National REDD+ initiatives in Caribbean SIDS to enhance NDC implementation

Abstract

The objective of this paper is to explore the potential of Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest degradation, and Foster conservation, Sustainable management of forests, and Enhancement of forest carbon stocks (REDD+) to support Caribbean Small Island Developing States (SIDS) efforts in achieving their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement. A comprehensive overview of the region's perspective on REDD+ in meeting their climate targets in the forestry sector was conducted. The methodology adopted a content analysis of Caribbean countries' NDCs and REDD+ Readiness Preparation Proposals (R-PP). The data used for the content analysis were obtained from initial and updated NDCs for sixteen Caribbean SIDS and REDD+ R-PP for four countries. The results demonstrate that Caribbean countries have high interest in adopting deforestation and forest degradation into their NDC targets. However, REDD+ does not appear to be a high priority in these countries and has been adopted in only four countries. REDD+ systems and mechanisms including measurement, reporting and verification (MRV) in forests, forest and land governance and land rights, and safeguards and financing for REDD+ are hardly considered in Caribbean SIDS NDCs except for the four countries that have already adopted REDD+. These four countries have paid considerable attention to adhere to REDD+ rules as demonstrated in their R-PPs. They are however still in the process of developing MRV forest systems and yet to develop national forest monitoring systems, and details on financing REDD+ and implementation are scarce.