PNG REDD+

PNG is currently in the process of developing REDD+ for the country under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and in accordance with the 2015 Paris Agreement.

The National REDD+ Strategy was the main focus of discussions and training sessions at a workshop this week in Kavieng attended by 60 representatives from the government and private sector.

The outcomes from the workshop will be in a revised document that will help provide clear direction on how PNG can reduce its greenhouse gas emissions.

FRL is one of four key elements to be produced by developing countries implementing REDD+ activities.

REDD+ 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 document to the UNFCCC secretariat for its technical review.

The workshop is facilitated by the Climate Change Development Authority in partnership with United Nations-REDD Programme, PNG Forest Authority (PNGFA) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

This is the final validated workshop which aims to present the results on PNG's FRL assessment and documentation of its overall submission content, to be validated by all relevant stakeholders.

Participants include non-government organisations, universities and research institutions, community leaders, private sectors and development partners.

REDD 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+ stands for countries' efforts to reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation, and foster conservation, sustainable management of forests and enhancement of forest carbon stocks.

The workshop will highlight the National Forest Monitoring System Action Plan, Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Inventory and Forest Reference Level for REDD+ in PNG.