Suriname rep at UN: REDD+ program should complement sustainable forest management

NEW YORK/PARAMARIBO--Raymond Landveld, the Counselor at Suriname’s Permanent Mission to the UN, discussing the progress made by the United Nations Forum on Forests, has said that perhaps the most important outcome of the deliberations thus far had been that delegations felt the REDD+ program should not be a substitute for sustainable forest management, but should instead complement it.

The UN’s REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation) Program is an effort to create a financial value for the carbon stored in forests, offering incentives for developing countries to reduce emissions from forested lands and invest in low-carbon paths to sustainable development. “REDD+” goes beyond deforestation and forest degradation, and includes the role of conservation, sustainable management of forests and enhancement of forest carbon stocks.

Suriname has taken a stand in favor of the REDD+ program; both at the climate change talks in Kopenhagen in 2009 and the talks in Cancun last December, Suriname representatives pleaded for financial compensation for forest conservation.  “If we maintain our forests and our biodiversity, we expect to be compensated for that,” Labor, Technological Development and Environment Minister Minister Ginmardo Kromosoeto said regarding Suriname’s stance.

Counselor Landveld is Co-Chair of Working Group 2, which deals with the assessment of progress made on the implementation of the non-legally-binding instrument on all types of forests and towards the realization of the four global objectives on forests; regional and sub-regional inputs; enhanced cooperation and policy and program coordination, including the provision of further guidance to the Collaborative Partnership on Forests; and means of implementing sustainable forest management. “Mr. Landveld said the most specific recommendations had been provided on the means of implementation,” a UN press release states.