REDD+ and Climate Change
Global initiative to mitigate carbon emissions and enhance sustainable forest management
REDD+ Strategy
A national REDD+ strategy process relies on analysing different strategic options and prioritising a set of policies, programs, and inventions for addressing the drivers of deforestation and forest degradation, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving the carbon sink capacity at national, regional and landscape levels, following the sustainable development principles and a cross-sectoral approach.
Arbonaut also supports strategy implementation by developing desired information systems, such as National Forest Monitoring System (NFMS), Safeguards Information System (SIS) and Carbon Register.
Arbonaut has contributed to the National REDD+ strategy development in Nepal, Uganda, Central African Republic and Ethiopia.
Operationalizing REDD+ Safeguards
To implement REDD+, safeguards need to be set up. The development of Safeguard Information System (SIS) is vital so that the public can have free access to information regarding the safeguards, and how they are being tackled. Social and Environmental Strategic Assessment (SESA) is needed to make sure that the safeguards are being abided with, and as a means of engagement with the relevant stakeholders. Through SESA, one ends up with Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF), which is meant to guide the country in dealing with the risks of setting up a REDD+ strategy.
During such assignments, Arbonaut develops specific frameworks, such as, a Process Framework (PF), an Indigenous Peoples Planning Framework (IPPF), and a Resettlement Policy Framework (RPF), in compliance with the World Bank Safeguard Policies.
Arbonaut has provided its assistance in developing safeguards in Uganda and Burkina Faso.
Forest Reference Emission Level (FREL/REL)
It is necessary to establish a business-as-usual baseline that future land use changes and forest degradation emissions are compared to. Forest Reference Emissions Levels enable monitoring the effectiveness of strategic interventions to address drivers of deforestation and forest degradation and justifying the performance-based carbon payments.
FREL/REL is based on accurate forest inventory data. Arbonaut, together with its partners, has successfully developed a national forest reference emission level in Pakistan and a sub-national reference level in Senegal.
Measuring, Reporting and Verification (MRV)
The REDD+ countries need to establish the Measuring, Reporting, and Verification systems to monitor and report greenhouse gas emissions by sectors and drivers to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Arbonaut has contributed to the integrated MRV systems by strengthening existing institutional capacity and integrating necessary system tools in line with the Global Forest Observation Initiative methodological guidelines in Ghana, Pakistan and Senegal. Arbonaut has also supported the implementation of a community-based MRV in Guyana.
Land use and land cover mapping
The challenges associated with the land management regimes originate globally from the rising demand for land. Up-to-date information is required for land allocation, optimization and suitability assessment for forestry, agriculture, mining industry, human settlements and infrastructure development. Meanwhile, agricultural waste products, degraded forests and wastelands are valuable reserves for the future bioenergy production.
Arbonaut has provided land use and land cover mapping services in combination with bioenergy potential assessments in India, Cambodia and Poland.