The implementation of REDD+ requires advanced ways of monitoring forest carbon stocks, and FAO is currently collaborating with Brazil’s INPE to provide UN-REDD Programme countries adequate measurement, reporting and verification (MRV) capacity.

Credit: David Gilbert, FAO Tropical forest of Takengon, Indonesia.

The joint work programme, discussed during a meeting in late April 2010, will include the implementation of the Brazilian satellite monitoring system in UN-REDD Programme countries that will help in large-scale monitoring of deforestation and forest degradation. This meeting is a follow-up to the Memorandum of Understanding signed between FAO and INPE in December 2009.

Brazil’s INPE is fully committed to sharing its experience in large scale monitoring of deforestation that can help provide accurate and transparent data to the public. These data and monitoring systems (TERRA-AMAZON, PRODES, DETER, DEGRAD) will be made available to other countries to help them advance their own forest monitoring. Currently, monitoring systems in these countries are not accurate enough or simply non-existing for the MRV of forest carbon stocks that will be required for REDD+ implementation. For this reason, countries are exploring how to design and implement forest monitoring systems in a cost-efficient way.

To develop strong nationally-owned forest monitoring systems, technical and institutional capacity building is key. INPE will be responsible for training in a new center in Belem, Brazil, while FAO will be responsible for the in-country training and implementation. In two years time, the goals are to train technical people from 30-40 countries.