F-11 countries call for mobilzation of financial resources

Nusa Dua, Feb 24 (ANTARA) - F-11 countries have called for mobilization of the financial resources of developed countries through the establishment of mechanisms such as REDD-plus.

The agreement to provide incentives to Reducing Emission from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD) action through the immediate establishment of a mechanism including REDD-plus, to enable the mobilization of financial resources from developed countries, must be urgently realized, according to a press statement issued by ministers attending the F-11 countries meeting here on Tuesday.

Foreign Affairs Minister Marty Natalegawa and Forestry Minister Zulkifli Hasan co-chaired the meeting which was held on the eve of the Special Session of the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) Governing Council/Environmental Ministers Forum to be organized on Feb. 24-26.

F-11 member countries were initially Brazil, Cameroon, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea (PNG) and Peru. In the Nusa Dua meeting, Guatemala, Guyana, and Suriname were officially admitted into the Forest Eleven (F-11).

The participants noted the importance of REDD and the need to enhance removals of greenhouse gas emission by forests as stated in the Copenhagen Accord.

They also launched a program of work and strategic plan that will serve as the implementation mechanism for F-11 projects to be completed in the period of 2010-2011.

The projects to be undertaken by F-11 countries in the near future will include remote sensing for monitoring deforestation and forest degradation, and enhancing the role of community-based forest management on climate resilience for adaptation and mitigation. They also reaffirmed their commitment to work closely in the framework of South-South Cooperation.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is scheduled to officially open the UNEP world environmental affairs meeting expected to be attended by 1,200 participants, including around 100 ministers, from about 140 countries.

The F-11 ministerial meeting was marked by the inauguration of the F-11 website