REDD
Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation
Reduction of deforestation as a climate measure
Forest and climate
Forests store the greenhouse gas CO2 in wood, leafs and roots. By doing so, forests form an enormous carbon sink and contribute to climate regulation. If forests are cut down, CO2 is released. In this way, 17 to 18 percent of global CO2-emission is caused by deforestation. In countries with many forests, such as Indonesia, deforestation can cause up to 80% of the national emission. Reducing deforestation can thus contribute to mitigation of climate change. This is called REDD: ' Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation'.
Climate Deal
REDD will likely become a component of the new climate deal which will be signed in December in Copenhagen. But to effectively mitigate climate change, the treaty will have to stimulate Western countries to reduce their own CO2-emission.
REDD mechanism
What the REDD mechanism will look like exactly, is still unclear. The general principle is that forest-rich countries contribute to global CO2 reduction if they do not cut down their forests. But by doing so, they lose income from wood, agriculture and mining, for which they should be compensated. So far different countries, environmental organisations and universities have made recommendations as for example summarised in the 'Little REDD book'. The negotiation phase has now started, with the climate conference in Copenhagen as its climax. IUCN will present itself there as an independent observer.
What does IUCN NL do?
The ideas of IUCN NL concerning the REDD mechanism are presented in a discussion piece. This publication emphasizes that the mechanism needs to be both ecologically and socially sustainable to succeed. Forests are not only important for carbon storage, but also because of their enormous biodiversity, their water regulating capacity and prevention of erosion.
Forest and climate
Forests store the greenhouse gas CO2 in wood, leafs and roots. By doing so, forests form an enormous carbon sink and contribute to climate regulation. If forests are cut down, CO2 is released. In this way, 17 to 18 percent of global CO2-emission is caused by deforestation. In countries with many forests, such as Indonesia, deforestation can cause up to 80% of the national emission. Reducing deforestation can thus contribute to mitigation of climate change. This is called REDD: ' Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation'.
Climate Deal
REDD will likely become a component of the new climate deal which will be signed in December in Copenhagen. But to effectively mitigate climate change, the treaty will have to stimulate Western countries to reduce their own CO2-emission.
REDD mechanism
What the REDD mechanism will look like exactly, is still unclear. The general principle is that forest-rich countries contribute to global CO2 reduction if they do not cut down their forests. But by doing so, they lose income from wood, agriculture and mining, for which they should be compensated. So far different countries, environmental organisations and universities have made recommendations as for example summarised in the 'Little REDD book'. The negotiation phase has now started, with the climate conference in Copenhagen as its climax. IUCN will present itself there as an independent observer.
What does IUCN NL do?
The ideas of IUCN NL concerning the REDD mechanism are presented in a discussion piece. This publication emphasizes that the mechanism needs to be both ecologically and socially sustainable to succeed. Forests are not only important for carbon storage, but also because of their enormous biodiversity, their water regulating capacity and prevention of erosion.
