The needs of forested developing countries are paramount for the success of any mechanism to catalyze reduced emissions from deforestation and degradation (REDD). The FAO, UNDP and UNEP Collaborative Programme (UN-REDD Programme) grew out of requests from the three agencies’ respective governing bodies and rainforest countries to ensure that these needs are reflected in the future negotiation of REDD.

The overall objective of the UN-REDD Programme is, therefore, to provide support to developing countries in building capacity to design and implement REDD measures and to ensure international coherence. In doing so, the programme is aiming at:

• Building international and multi-sectoral coherence on key technical and operational issues in relation to REDD;
• Informing negotiators and other stakeholders on REDD issues ;
• Building capacity of institutions and stakeholders in pilot developing countries to develop and implement participatory systems for monitoring and evaluation as well as equitable systems of benefit sharing;
• Building capacity in pilot developing countries to reduce risks and maximize benefits associated with generating verifiable and permanent emissions reductions.

“Quick Start” actions will be implemented during the period leading up to the UNFCCC COP/MOP in Copenhagen in December 2009. Quick start actions will consist of the implementation of a number of pilot projects and the establishment of an international support function to assist the country projects and inform the UNFCCC negotiation process.

More information:
Niklas Hagelberg
Programme Officer
Fresh Water & Terrestrial Ecosystems Branch
Division of Environmental Policy Implementation
P.O. Box 39522 (00100)
Nairobi, Kenya
Phone: +254 20 7624840
Fax: +254 20 7624249
Email: forest@unep.org
www.unep.org