GIZ REDD+ Expert Exchange 2017 Organizers...
Transcript of GIZ REDD+ Expert Exchange 2017 Organizers...
GIZ REDD+ Expert Exchange 2017
Organizers’ Summary
REDD+ and Forest Landscape Restoration (FLR) in Asian-Pacific Countries
GIZ REDD+ Expert Exchange 2017
Organizers’ Summary
Expert Exchange on REDD+ and Forest Landscape Restoration (FLR) in
Asian-Pacific Countries
Organizers: Till Pistorius, Sabine Reinecke (UNIQUE Forestry and Land Use, Germany), Sebas-
tian Koch, Reinhard Wolf, Agus Suratno (GIZ)
Date: November, 2017
GIZ REDD+ Expert Exchange 2017 | Documentation| 3
1 BACKGROUND
REDD+ is an important instrument for many developing countries in the tropics to fulfill their
commitments under the Paris Agreement. Accordingly, various countries have considered it in
their current (Intended) Nationally Determined Contributions as to shape the future pathway
for addressing the 2.0°C goal. As REDD+ countries move from readiness to implementation, the
development and operationalization of results-based payments (RBP) programs becomes criti-
cal as well as financial and technical support programs oriented toward facilitating RBP by the
Green Climate Fund, the World Bank (e.g. the Carbon Fund of the FCPF and the BioCarbon
Fund). However, numerous REDD+ countries still depend on bilateral technical support in de-
signing and implementing such programs.
At the same time, with Forest Landscape Restoration (FLR) another land-use oriented process
has picked up speed and currently receives high international policy attention – especially
through the Bonn Challenge and related initiatives. Rested in voluntary country and private
sector commitments to restore degraded landscapes at scale, FLR complements but cannot
substitute the ongoing international efforts to reduce deforestation and forest degradation
under REDD+. FLR may offer an effective way of simultaneously addressing key environmental
and development challenges such as climate change mitigation and adaptation, improving
local livelihoods as well as halting or at least slowing down loss of biodiversity. Although nu-
merous countries in Africa, Latin America and Asia have pledged millions of hectares to restore
forest landscapes within their realms, FLR is still far from being implemented ‘on the ground’
and at scale.
The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) supports developing coun-
tries in making REDD+ a reality for many years and has also started to provide guidance on
progressing in FLR. Several learning events have been organized by GIZ in the last years espe-
cially through its International Forest Program (IWP) and Early Movers Program (REM). Jointly
with UNIQUE forestry and land use GmbH, SNRD Asia, the ASEAN Program and IWP organized
a “REDD+ Expert Exchange” from 17 to 19 October 2017 specifically targeted at and tailored
for Asian-Pacific countries to discuss “results based payments from REDD+ and the link to FLR”.
More than 30 representatives from Cambodia, Fiji, Indonesia, Lao, Myanmar, Nepal, Papua
New Guinea, the Philippines, Thailand and Viet Nam met in the heart of Bangkok coming from
academia, multilateral organizations as well as from high level officers in ministries and field
practitioners in Asia. The experience based approach focused on lessons learned and challeng-
es or opportunities in different countries and programs and led to vivid discussions which were
well received by the participants.
The Exchange built on a dual approach where general technical expert inputs, e.g. on multilat-
eral programs for results-based payments from REDD+ (World Bank, Green Climate Fund), key
drivers of deforestation, nationally determined contributions (NDCs), reference levels, govern-
ance and safeguards as well as deforestation free supply chains and the Bonn Challenge (for
FLR), were complemented by practical experiences and insights from a country perspective on
opportunities and challenges of REDD+ implementation and technical requirements. Panel
GIZ REDD+ Expert Exchange 2017 | Documentation 4
discussions served to draw essential and common conclusions about the way forward to make
REDD+ RBP and FLR a reality in Asia-Pacific countries in the near future. The workshop’s survey
revealed high satisfaction with the content and structure. Particularly the country-driven dis-
cussions were pointed out as being very interactive and of particular value for learning experi-
ence. Further collaboration between the ASEAN countries, as well as with Latin American and
African partners, on both topics was highly encouraged.
