What is REDD+?

Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) is a mechanism proposed under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). REDD+ aims to provide incentives to countries whocan make reductions in their greenhouse gas emissionsfrom the forest sector.The overall process of REDD+ enables a country to develop management and monitoring strategies which will significantly improve a countries forest resource, and the multiple benefits which they provide. Guidance from the UNFCCC Conference of the Parties (COP) on REDD+ has been published regularly, with the most substantial guidance being the seven REDD+ related decisions called Warsaw Framework for REDD+ adopted at Paris Conference (COP19) in November 2013. Through policies and measures under REDD+, it is possible to:

  1. Reduce greenhouse gas emissions produced by the forestry and land use sector.
  2. Enhance the capacity of the forestry sector to act as a carbon sink, by storing and enhancing carbon in the five carbon pools (i.e. above ground biomass, below ground biomass, soil organic carbon, litter and dead wood).
  3. Improve production of sustainable wood products and as such contributing to wider development goals.
  4. Maintain and enhance ecosystem services.

Countries should promote policies and measures which tackle greenhouse gas emissions through looking at five major areas:

  • Reduced Deforestation
  • Reduced Forest Degradation
  • Carbon Stock Enhancement
  • Sustainable Management of Forests
  • Conservation and Maintaining Existing Carbon Stocks

REDD+ Mongolia

The UNFCCC decided that REDD+ should be introduced in phases.

Phase 1: Readiness. A national strategy (or action plan) should be developed, identifying proposed actions, and capacity-building should be undertaken.

Phase 2: Pilot Implementation. Pilot implementation of national policies and measures under the national strategy or action plan, together with further capacity building, and demonstration activities.  This phase gives a chance for reviewing and eventually correct the planned REDD+ action before their large-scale implementation.

Phase 3: Full Implementation. REDD+ activities leading to reduction of emissions will be fully implemented at national scale and the performance in terms of emission reduction be measured, reported and eventually be verified if the country seeks compensatory payments by the international community.

1st PHASES

Preparation Phases

Each country prepares a plan on REDD+ policy, activities and actions in collaboration with strategic stakeholders. Also, national capacity for REDD+ is built, and policies in regards to REDD+ identified and tested.

2nd PHASES

Implementation Phases

Implementation and testing of plans, policies and strategies developed during the preparation stage. This stage will include testing the result-based activities, further strengthening capacity, initiating and testing new technology.

3rd PHASES

Result-Result Phases

Implementation of REDD+ Programme’s result-based activities at the National level, evaluation, reporting and verification of results.

Read more at: here and here