'Forests are a key issue for climate change discussions.’ Yvo De Boer, speaking at the first Forest Day held parallel to the COP

(Bali Dec 8, 2007): The Executive Secretary of the UNFCCC, Mr. Yvo de Boer, was presented with a set of key recommendations on the role of forests in combating climate change for consideration at the 13th Conference of the Parties in Bali (COP 13).

Mr. de Boer welcomed the contribution that the many world-leading experts and forest organizations attending Forest Day could make in influencing forest and climate policy at the global level.

He said forests were well established now on the international agenda, following increasing awareness of the importance of tackling deforestation to reduce the rate of global warming.

“In the climate change process, there is growing political acknowledgement of the need to reduce emissions from deforestation”, he said.

“The issue has been one of the key areas of discussion at the UN Climate Change Conference, where Parties have made important progress in agreeing to conduct further work on methodologies in preparation for a comprehensive regime on reducing emissions from deforestation”, he added.

He drove home the fact that if we do not sustain trees, we will soon live in a world that will not sustain us. The methodological work will include assessments of changes in forest cover and how to demonstrate reductions of emissions from deforestation.

Forest Day recommendations from the Collaborative Partnership on Forests included:

• The success of REDD mechanisms depends on the political will to address the drivers of deforestation, including drivers beyond forestry sector.
• Governance-related challenges pose the greatest risks for both international investors and local stakeholders. However, there is also an opportunity for achieving the governance reforms needed. We cannot rely on markets alone. We need a combination of market mechanism and governance.
• There is a need to have simple mechanisms (modalities and procedures). We must not repeat the past mistakes of CDM, such as high transaction costs.
• There is agreement that a set of multiple instruments (particularly within REDD mechanism) are needed for dealing with the value of forest ecosystems services.
• To ensure equity in the distribution of REDD benefits, it’s essential to clarify land rights and legal rights to carbon.
• We need adaptation now. Adaptation should be focused on the most vulnerable, including forest-depended people.

The recommendations were presented at the first ever Forest Day held in conjunction with the annual COP. Forest Day was organized by CIFOR and its partners in the Collaborative Partnership on Forests.

• Read the CPF’s Forest Day Summary presented to the UNFCCC Executive Secretary.
• Read about the activities of the 700 people who made Forest Day such a huge success.

For further information

Greg Clough

g.clough@cgiar.org