12 December 2014: The UN Collaborative Programme on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation in Developing Countries (UN-REDD) released the outcomes from a South-South exchange on developing REDD+ strategies in Latin America and the Caribbean. The exchange allowed for countries in the region to learn and share experiences, and to develop specific actions to further national REDD+ readiness processes.

Overall the meeting noted the importance of assessing forest resources, establishing institutional frameworks, engaging stakeholders, agreeing on guidelines and national priorities for implementation, and elaborating financing mechanisms.

With regard to data needs, meeting participants emphasized that REDD+ strategies rely on information on drivers of deforestation as well as spatial and other data on forest change. Such information can, according to the meeting report, contribute to the achievement of elements contained in the Cancun Agreements on REDD+, namely: forest emissions reference levels and/or forest reference levels; a National Forest Monitoring System; a Safeguard Information System.

Finally, presentations delivered during the meeting called for national REDD+ strategies to be integrated into other sector policies and plans, and for closer cooperation both within and between countries in order to facilitate the exchange of knowledge and avoid duplication of efforts. The meeting was convened 30 July to 1 August 2014 in Quito, Ecuador. [Publication: Technical Report – South-South Exchange Latin America and the Caribbean Region “Developing REDD+ Strategies”]