Strengthen forest governance to reduce greenhouse gas emissions

4 December 2007

Speaking Tuesday morning to the UN Climate Conference Convention’s Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA) in Bali, Indonesia, IUCN joined 25 countries in calling for early action to reduce emissions from deforestation and to protect tropical forests.

For IUCN, the success of Reduced Emissions from Deforestation in Developing Countries (REDD) depends on whether such mechanisms are integrated into a broader strategy that secures deeper reductions of emissions from fossil fuels rather than simply being used to offset “business-as-usual” activities from industrialized countries. 

REDD must also take into account of the multiple ecosystem functions and benefits of forests and include equitable participation of local stakeholders.

IUCN called on countries to strengthen current forest governance reform processes aimed at promoting sustainable forest management and to provide sufficient and diverse financial resources needed to ensure that REDD mechanisms reduce poverty and benefit the local and indigenous communities that depend on forest resources.

For more information:

Stewart Maginnis, Head of IUCN Forest Programme, stewart.maginnisiucn.org

Joshua Bishop, Head of IUCN Delegation in Bali, Joshua.bishopiucn.org