Reducing Emissions from Deforestation in Developing Countries -- A Policy Workshop for UNFCCC COP11 Agenda Item #6

CHALLENGE

Continued tropical deforestation is thought to be the second leading cause of global greenhouse gas emissions, behind fossil fuel combustion. The UNFCCC Parties at COP-11 referred the issue of tropical deforestation to the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technical Advice (SBSTA) as part of a two-year process. This process was part of a broad dialogue on procedural, technical and policy issues pertaining to tropical deforestation in developing countries that resulted in recommendations to the UNFCCC's COP-13 in Bali in December 2007.

APPROACH

In partnership with the Rainforest Coalition, PROFOR and the World Bank sponsored a two-day workshop at Columbia University from March 13-14, 2006, on reducing emissions from deforestation in developing countries. The event's purpose was to facilitate the development of a quality portfolio for the 'Submission of Views' to the UNFCCC Secretariat (due March 31st 2006) and to develop a strategy that would lead to meaningful solutions for deforestation in developing countries.