20 March 2012: The UN-REDD Programme is supporting a short course on the basics of REDD+ (reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation in developing countries, as well as conservation, sustainable management of forests and enhancement of carbon stocks) in Calabar, Nigeria.

The course, the first national “REDD+ University,” was held between 19-21 March 2012. It brought together over 150 participants from different sectors, civil society groups and forest-dependent communities to learn about and discuss REDD+ and its development interventions. Twenty-five national and international speakers presented on: technical and policy issues; projects that provide lessons and best practices in the domain; and REDD+ initiatives from other countries.

Nigeria is preparing to implement its national REDD+ readiness programme, for which it has been allocated $4 million from UN-REDD. This knowledge-building activity was held in preparation for the readiness programme’s implementation. [UN REDD Press Release]