REDD+ & Biodiversity
e-newsletter




Volume 20 – July - August  2012
Rio+20 Earth Summit

Rio+20 outcomes – "The Future We Want"
The Heads of State and Government and high-level representatives met at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from 20 to 22 June 2012, with the participation of civil society, and renewed their commitment to sustainable development. The outcomes of the meeting are presented in the document "The Future We Want", which includes, inter alia, a section on forests as one of the thematic areas for the framework for future action and follow-up, noting the importance of such ongoing initiatives as reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation in developing countries, and the role of conservation, sustainable management of forests and enhancement of forest carbon stocks in developing countries. The document is available at: http://www.uncsd2012.org/thefuturewewant.html.

"The Rio Conventions Action on Forests"
Document The three Rio Conventions launched a joint publication on forests at Rio+20: "Action on Forests", which explains the activities under the CBD, UNFCCC and UNCCD to save and restore the world’s forests. Available here.

The contribution of the Collaborative Partnership on Forests (CPF) at Rio+20
CPF members submitted a document explaining how forests can help countries transition to a green economy, one of the two key themes of the Rio+20 Conference. Available at: http://www.cpfweb.org/74128/en/

Factsheets on Sustainable Forest Management (SFM)
landscapeThe CPF also released eight fact sheets, including a factsheet on SFM and REDD+, which underline the important role of forests and sustainable forest management for human well-being, sustainable development and a green economy. Available in English, French and Spanish at: http://www.cpfweb.org/76228/en/.


Upcoming Events
2012 World Conservation Congress, Jeju Island
Under the theme "Nature+ Climate" at the 2012 World Conservation Congress in Jeju Island, Republic of Korea, IUCN will be urging decision-makers to invest in nature to increase resilience and reduce the vulnerability of people to the impacts of climate change, recognising that mechanisms such as REDD+ can reduce emissions, conserve biodiversity and enhance human well-being. A number of events on REDD+ are being organized. More: http://www.iucnworldconservationcongress.org/


New Publications
New report launched: "Mapping potential biodiversity benefits from REDD+. The Democratic Republic of the Congo"
A new report presenting selected results of spatial analyses to explore potential biodiversity benefits and risks from REDD+ in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has been launched in Kinshasa on 5 July 2012. The report is available in English and French. Read more here.

Greenpeace starts global consultation to boost forest protection
boySeeking stronger global standards, Greenpeace International has launched a consultation process to simplify and support forests and forests peoples protection, particularly with regard to REDD+. For more information, click here.

The Rights and Resources Initiative Annual Review
Man woodThe Rights and Resources Initiative’s 2011-2012 annual review on the state of rights and resources, Turning Point: What future for forest peoples and resources in the emerging world order? takes stock of the current status of forest rights and tenure globally, assesses the key issues and events of 2011 that shape possibilities to improve local rights and livelihoods, and identifies key questions and challenges that the world will face in 2012 and beyond. Click here for more information and here to download the report in English, French, Spanish and Bahasa Indonesia.

"The governance of REDD+: an institutional analysis in the Asia Pacific region and beyond"
This paper by Cadman, T and Maraseni, T. (2012), published in the Journal of Environmental Planning and Management, explores the changing nature of North/South relations in contemporary climate change governance. Focusing on the United Nations Collaborative Programme to Reduce Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+), the paper presents a theoretical framework, through which stakeholder perceptions of REDD+ governance quality and institutional legitimacy can be evaluated. Paper available here.


How can you publish in this Newsletter?
Your contributions to this Newsletter on issues related to biodiversity aspects of REDD-plus are welcome. Please send your submission to redd@cbd.int. Articles should contain no more than 60 words, and must contain a hyperlink for more information.  Deadline to submit articles for the next issue: 17 September 2012.
 
The aim of this e-Newsletter is to inform CBD National Focal Points and CBD partners about biodiversity aspects in relation to reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation, and the role of conservation, sustainable management of forests and enhancement of forest carbon stocks in developing countries (REDD+). To subscribe, please visit http://www.cbd.int/forest/redd/newsletters/

This newsletter is published pursuant to CBD decision IX/5. The views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the views of the Secretariat of the CBD. 

Photo credits (from top to bottom): CGIAR Climate, SCBD, and CIFOR (last tree images)