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The 8th Meeting of Asia Forest Partnership and AFP Dialogue REDD and Combating Illegal Logging
The 8th Meeting of Asia Forest Partnership and AFP Dialogue REDD and Combating Illegal Logging |
The 8th Meeting of Asia Forest Partnership and AFP Dialogue REDD and Combating Illegal Logging |
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‘Where is the money for REDD coming from? Is it falling from the sky?' asked a sceptical delegate. The question was typical of the robust debates that characterised the 8th AFP dialogue sessions on REDD and illegal logging. The dialogue was held in Bali on May 27-29, hosted by the Indonesian government in collaboration with CIFOR with financial contributions from the governments of Japan and Switzerland and the USAID RAFT-TNC Program, GTZ, the EC-Indonesia FLEGT Support Project, WRI, IGES and DFID. AFP dialogues are open events, designed to encourage discussion about key forest issues, rather than build consensus. This year more than 250 participants attended, including politicians, scientists, aid workers and law enforcement specialists. REDD (reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation) is currently a hot topic among the forest community. A REDD mechanism could be included in the new global climate agreement which will be finalised at the end of the year. Proponents of REDD schemes believe that they have the potential to make a significant contribution to climate stability. If implemented, credits accrued from reduced emissions, or ‘avoided deforestation', would be sold on an international carbon market or compensated through an international fund. This would provide financial compensation for developing countries to conserve their forests. The details are still being negotiated in the lead-up to this December's United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen.
“Failure to fight forest crime will undermine the chances of success for REDD. But the finance and political momentum that may be generated by a global REDD agreement could help efforts to address forest crime. The elements of success for the fight against forest crime and promoting REDD overlap to a remarkable degree”. Frances Seymour, CIFOR Director General
Participants at the AFP were strongly in favour of a REDD mechanism to preserve the world's forests. Many were concerned, however, about the workability of REDD and whether or not the money would go to those who need it most. Forest-dependent communities are often poor and marginalised but it is their livelihoods that could be jeopardised if they are not properly compensated under REDD for reduced access to forests for income and food. Another recurring theme was the need for stronger governance, greater accountability and tougher laws. If governments cannot prevent illegal logging, suggested some speakers, it is doubtful they can successfully implement REDD schemes. There was optimism, however, that despite the challenges, REDD could be made to work. ‘REDD is a new concept,' said Dr Theo Yasause from the Office of Climate Change, Papua New Guinea. ‘Once we start the process, we will then build upon our experiences.' Director of the UN Forum on Forests, Jan McAlpine, paid tribute to the event and the progress it represents. ‘Ten years ago no one could have imagined the amount of attention that is currently given to forests,' she said. ‘And while it is overwhelming, it's welcome.' Highlighted from AFP Secretariat On the occasion of the 8th meeting of the AFP, the steering committee (SC) confirmed Mr. Zhongtian Zhang of the China State Forestry Administration as the new chair of the AFP SC for the period of 2009-2010, while Mr. Tatsuya Watanabe of the Japan Forestry Agency has been elected as the vice chair of the steering committee. The Committee thanked Dr. Henry Scheyvens of IGES Japan for his excellent leadership as AFP SC chair for the period of 2008-2009. More info of the dialogue: |