Papua New Guinea is into the final stage of preparing to submit the Forest Reference Level (FRL) national report on REDD+ for endorsement.
Forest Reference Level is one of four key elements to be produced by developing countries implementing REDD+ activities.
Reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD) is a mechanism that has been under negotiation by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) since 2005.
It aims to mitigate climate change through reducing net emissions of greenhouse gases through enhanced forest management in developing countries, including PNG.
Developing countries like PNG who are aiming to implement REDD+ activities have to submit a FRL to the UNFCCC secretariat for its technical review.
Presently, a core team has been assigned from Climate Change Development Authority (CCDA) and PNG Forest Authority (PNGFA) to develop a draft FRL national report using the activity data from the collect earth system.
The RFL national report will be submitted to the UNFCCC in January of 2017 for its technical review.
Following three consultative workshops on PNG’s FRL in 2014 and 2016, the technical team has drafted and analysed the report.
CCDA staged a validity workshop today in Port Moresby to gauge views from its partners on the draft FRL report.
Representatives from non-government organisations, universities and research institutions, community leaders, private sectors and development partners, gathered to share their views.
CCDA acting managing director, Ruel Yamuna, thanked the stakeholders for their important contributions and discussions so far in assisting CCDA to work towards the FRL submission.
CCDA monitoring, reviewing and verification manager, Alfred Rungol, said the FRL report will be reviewed and finalised by January 2, 2017 for submission to the National Executive Council (NEC).