This documentation provides an overview of the major topics covered in this expert exchange
and highlights major insights from the presentations as well as the key challenges raised during
the discussions.
For further information on the Expert Exchange, please contact Agus Suratono (email:
[email protected]). If you would like to revisit contents of specific presentations comple-
mentary to this documentation, all presentations as well as additional material and photos can
be found in the Dropbox folder.
GIZ REDD+ Expert Exchange 2017 | Documentation| 5
2 AGENDA AND CONTENT
17 October 2017
Topic Speaker 9:00 Welcome & introduction of the participants Agus Suratno (GIZ Indonesia)
9.30 – 11.00
1. The theory of change of REDD+ and the logic of results based payments (RBP)
2. Forest Landscape Restoration (FLR) – How the Bonn Challenge links to REDD+ and NDCs
Heru Prasetyo (Indonesia)
Till Pistorius (Unique)
11.30 – 13.00
Country presentations (15 min each + discussion):
The role of the land use sector, REDD+ and FLR in the Na-
tionally Determined Contributions
Viet Nam (Ms. Kirsten Hegener)
Myanmar (Dr. Yu Ya Aye)
14.30 – 16.00
3. The opportunities for REDD+ and FLR in the Green Climate Fund (video conference)
Juan Chang (GCF)
16.30 –
17.30
“REDD+ and FLR - the approaches from a birds eye view” Reinhard Wolf (GIZ)
(moderated discussion)
17.30-18.30
4. World Bank REDD+ Finance: State and progress of multilateral RBP programs FCPF CF, BioCF including the role of Forest Action Plan – overview and examples
Alex Lotsch (World Bank FCPF)
(video conference)
18 October 2017
9.00 –
10.30
5. Addressing Drivers of Deforestation and Degradation through deforestation free supply chains
Duncan Gromco (Unique)
11.00 –
12.30
The country perspective (15 min each + disc):
How do countries plan to address drivers of Deforestation
and Degradation?
Indonesia (Ms. Endah Tri Kurniawati) Lao PDR (Dr. Kinnalone Pommasack) Cambodia (Mr. Chhun Delux)
14.00 –
15.30
6. Realistic reference levels for REDD+: balancing carrots and additionality (video conference)
Arild Angelsen (Norwegian University
of Life Sciences)
16.00 –
17.00
Panel Discussion
Opportunities and Challenges for RBP programs and les-
sons learnt – why is progress so slow?
Moderator: Till Pistorius
Ms. Vilisi Naivalulevu (Fiji) Dr. Suchitra Changtragoon (Thailand) Ms. Srijana Shrestha (Nepal) Mr. Alfred Rungol (PNG)
19 October 2017
9.00 –
10.30
7. Implementing safeguards, SIS and benefit-sharing systems in in the context of RBP – challenges & ap-proaches
Celina (Kin Yii) Yong (UN-REDD)
11.00 –
12.30
8. Governance at different levels: Enabling conditions for REDD+ and FLR at jurisdictional and national level
Sabine Reinecke (Uni Freiburg)
(moderated discussion)
13.30 –
15.00
The country perspective:
How do REDD+ pilot programs align with national devel-
opment agendas? What are key governance challenges
and how can they be addressed?
Forester Sarah Mae Cabilitazan
(Philippines)
Mr. Jalesi Mateboto (Pacific Islands)
15.30 –
17.00
Panel Discussion
Roles of technical and financial cooperation to support the
implementations of national and jurisdictional REDD+ RBP
systems
Moderator: Sabine Reinecke
Mr. Antonio Jose (Philippines) Mr. Wandojo Siswanto (Indonesia) Dr. Kinnalone Phommasack (Lao) Mr. Reinhard Wolf (GIZ Germany)
17.00 –
17.30
Wrap-up, Outlook & Workshop Evaluation Till Pistorius, Sabine Reinecke and
Agus Suratno
GIZ REDD+ Expert Exchange 2017 | Documentation| 6
Content of the Expert Exchange
On day 1, the Exchange started with a warm welcome by Agus Suratno from the GIZ GAP-CC
program on behalf of all hosting organizations, followed by a quick round of introduction of all
participants to voice their expectations about the event.
