Policy recommendations to the SBSTA on peatlands and REDD - June 2011

This policy brief provides background and recommendations with regard to REDD+ modalities and guidelines to be developed by the SBSTA and has been produced as input for the UN-FCCC meeting in Bonn, June 2011.

REDD+ activities that reduce or avoid greenhouse gas emissions from peatsoil degradation can play a major role in combating climate change at relatively limited costs. REDD+ activities in peatswamp forests are those activities that reduce greenhouse gas emissions by conservation of undrained peatsoils and by rewetting of drained peatsoils.

Besides for forested peatlands, the information in the policy brief is also relevant for reducing emissions from non-forested peatlands which have a similarly high mitigation potential.

We provide input on the following requests to the SBSTA in the Cancun Agreement (CP.16):

1.     Annex II (a): Work programme to identify LULUCF activities in developing countries, drivers of deforestation and forest degradation, associated methodologies to estimate emissions and removals from REDD+ activities and their mitigation potential 

2.     Annex II (b): Modalities relating to a national forest reference emissions level (par 71(b)) 

3.     Annex II (b): Guidance relating to addressing safeguards in REDD (par 71(d))

4.     Annex II (c): Modalities on MRV of anthropogenic forest-related emissions and removals