28 October 2014: The UN Collaborative Programme on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation (UN-REDD) has released its 2014 Semi-annual Progress Report in preparation for its 13th Policy Board Meeting. The report highlights the completion of the external evaluation of UN-REDD, which covered the period 2008 to 2013.

The report also highlights the preparation of the Draft UN-REDD Programme Strategy 2016-2020 following the adoption of the Roadmap at the 12th Policy Board Meeting. It welcomes six new Policy Board member countries as well as closer collaboration with the Forest Carbon Partnership Facility (FCPF).

With regard to implementation, the report documents 12 active National REDD+ Programmes carrying out activities with an additional 7 National Programmes under development or pending launch. Six National Programmes were completed. The regional distribution of National Programmes spanned six countries in Africa, nine in Asia and six in Latin America and the Caribbean. Targeted support to countries from 2012 – 2014 was approximately US$8.4 million, which went to 29 countries and 1 region.

In addition to long-term programmes and activities, the report takes note of UN-REDD meetings and workshops held during the first half of 2014 on topics ranging from the engagement of indigenous peoples and civil society organizations (CSOs) to private sector involvement in a green economy. The 13th Policy Board Meeting will be held from 3-7 November 2014, in Arusha, Tanzania.[Publication: UN-REDD Programme 2014 Semi-Annual Progress Update] [IISD RS story on Twelfth Policy Board Meeting] [Publication: External Evaluation of UN-REDD]