State of the Rainforest 2014

or companies to pay for forest conservation to offset their own emissions, or through other mechanisms like international funds or development aid? Varieties of REDD While UN negotiators have been struggling with these questions, various initiatives have already emerged under the banner of REDD+. The World Bank has established two funds to support developing countries, through which 45 countries are currently receiving funding to prepare plans and programmes for REDD+ participation. 51 Among them are important rainforest nations such as Peru, DR Congo, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea. The UN-REDD programme (UNEP, UNDP and FAO) is supporting national REDD+ strategies in 18 countries. Additionally, some countries have entered into bilateral REDD agreements, such as the agreements between the government of Norway and the governments of Brazil, Indonesia and Guyana (see box on Norway’s International Climate and Forest Initiative). Finally, several private companies and large NGOs are developing ‘REDD+ projects’ on a local or regional scale, including traditional conservation projects as well as projects aimed at selling carbon credits from avoided greenhouse gas emissions. In 2007, Rainforest Foundation Norway and Friends of the Earth Norway proposed that the Norwegian government should commit to contributing substantial finance to reduce deforestation in developing countries. At the 2007 UN climate conference in Bali, then Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg announced that Norway would commit up to around USD 500 million annually to such efforts, through the ‘Norwegian International Climate and Forest Initiative’ (NICFI). Through NICFI, the government of Norway has signed several bilateral agreements promising financial contributions to developing-country efforts to reduce deforestation. The most notable agreements have been with Brazil, Indonesia and Guyana, but funding is also being provided for countries such as Ethiopia, Vietnam and Mexico. 52 In addition, Norway is among the main contributors to World Bank and UNEP/ UNDP/FAO initiatives on REDD+, and has contributed substantial funding tovariousNGOsand research institutions for their work on REDD+ and deforestation issues. In some countries, for example in Indonesia 59 important results have been achieved through Norway’s funding, and in other countries the results so far have been more questionable. 60 The NICFI initiative has made Norway the largest contributor to REDD+ efforts internationally. 61 The Norwegian International Climate and Forest Initiative

Selected anthropogenic carbon emissions in Brazil and Indonesia Selected anthropogenic carbon emissions in Brazil and Indonesia

Million tonnes of CO 2 Million tonnes of CO 2

equivalent per year equivalent per year

1 000 1 000 1 500 1 500 2 000 2 000 2 500 2 500

500 500

0 0

Indonesia Indonesia

Brazil Brazil

Total 2000 2011 Total 2000 2011

Land use change and forestry Land use change and forestry

Source: World Resources Institute, CAIT Source: World Resources Institute, CAIT

37

STATE OF THE RAINFOREST 2014

Made with