The report of the eighth UN-REDD Policy Board Meeting highlights that the Board: agreed to establish a working group on the review of the Policy Board; welcomed the improvement in National Programme reports; and commended work undertaken on the Social and Environmental Principles and Criteria (SEPC) and stressed that SEPC need to be fully aligned to the UNFCCC.
16 May 2012: The UN-REDD Programme has released the report from its eighth Policy Board meeting, during which it approved funding to support the national programmes on REDD+ (reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation in developing countries, and the role of conservation, sustainable management of forests and enhancement of forest carbon stocks) of the Republic of Congo and Sri Lanka. Both countries will each receive US$4 million.
The Board Meeting was held in Asunción, Paraguay, from 25-26 March 2012. The report also highlights that the Board: agreed to establish a working group on the review of the Policy Board; welcomed the improvement in National Programme reports and requested further improvements in coordination be made to ensure inclusion of the full range of information from government, stakeholders and UN agencies, and previous approval by the government and the UN Resident Coordinator; and commended work undertaken on the Social and Environmental Principles and Criteria (SEPC) and stressed that SEPC need to be fully aligned to the UNFCCC.
The report also features: minutes of the Board meeting, including discussions on strategic/policy issues; funding allocation requests; international support functions; and sharing of information and progress. The Policy Board further agreed to hold its ninth meeting in Brazzaville, Republic of Congo. [Publication: Report of the Eighth UN-REDD Policy Board Meeting]