2 December 2010: The UN-REDD Programme has launched a publication titled “Perspectives on REDD+,” discussing challenges in implementing a mechanism on reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation.

“Perspectives on REDD+” presents three articles addressing pressing issues facing the implementation of REDD+ (reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation in developing countries, and the role of conservation, sustainable use of forests and enhancement of carbon stocks). One article addresses the challenges involved in applying free, prior and informed consent (FPIC) in engaging stakeholders in REDD+. It notes wide acceptance of the right to FPIC in REDD+, and discusses possibilities of how to operationalize FPIC in the field.

The second looks at the multiple ecosystem-based benefits of REDD+ besides carbon, such as biodiversity conservation and other forest values, noting that protecting these values will contribute to national sustainable development objectives.

The last article discusses tools for establishing effective systems for measuring, reporting and verification (MRV) and monitoring for REDD+ at subnational, national and international levels. The authors comment that a main challenge will be to enhance capacity for effective forest monitoring. The authors further discuss the need to manage the expectations of REDD+, noting that stakeholders will have different expectations from REDD+, some of which may be unrealistic. The publication was launched at a side event held during the Cancun Climate Change Conference. [Perspectives on REDD+]