3 September 2010: The Oaxaca Workshop on Forest Governance, Decentralization and REDD+ in Latin America and the Caribbean took place in Oaxaca, Mexico, from 31 August-3 September 2010.

This country-led initiative in support of the UN Forum on Forests (UNFF) aimed to identify trends, and facilitate sharing of experiences and lessons learned with sustainable forest management (SFM), forest governance and decentralization, and reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation in developing countries, conservation, sustainable management of forests and enhancement of carbon stocks (REDD+). Participants engaged in plenary and roundtable sessions throughout the Workshop to discuss four themes: people, forest governance and forests; landscape change, forest management and REDD+; forest finance and finance for REDD+; and rights, livelihoods and forests. Participants also took part in field trips to nearby community-owned forest-related enterprises, as well as “open spaces” to discuss in more detail: payment mechanisms; forest planning; REDD+ legal frameworks; and indigenous peoples.

Participants produced a report summarizing the Workshop’s deliberations, which includes recommendations to countries and the ninth session of UNFF, to be held in early 2011. The document is also expected to inform discussions during the 16th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 16) of the UNFCCC, to be held in late 2010. [IISD RS Coverage of the Meeting] [Workshop Website]