The issues of deforestation and degradation which are central to the UNFCCC has been more prominently placed in an evolving policy aiming at reducing emissions from deforestation and degradation (REDD).  At the UNFCCC Conference of Parties (COP)11 in Montreal in 2005, developing countries tabled a motion to include REDD in developing countries as a post-Kyoto Protocol mechanism. Since 2005, countries have therefore taken initiatives to develop REDD demonstration activities (pilot projects) and to work on methodological issues.

Cameroon has been active in the REDD process and has supported the initiation of a national REDD pilot project in 2007, as a prototype case for COMIFAC. The pilot project aims at integrating the application of Earth Observation (EO) technologies with the policy formulation and intends to establish baseline projections of emissions caused by deforestation, combined with regional projections of degradation nested in a wall-to-wall approach. Key methodological issues that are being addressed include estimation and monitoring of deforestation and degradation and carbon stock estimation. Innovative institutional arrangements/mechanisms such as the creation of a National REDD Steering Committee as well as technology transfer with south-south co-operation facilitate the process. The pilot is being financed by KfW, GTZ and the European Space Agency (ESA) with technical support provided by a consortium led by GAF-AG (Germany).

A Side Event at the UNFCCC-SBSTA Meeting in Bonn, Thursday 4 June 2009 is planned to highlight the project activities.

For further details contact Rene Siwe at rene.siwe@gaf.de

Download Side Event poster