CBD Releases Report on REDD+ and Biodiversity Safeguards Workshop in Asia-Pacific

13 April 2011: The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) Asia-Pacific Regional Consultation and Capacity-Building Workshop on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation in Developing Countries, Including on Relevant Biodiversity Safeguards, convened from 15-18 March 2011, in Singapore City, Singapore.

The tasks for this workshop, which was intended to facilitate both the CBD and the UNFCCC discussions on relevant biodiversity safeguards for REDD+ (reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation  in developing countries, as well as conservation, sustainable management of forests and enhancement of carbon stocks), were to: discuss aspects of the application of relevant safeguards for biodiversity in the context of REDD+; identify possible biodiversity indicators to assess the contribution of REDD+ to achieving the objectives of the CBD; and assess potential mechanisms to monitor impacts on biodiversity.

Among others, workshop participants emphasized that: a well-implemented REDD+ mechanism has the potential to enhance ecosystem services to deliver multiple benefits for countries, in particular to indigenous peoples and local communities; and developing safeguards for the protection and conservation of natural forests and biodiversity, for respecting the knowledge and rights of indigenous peoples and local communities, as well as for promoting their full and effective participation in relevant REDD+ activities and processes, is essential for the success of the REDD-plus approach in general. Working groups established during the workshop formulated findings and recommendations on a range of issues of relevance to biodiversity safeguards, the assessment of REDD+ impacts on biodiversity, and capacity-building needs. [Workshop Website] [Co-Chairs’ Summary]