Dr. Heru Prasetyo, former Head of the
National REDD+ Agency Indonesia, kicked
off the day in respect of contents. In his
presentation he reflected on the future of
REDD+ from a “Theory of change” per-
spective that with the “end in mind” al-
lows actors to map necessary precondi-
tions backwards. Drawing on his long ex-
perience with REDD+ from inside negotia-
tions and practice in Indonesia and reca-
pitulating the opportunities, requirements
and pitfalls he concluded that nothing less but radical change in policies and culture needs to
happen for REDD+ to succeed. Then, Till Pistorius (UNIQUE) introduced the Bonn Challenge
and related processes around Forest Landscape Restoration that draw but also transcend the
international formal processes around UNFCCC, CBD and CCD. Rather than seeing FLR as an
alternative to REDD+ his presentation pinpointed how FLR with its integrated approach can
align singular international policy agendas within a unified national rural development agenda
at scale.
Capitalizing on the expertise among the participants in the room, Ben Vickers (FAO's regional
coordinator for REDD+ initiatives in Bangkok) reported about a UN-REDD regional event one
week earlier on investment planning for REDD+ covering aspects like the mobilization and di-
rection of multilateral, bilateral as well as domestic and private finance for REDD+ readiness
and beyond. He was followed by Kirsten Hegener from Viet Nam who presented the Nationally
Determined Contribution of the country, where the forest sector (second after energy) was
critical for achieving its (conditional) long term targets for 2030. In this context, the protection
of natural forest plays a central role. As Dr. Yu Ya Aye has outlined, the same holds true for the
(I)NDC of the UN-REDD country Myanmar. While still in the REDD Strategy development phase,
though, Myanmar is currently also furthering its FLR efforts through the Myanmar Reforesta-
tion and Rehabilitation Programme (MRRPA) and the GEF funded TRI Initiative (The Restora-
tion Initiative).
After the lunch break Juan Chang from the Green Climate Fund (GCF) clarified the funding op-
tions and modalities for countries as well as other entities under the multilateral fund across
all REDD+ phases – readiness, implementation, and results-based payments. Lively discussions
arose about the availability of funding for forests (as compared to energy) and beyond the
currently earmarked US $ 500 million for RBP for REDD+. This technical session was followed
by a discussion of REDD+ from “a bird’s eye view” and country perspective moderated by
Reinhard Wolf. The group acknowledged that REDD+ brought forests back and high on the
political agenda including topics such as biodiversity, local stakeholders, transparency and ac-
GIZ REDD+ Expert Exchange 2017 | Documentation 7
countability. Although the group unanimously relativized the role of RBP for REDD+ for suffi-
ciently incentivizing policy changes alone, co-benefits for humans and nature were highlighted.
Accepting REDD+ as a multi-objective approach with added value for livelihood, biodiversity
and indigenous rights – as pursued under FLR – may eventually considerably propel the desired
transformations in favor of standing forests.
At the end of the workshop day, Alex Lotsch from the World Bank talked about the “state and
progress of multi-lateral results-based payment programs” elaborating in particular on the
(different) the processes, conditionalities and portfolio of existing Forest and Climate Finance
Funds such as FCPF, BioCarbon Fund or FIP (Forest Investment Program) with a combined val-
ue of US $ 2.3 Billion.
