The latest news from the UN-REDD Programme

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PERSPECTIVES

STORIES

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Greetings!

The second Resource newsletter this year reaches you in a changed world, a world in crisis, with the Covid-19 pandemic driving it home how forest loss and degradation contribute to the spread of diseases.

The destruction of forest ecosystems through land conversion pushes exotic species off their natural habitats and places them closer to human populations, amplifying windows for interaction and emergence of new strains of diseases.

The good news is that according to FAO’s recently published State of the World’s Forests report the rate of forest loss is decreasing globally and solutions that balance conservation and sustainable use of forest biodiversity exist.

A green economy is what we need when we build the economy back up, more resilient and sustainable. By “building back better” we should prioritize investments in the rural sector, particularly those intended to stop deforestation, restore natural habitats and scale up regenerative agriculture. And as you know, forests are a crucial source of ecosystem services for key economic sectors and therefore central to a green recovery.

All of this is very important, because while emissions are temporarily down due to global lockdowns, Oxford economists warn that they could rebound with a vengeance as nations recover. Without the right policies, they write, “we will leap from the Covid frying pan into the climate fire.”

PERSPECTIVES

Time to restore human relations with nature and biodiversity

The degradation and loss of forests and biodiversity is a contributing factor to disrupting nature’s balance and increasing the risks of human epidemic diseases in general. The COVID-19 pandemic is a deep and lasting shock at global level; we all know that returning to “business as usual” is not an option.

Addressing forest crime in a post-Covid-19 era

To address forest crime and reduce pressure on forests, the Government of Norway is collaborating with FAO and UNEP under the UN-REDD Programme to implement a new initiative that will support countries in the Lower Mekong region (Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand and Viet Nam) in addressing forest crime through improved governance.

How to build back better

With biodiversity in freefall and climate change at risk of spiralling out of control, the global community needs to urgently and decisively respond to both these crisis.

Deforestation continues globally, if at a slower pace

In mid-May 2020, the key findings of the Global Forest Resources Assessment were published, quantifying the global trends in terms of forest extent and rates of loss. While forest loss continues, the assessment has revealed that more of the remaining forests are now protected, or under management plans helping to ensure their sustainable use into the future.

STORIES

Data for people and processes: How communities and forests stand to benefit from a National Forest Inventory

Local participation has been found to have positive implications for various aspects of REDD+, and forest monitoring is no exception. To maximise local people’s involvement in forest monitoring and the assessment of social impacts, the Government of Liberia has begun to incorporate community-based monitoring into its national systems.

Despite Covid-19, climate change continues to be a priority

In April and May, the UN-REDD Programme hosted 6 webinars on key issues related to investments in nature-based solutions with a focus on forest conservation and restoration, called “Charting our Carbon Future: opportunities for corporate mitigation action.”

Participatory Forest Monitoring in Colombia: Empowering Local Communities

Local communities are key forest stakeholders, and their involvement in decision-making and sustainable management generates positive outcomes for livelihoods, rural development and forest conservation. Colombia is now taking rapid steps towards connecting community forestry activities with wider climate and forestry strategies.

Forests for People: Myanmar Puts its REDD+ Safeguard Information System into Practice

Forests in Myanmar have many uses and as the country moves forward with its REDD+ actions, putting safeguards in place has become a crucial step to ensure that traditional, sustainable uses of forests are not negatively affected.

Kenya: How communities get involved via the FPIC system to manage their forests

“It’s always better to involve us,” says Kibarisho Leintoi, a 36-year-old Masai mother of eight children. “Even though I cannot read or write, I know what I need for my family to live: we need healthcare and water.”

Mengelola Hutan dengan Partisipasi Masyarakat: Sebuah Studi Kasus dari Kenya

“Semua akan berjalan lebih baik jika kami ikut terlibat,” ujar Kibarisho Leintoi, Ibu delapan anak berumur 36 tahun. “Meskipun saya tidak bisa menulis atau membaca, saya tahu persis apa yang dibutuhkan keluarga saya untuk hidup.

Building a holistic monitoring framework for ecosystem restoration

Investing in ecosystem restoration has been proven to support livelihoods, provide large-scale economic stimulus for national economies and make significant contributions to biodiversity.

Rescuing ancestral knowledge around pine nut cultivation in Chile

In La Araucanía, more specifically in the Mapuche Community of Quinquén, which is a beneficiary of Chile’s National UN-REDD Programme, efforts are made to revalue and rescue ancient ancestral practices to cultivate pine nuts.

Revalorizan prácticas ancestrales para manejo del piñón

Su rescate se realiza en La Araucanía, más específicamente en la Comunidad Mapuche de Quinquén, beneficiaria del Programa Nacional (ONU-REDD), que cuenta con apoyo técnico de la FAO, el PNUD y ONU Medio Ambiente; y que Naciones Unidas desarrolló para reducir las emisiones de CO2 causadas por la deforestación y la degradación forestal en países en desarrollo.

Carbon Farming Enables Nature-Based Solutions for Tropical Peat Degradation in a Post-COVID-19 World

In recent years, nature-based solutions have been recognized to provide cost-effective, climate mitigation, with the potential to stabilize global warming to below 2°C by 2030. However, with the intensification of dry seasons and wildfires, countries with tropical peatlands in Southeast Asia can learn from examples in the Netherlands to address negative climate impacts and preserve biodiversity .

Launch of the social and environmental policy of Banhprovi in Honduras

The UN-REDD Programme has assisted a bank in Colombia to identify steps to be followed - including an environmental and social risk system - to develop an eco-efficiency program and green products and services.

Banhprovi, inicia el camino hacia la sostenibilidad de la banca de desarrollo en Honduras

La banca de desarrollo local juega un papel fundamental en los países de América Latina. La banca puede actuar como vehículo financiero para diversos propósitos y establecer una relación más directa entre el sector público y el privado.

Strengthening the legal basis for sustainable national forest monitoring systems

For all the countries eager to generate reliable forest data, a sustainable National Forest Monitoring System (NFMS) needs to be put in place. A robust NFMS can support the formulation, monitoring and adjustment of sub- and national forest-related policies, inform citizens and stakeholders and help track progress towards sustainable forest management and reducing emissions related to forest loss.