UN-REDD: Papua New Guinea

This initial Papua New Guinea UN-REDD Programme aims at initiating the quick start phase of readiness support for REDD. Its objectived are to assist Papua New Guinea to prepare a draft National REDD Plan for consideration of the Cabinet by 31 October 2009, in line with the National Executive Council decision of 11 February 2009, and to develop a full national programme that shall be resubmitted to the UN-REDD Policy Board. This initial Papua New Guinea UN-REDD Programme has 5 components:

Outcome 1 : Readiness management arrangements are in place
Outcome 2: Arrangements for establishing a reference emission level are in place
Outcome 3: Framework for Forest Carbon monitoring and Reporting are developed
Outcome 4: REDD costs and fiscal transfers
Outcome 5: Stakeholders engaged in PNG's REDD readiness process.

Budget allocation for this initial programme was approved by the Policy Board during its first meeting in March 2009.

A number of activities have been undertaken towards signature of the Papua New Guinea Programme document.

1. May 20 – June 30: Finalization of the initial Programme document

The Programme document was revised in the following manner: 1) Preparation of first year annual work plan, based on inputs prepared and submitted by representatives of UNDP and FAO; 2) Preparation of a detailed risk log; 3) Review of implementation arrangements, in consultation with the MDTF Office and 4) Preparation of ToR for staff positions. Various drafts have been discussed with key government and non-governmental stakeholders, and comments incorporated into the revised proposal .

2. May 4-15 Regional consultation conferences

A series of four regional conferences were organized by OCCES in order to: 1) Discuss with provincial governments, landowners and relevant stakeholders on OCC&ES’s mandate, roles and functions; 2) Discuss with provincial governments, landowners and all stakeholders on the challenges and opportunities in reducing emissions from deforestation and degradation (REDD) and the initiatives on clean development mechanism (CDM) undertaken by OCC&ES and the Government in response to climate change; 3) Engage provincial governments, landowners and stakeholders in discussions on mitigation programs under REDD such as forest inventory, monitoring & reporting, benefit sharing and stakeholder participation; and 4) Inform and educate provincial governments, landowners and all stakeholders on how OCC&ES is addressing climate change impacts and adaptation issues in consultation with line departments and development partners. The results and recommendations emerging from these conferences were used in modifying the Programme Document (see above)

3. May 20-30: Development of workplan on MRV with Government of Australia

Representatives of FAO, UNEP, and the Government of Australia met together with OCCES and the Forestry Administration, in order to develop a mutually agreed roadmap on the development of a comprehensive MRV system for PNG, and the necessary capacity building work required to implement it.

4. May – June: Recruitment of UN-REDD CTA

Following an international recruitment process, the successful candidate for the position of REDD Chief Technical Advisor has been recruited and is expected to take up his position in August.

5. From June onwards: Planning for full Programme document

As the PNG submission to the first meeting of the UN-REDD Policy Board was only an initial submission, for about half of the expected level of funding, the process of planning for a full JPD, which is expected to be submitted inter-sessionally, before the third meeting of the UN-REDD Policy Board, began in June. The full Programme Document will include elaborated proposals on MRV, financial and economic assessments of REDD in PNG, and the associated capacity building activities.

PNG's REDD Framework

National Implementing Partner: Office of Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability (OCCES), under the Prime Minister's Office

Partners: Papua New Guinea Forest Authority (PNGFA); Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC); National Forest Research Institute (NFRI)

The GoPNG - Development Partner Climate Change Task Force (DPCCTF) will discuss and advise the PNG climate change strategy, be a forum for information exchange, and work towards joint action.

The Technical Working Group on REDD (TWG-REDD) will maintain up to date the PNG REDD Road map, report to the DPCCTF, agree on a REDD strategic plan and strive to achieve programme-based approaches for joint action.