Day 2 of the Exchange started with a presentation by Duncan Gromco on the drivers of defor-
estation and degradation. Drawing on the examples of cotton and timber in Zambia and Viet
Nam he discussed the possibilities as well as limitations of business commitments to zero de-
forestation in supply chains. The sec-
ond session of the day focused on how
countries (plan to) address drivers of
Deforestation and Degradation? As the
presentations from Indonesia (Ms. En-
dah Tri Kurniawati), Lao PDR (Dr. Kin-
nalone Pommasack) and Cambodia
(Mr. Chhun Delux) have shown agricul-
ture, especially for cash crop cultivation
especially of oil palm, remains a key
driver of deforestation in all three
countries together with aspects like (il)legal timber extraction, timber plantation expansion or
forest fires as well as mining, settlement or hydropower related interventions which are par-
ticularly important in Lao. Especially through preparing and further implementing REDD+ and
RBP schemes as part of their NDC, the countries intend to deal with the deforestation and
degradation issues more effectively in the near term. In this context enhanced legal frame-
works, forest governance, forest management practices and monitoring were also highlighted.
After that, Arild Angelsen from the Norwegian University of Life Sciences elaborated on ‘realis-
tic reference levels for REDD+’ and pointed to the question of how financial needs of develop-
ing countries may be balanced with the desired additionality of climate actions overall. The day
concluded with a lively panel discussion on the opportunities and challenges for RBP programs
and lessons learned (see section: Discussion)
The third and final day of the REDD+ Expert Exchange was dedicated to safeguards, govern-
ance and international support for making REDD+ RBP a reality. In the morning Celina (Kin Yii)
Yong from the UN-REDD Program carved out the possible approaches, requirements and chal-
lenges in implementing safeguards, safeguard information systems (SIS), summary of infor-
mation (SOI) and benefit-sharing systems in the context of RBP. Her talk provided key insights
and guidance on how safeguards may be practically addressed and respected.
GIZ REDD+ Expert Exchange 2017 | Documentation 8
After that, a moderated session followed on key governance issues at different levels related
to REDD+ and FLR (Moderator: Sabine Reinecke). Participants shared their views about tem-
poral, spatial, political and legal barriers to successful integrative approaches to forest govern-
ance in their realms especially as regards tenure right issues. The second part of the day fur-
ther deepened these discussions from a country perspective. At first, Ms. Forester Sarah Mae
Cabilitazan (Philippines) and Mr. Jalesi Mateboto (on behalf of the Pacific Islands community)
presented their REDD+ pilot programs at different scales and discussed how the programs
aligned with national development agendas. A key focus way on the key governance challeng-
es their country faces and how they were addressed. Land tenure issues, institutional coordi-
nation, law enforcements and technical capacities stood out as major barriers and REDD+ poli-
cies, programs and planning processes were seen as providing an important window of oppor-
tunity for dealing with the pertaining challenges. Second, another panel discussion was held as
to draw major insights from and conclude the workshop (see Section: Discussion).
Discussion
The REDD+ Expert Exchange’s provided ample of opportunities to dive into the topics in an
interactive way significantly drawing on the diverse backgrounds and experiences of the partic-
ipants coming from different countries and institutions which resulted in lively and dynamic
discussions throughout all presentations. The
panel discussions on the Exchange’s second
and third day were dedicated to having the
experts share their experiences and insights
more prominently and to discuss critical ques-
tions on a general level with all participants.
The first panel discussion on day 2, with pan-
elists from Fiji (Vilisi Naivalulevu), Thailand
(Dr. Suchitra Changtragoon), Nepal (Srijana
Shrestha) and Papua New Guinea (Alfred
Rungol) focused on the question what oppor-
tunities and challenges RBP programs held from the countries’ perspective reflecting particu-
larly on why progress remained rather slow regarding implementing REDD+.
On the second panel representatives from the Philippines (Antonio Jose), Indonesia (Wandojo
Siswanto), Lao (Dr. Kinnalone Phommasack) as well as GIZ Germany (Reinhard Wolf) were pre-
sent. At the center of the discussion was the role of international cooperation to support the
implementation of REDD+ and RBP systems as seen from a donor and receiving country per-
spective. All participants in the room were invited to share their major lesson learnt from the
event. The word cloud figure (below) highlights topics of major relevance in the different dis-
cussions of the Exchange.
UNIQUE forestry and land use GmbH Schnewlinstraße 10 79098 Freiburg
Tel.: +49 (0) 761 - 20 85 34 – 0 [email protected] www.unique-landuse.de