A Second UN-REDD Programme Policy Board Meeting convened in Switzerland – significant progress made – Denmark recognized possibility of funding UN-REDD Programme
The United Nations Collaborative Programme on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation in Developing Countries (UN-REDD Programme) held its second policy board meeting on 14 and 15 June 2009 in Montreux, Switzerland, back-to-back with the meeting of the World Bank Forest Carbon Partnership Facility. The UN Programme co-chairs were Ms. Angela Cropper, Deputy Executive Director of UNEP, and Mr. Eduardo Reyes, Sub-Administrator General, National Environmental Authority of Panama. The growing interest in the Programme was demonstrated by the increased number of participants. The meeting marked the first time that the full membership of the board had been in session, notably with full and broad participation of indigenous peoples and civil society organizations, together with representatives of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the World Bank, the Global Environment Facility and potential new donors.
The board took note of the establishment of the Secretariat in Geneva and the appointment of Mr Yemi Katarere as the Head of the Secretariat and approved a budget over the meeting for its operation under the Global Programme. Following a review of progress and the Programme’s workplan, the board noted that once the final allocations from the Multi-Donor Trust Fund had been made, the initial funding provided by the Government of Norway would be fully programmed. The board therefore welcomed the announcement by the Government of Denmark that, given the significant progress made and how well the Programme’s work augured for the future, it was exploring the possibility of funding UN-REDD, with the details to be announced subsequently.
The board expressed great interest in issues such as measurement, reporting and verification (MRV), possible issues and opportunities in achieving multiple benefits for biodiversity and livelihoods from REDD as well as governance and participation. The plan of work 2009–2010 was presented and welcomed by the board. Guidance was given to the Programme on how to engage indigenous peoples, other forest-dependent communities and civil society organizations fully in all aspects of the UN-REDD Programme. An opportunity was offered to share perspectives on how to gain access to existing networks of expertise to obtain the best available advice. The board recognized the Programme’s efforts to continue to work on harmonized components of REDD readiness with the World Bank’s Forest Carbon Partnership Facility, in addition to aligning guidelines for the engagement of indigenous peoples and civil society organizations and potential future collaboration with the Global Environment Facility.
Representatives of the programme countries (Bolivia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Indonesia, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Tanzania and Zambia) made presentations on their progress, while Viet Nam provided a written report in that regard. Following a comprehensive discussion on the presentation by Panama, the board recommended that Panama submit its national programme for intersessional consideration and welcomed the emphasis laid on nationally led and implemented programmes.
The board took note of the presentation on a proposed high-level event on REDD during the General Assembly in New York in September 2009. At the conclusion of the meeting, the co-chairs commended the progress made towards setting the standard for efforts to reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation. The board is considering that its third meeting may take place in October 2009.
