Abstract

This paper provides the first critical analysis of the financing and current capacity for REDD+ readiness in the Congo Basin, with a particular focus on the REDD+ component of national forest monitoring and measurement, reporting and verification (M&MRV). We focus on three areas of analysis: (i) general financing for REDD+ readiness especially M&MRV; (ii) capacity and information for REDD+ implementation and M&MRV; (iii) prospects and challenges for REDD+ and M&MRV readiness in terms of financing and capacity. For the first area of analysis, a REDD+ and M&MRV readiness financing database was created based on the information from the REDD+ voluntary database and Internet searches. For the second area of analysis, a qualitative approach to data collection was adopted (semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders, surveys and observations). All 10 countries were visited between 2010 and 2012. We find that: (i) a significant amount of REDD+ financing flows into the Congo Basin (±US$550 million or almost half of the REDD+ financing for the African continent); (ii) across countries, there is an important disequilibrium in terms of REDD+ and M&MRV readiness financing, political engagement, comprehension and capacity, which also appears to be a key barrier to countries receiving equal resources; (iii) most financing appears to go to smaller scale (subnational) REDD+ projects; (iv) four distinct country groups in terms of REDD+ readiness and M&MRV status are identified; and (v) the Congo Basin has a distinct opportunity to have a specific REDD+ financing window for large-scale and more targeted national REDD+ programmes through a specific fund for the region.

Highlights

  • As part of international climate change mitigation efforts, in the context of the implementation of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), developing countries are encouraged to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from deforestation and forest degradation, conserve and sustainably manage their forests and enhance forest carbon stocks, referred to as REDDþ activities1

  • We draw five key conclusions: (i) a significant amount of REDDþ financing flows into the Congo Basin; (ii) across the countries, there is an important disequilibrium in terms of REDDþ and M&MRV readiness financing, political engagement, comprehension and capacity, which appears to be a key barrier to countries receiving equal resources; (iii) most financing appears to go to smaller scale REDDþ projects; (iv) four distinct country groups in terms of REDDþ and M&MRV status are identified; and (v) the Congo Basin has a distinct opportunity to develop a specific REDDþ financing window for large-scale and more targeted national REDDþ readiness support through a fund for the region

  • Financing for REDDþ and M&MRV readiness is clearly only a first step in the REDDþ process, as the architecture for REDDþ implementation is based on three phases

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Summary

Introduction

As part of international climate change mitigation efforts, in the context of the implementation of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), developing countries are encouraged to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from deforestation and forest degradation, conserve and sustainably manage their forests and enhance forest carbon stocks, referred to as REDDþ activities. COP15 (Copenhagen): methodological guidance on REDD+ activities is agreed upon (decision 4/CP.15) It includes the concepts of national forest monitoring systems required to estimate GHGs from forestry activities

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