Facilitated by the Meridian Institute team with the financial support of the Norwegian government, participants to the Berlin informal consultation agree on a road map to speed up the process expected to result in a common Declaration of Intention aiming at accelerating the putting in place of the REDD+ within the Congo Basin at the 17^th CCNUCC Conference of the Parties in Durban, South Africa.

Berlin Palace Hotel (Berlin, Federal Republic of Germany), 19 to 20 October 2011 – Holding of an informal consultation on the Common Declaration of Intention to advance the REDD+ within the Congo Basin. This meeting was organized alongside the 10^th meeting of the partnership fund for forest carbon (FPCF) held on 18-19 October 2011 and during which CAR R-PP was presented for formal evaluation and approved.

Facilitated by the Meridian Institute team, with the financial support of the Norwegian government, the consultation in Berlin had three main objectives:

(1) To evaluate the level of interest in the developing a Common Declaration of Intention, or another adequate joint declaration to advance and accelerate REDD+ implementation within the Congo Basin and which could be announced at the 17^th CCNUCC Conference of the Parties in Durban, South Africa.

(2) To identify the basic elements and key points which must be highlighted in such a joint declaration for it to have the expected effect, i.e. to help advance and accelerate the REDD+ in the Congo Basin.

(3) To determine the next steps to be taken in order to attain the objective of announcing a Common Declaration of Intention in order to advance the REDD+ in the Congo Basin at the 17^th CCNUCC Conference of the Parties in Durban, South Africa.

The opening ceremony included a welcome and an opening addresses by Per Frederick Ilsaas Pharo, the Director of Initiative Internationale de Climat et de Forêts in Norway, and by Timothée J. Mealey, Senior Partner, Meridian Institute. Then, still during this ceremony, four opening speeches were made by co-facilitators:  Dr. Yemi Katerere, Exécutif Secretariat (UN REDD Programme) ; Mary Barton Dock, Director, WB Environnement Department ; Pierre Nguinda, Forests and Climate Expert (African Development Bank/ CBFF) and Vincent Kasulu, DRC (Central Africa Forest Commission (COMIFAC)).

During this two-day meeting, the participants widely discussed and exchanged on the value of a Common Declaration of Intention to advance the REDD+ within the Congo Basin, or any other adequate joint declaration, which would be presented at the COP 17 in Durban, South Africa. They shared their perception of what basic elements and key points should be highlighted in such a joint communication. Also, they exchanged views concerning the process and the next steps towards a better way of preparing a joint communication which will be reliable and helpful to those involved in the declaration and to other stakeholders.

Following the meeting, a road map was adopted by the participants to accelerate the process expected to result in the presentation of a Common Declaration of Intention to advance REDD+ within the Congo Basin at the 17^th CCUNCC Conference of the Parties in Durban, South Africa.

Please download:

Agenda of Berlin Meeting

Reflection Note of Berlin Meeting

Report of CBFP Delegate Facilitator