A three day workshop in Guadalajara, Mexico focuses on supporting countries in implementing MRV systems for REDD+
(Guadalajara, Mexico) - The United Nations Collaborative Programme on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation (UN-REDD Programme) along with the Group on Earth Observations (GEO) and the Mexican Forestry Commission (Comisión Nacional Forestal – CONAFOR) held a successful workshop entitled “Measurement, reporting and verification, a roadmap for implementation at the country level” from 22 to 24 June 2010.
Pilot and partner countries of the UN-REDD Programme as well as other forested countries at the workshop shared experiences in implementing MRV systems for REDD+ while identifying current challenges, bottlenecks and data issues. The main goal of the workshop was to identify best practices and relevant experiences that could be adapted and replicated by others.
Over 80 participants from 30 different countries at the workshop discussed methodological approaches to monitor land use changes focusing especially on forest land use changes; developing Green House Gas (GHG) inventories for forests; measuring Reference Emission Levels (REL) and Reference Levels (RL) and estimating emission factors (carbon stock changes) by implementing solid national forest inventories.
Participants shared experiences concerning the implementation of MRV systems that will serve as a basis for the REDD+ mechanism within the UNFCCC. These systems will also improve natural resources and land management. The GEO group, which brings together earth observation agencies from around the world, offered its support to work jointly with the UN-REDD Programme to make satellite imagery available to countries, which will allow for better integration of MRV systems. The World Bank expert on MRV at the meeting stressed the interest to work jointly with the UN-REDD Programme to maximize the resources offered to countries.
Participants in the meeting agreed to strengthen capacity building towards improved design and operation of MRV systems along the lines of the current cooperation between the Brazilian National Institute for Space Research (INPE) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
