monitoring

Success factors for improving capacities

Level of importance

Framework for national REDD+ monitoring

Past Current Future

National forest monitoring (i.e. carbon)

National GHG inventory (IPCC GPG)

National

strategy and

implementation REDD+

REDD+ Phase 1 Phase 2 Phase 3

National forest monitoring systems

1. An national forest monitoring systems should:

● Provide estimates on GHG emissions and removals from all forest land

● Provide data for policy assessment and includes multi-sector involvement;

● Be linked to monitoring of other forest values;

2. Take advantage of existing national forest monitoring and inventory systems

3. Monitoring/sampling strategies may need to be adapted for measuring and monitoring forest changes and associated carbon emissions using IPCC GPG

4. Stepwise progress and continuous improvement cycles:

● Uncertainty, omission of C-pools & gases, scale

http://www.gofcgold.wur.nl/redd

A sourcebook of methods and procedures for monitoring and reporting anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions and removals caused by deforestation,

gains and losses of carbon stocks in forests remaining forests, and forestation

Latest version published for COP-18 in Doha

GOFC-GOLD REDD+ Sourcebook

Framework for national REDD+ monitoring

Past Current Future

National forest monitoring (i.e. carbon)

National GHG inventory (IPCC GPG)

REDD+

Reference level (stepwise improvement)

National

strategy and

implementation

REDD+ Phase 1 Phase 2 Phase 3

Developing REDD+ reference levels

• REL first key “number” to be provided by REDD+ countries

• Historical data and understanding forest change patterns

and underlying causes are important

– to take national circumstances into account,

– to construct scenarios that deviate from historical trends

• The availability of data including those of drivers is uncertain

in many REDD+ countries

– Stepwise approach as starting point to match available

data and their quality with the choice of reference level

methods, its uncertainties and country circumstances

Overview of a step-wise approach for RELs

Source: Herold et al., 2012, CIFOR policy brief

• Availability & quality of data should determine the methods to develop reference levels

Framework for national REDD+ monitoring

Past Current Future

National forest monitoring (i.e. carbon)

National GHG inventory (IPCC GPG)

REDD+

Reference level (stepwise improvement)

National

strategy and

implementation

MRV of REDD+ actions

(national)

Local REDD+ monitoring

REDD+ Phase 1 Phase 2 Phase 3

Planning and implementation for REDD+ MRV

1. Define initial priorities for capacity development:

● understanding the national REDD+ implementation strategies and policies

● identifying high priority areas to focus MRV activities (and demonstrations) using a stratified national approach

2. Early actions will need to deal with partial MRV but leakage need to be assessed nationally

3. Link with evolving benefit sharing mechanisms

4. Synergy of national and local monitoring

● Role of local communities and experts in REDD+ implementation

National-level MRV

International reporting

Local monitoring

• National priorities and strategies for local REDD+ implementation

• National datasets and streams for local use

• Capacity development and revenue stream (for MRV)

• MRV guidance & standards • National data infrastructure

and quality control of local measurements

• Monitoring of leakage

• REDD+ participation and safeguards

• Local data collection as input to national monitoring (forest inventory, regular and near-real time tracking of forest change events)

• Performance reporting (long-term) for local implementation activities

• Independent data sources for validation purposes

Source: Pratihast et al., 2013, Carbon Management

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Framework for national REDD+ monitoring

Past Current Future

National forest monitoring (i.e. carbon)

National GHG inventory (IPCC GPG)

REDD+

Reference level (stepwise improvement)

National

strategy and

implementation

MRV of REDD+ actions

(national)

Local REDD+ monitoring

REDD+ Phase 1 Phase 2 Phase 3

International verification and performance

1. International verification anticipated for participation in results-based schemes

2. Cover emissions and removals estimates, and consistency with reference levels

3. Could also include NFMSs, consultation, safeguards and wider forest values.

4. Use a facilitative and non-confrontational approach and should be valuable for increasing policy effectiveness and sharing experiences

5. Interim performance reporting can catalyse progress on MRV and broader REDD+ agenda

Concluding remarks

1. National forest monitoring capacities vary

2. Continuous/cyclic improvements important to encourage broad participation and step-wise progress (i.e. along REDD+ phases)

3. Experiences on how to improve capacities

4. Sustained support on the national and from the international level

5. Linking data and estimates to financial incentives and benefit sharing

Additional background materials and reading

New report on capacity development in national forest monitoring: experiences for REDD+: http://www.cifor.org/online-library/browse/view-publication/publication/3944.html

An updated version of the GOFC-GOLD Sourcebook: http://www.gofcgold.wur.nl/redd/index.php

Hosonuma et al, Assessment of deforestation and forest degradation drivers, ERL http://iopscience.iop.org/1748-9326/7/4/044009

Romijn et al, Assessing capacities of non-Annex I countries for national forest, ESP

Pratihast, A. K., et al. (2013). Linking community-based and national REDD+ monitoring, Carbon Management

De Sy et al, Synergies of multiple remote sensing data sources for REDD+ monitoring. COSUST