Coalition for Rainforest Nations: Home (original) (raw)

Welcome

Coalition for Rainforest Nations: The objective is ambitious – forested tropical countries collaborating to reconcile forest stewardship with economic development.

Who: Developing Nations with rainforests -- partnering with Industrialized Nations that support fair trade and improved market access for developing countries.

What: Facilitate new and improved revenue streams in order to underpin community-driven environmentally sustainable economic growth.

How: Reform international regulatory, trade and economic frameworks to effectively align market incentives with sustainable outcomes.

Participants: Countries participating within the various activities of the Rainforest Coalition include: Bangladesh, Belize, Central African Republic, Cameroon, Congo, Costa Rica, DR Congo, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Equatorial Guinea, El Salvador, Fiji, Gabon, Ghana, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Indonesia, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malaysia, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Samoa, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Suriname, Thailand, Uruguay, Uganda, Vanuatu and Viet Nam (see note below.)

What is at Stake: The World cannot afford to fail in this endeavor, as this approach provides the best opportunity to reconcile economic development with global climate stability and environmental sustainability in forested tropical regions. If these outcomes cannot be attained together, it is unlikely that either objective will be attained individually. The stakes are high; the Coalition Nations are tackling the challenge of implementing policy creatively and constructively.

**Organization: The Rainforest Coalition was formed after a call by the Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea, Sir Michael Somare, (bio>>) (speech>>) and operates as an intergovernmental organization with the Secretariat currently housed at Columbia University in New York City.

Initiatives: Coalition Nations may optionally participate in any of several key 'Initiatives'

Case Studies for Change : For the first time, a group of developing nations with rainforests are formally offering voluntary carbon emission reductions by conserving forests in exchange for access to international markets for emissions trading. The Rainforest Coalition developed and tabled this proposal at the annual UN Climate Change Conference (more>>) , COP-11, Agenda Item 6 (more>>). On 9 December 2005, the UNFCCC Parties agreed to begin a process of further 'consideration' with the objective of finalizing recommendations by COP-13 in 2007.

A parallel initiative is being developed for the UN International Tropical Timber Organization that calls for fairer prices for indigenous loggers who employ sustainable harvesting practices.

* Note: Countries participate on a voluntarily basis primarily through unified negotiating positions, workshops and collaborative programs. Participation does not necessarily imply that countries adhere to any specific domestic policies or negotiating positions within the international context.

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News

CD REDD: Forest Area Change Assessment: Existing Operational Systems. February 4-6, 2009, Sao Jose dos Campos, Brazil (INPE HQ). CfRN and the Brazilian National Space Agency (INPE) with the support of the German Technical Cooperation (GTZ) of the German Ministry for Environment conducted the second of three technical workshops. Delegates from 37 countries attended the meeting which discussed land cover and land use change detection using remote sensing data. The objective of the workshop was to introduce developing countries to sound scientific practices of detection and tracking of forest land cover changes due to changes in land use (deforestation) and in carbon density (forest degradation). Workshop Agenda and Presentations

UNFCCC Fourteenth Conference of the Parties (COP-14) and Fourth Meeting of the Member Parties (MOP-14). December 1-13, 2008, Poznan Poland. Over eleven thousand participants attended the UNFCCC meeting where a number of REDD conclusions were addressed directly by the Subsidiary Body on Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA). More importantly, the United Kingdom and Papua New Guinea catalyzed a joint ministerial declaration detailing the commitments of a number of key Annex I countries and developing nations willing to take early action on REDD. Poznan Statement on REDD

CD REDD: Understanding National Inventories for the LULUCF Sector--The Experience of Annex-I Countries . November 5-7, 2008, Berlin, Germany. The objective of this workshop was to introduce developing countries to techniques and practices of Annex-I countries in establishing GHG inventory systems and to provide guidance on the procedural aspects of completing a national GHG inventory under the UNFCCC. Delegates were reminded that the National System and the National Inventory of GHG ensure the equivalence of net emissions estimates among Parties and sectors. Workshop Report.

Policy Workshop on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation & the Role of Conservation, Sustainable Management of Forests and the Enhancement of Forest Carbon Stocks: July 28-29, 2008, Santa Cruz, Bolivia: The Second Session of the Ad Hoc Working Group on Long-Term Cooperative Action under the UNFCCC, held in Bangkok, Thailand, invited Parties and accredited observer organizations to provide additional information, views and proposals on paragraph 1 of the Bali Action Plan. Parties further agreed that at the 3rd Session of the AWG-LCA, a workshop would consider, for the first time, policy approaches and positive incentives on issues relating to reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation in developing countries; and the role of conservation, sustainable management of forests and enhancement of forest carbon stocks in developing countries.

The CfRN organized the workshop to consider these issues and to draft a Submission of Views to be presented at the AWG-LCA 3rd Session at the Accra Climate Talks in August 2008. Submission of Views.

Policy Workshop on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation & the Role of Conservation, Sustainable Management of Forests and the Enhancement of Forest Carbon Stocks: March 16-18, 2008, Berlin, Germany: More than thirty-five delegates attended this workshop which was co-hosted by CfRN and the Forest-11 Group. _InWent-_-_Capacity Building Internationa_l, Germany and the German government provided financial and logistical support. The meeting opened on 16 March with an IPCC session on monitoring and accounting issues. Delegates then discussed and drafted the joint Submission of Views called for in 7(a) of Decision 2/CP.13 of the Bali Action Plan for consideration at the twenty-eighth session of SBSTA. Submission of Views.

UNFCCC Climate Change Conference (COP13/CMP3):December 3-14, 2007, Nusa Dua, Indonesia: Parties convened to agree on a climate change roadmap for the post-2012 period. CfRN's primary objective, the institution of a post-Kyoto REDD mechanism, was agreed by all Parties. CfRN was also instrumental in securing agreement of the Parties to consider and credit REDD action taken by developing countries during the first Kyoto commitment period, 2008-2012.

United Nations High-Level Event on Climate Change : September 24, 2007, United Nations Headquarters, New York City: The UN Secretary-General has identified climate change as a defining issue of our era and has been facilitating international efforts to address the problem. In recognition of his leadership, Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare was invited to a private dinner hosted by SG Ban Ki-moon where 20 world leaders discussed the climate challenge.

**Tropical Rainforest Countries Leaders Joint Statement:**September 24, 2007, United Nations Headquarters, New York City: Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare of Papua New Guinea and Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono hosted an invitation-only meeting of heads of state to endorse the Tropical Rainforest Countries Leaders Joint Statement by the Forest-11.

High-Level Meet ing ******
on Reducing
Emissions from
Deforestation--
15-16 August 2007, Jakarta, Indonesia: At this workshop which was co-hosted by the Coalition for Rainforest Nations and the Indonesian Government, delegates from over fifteen countries collaborated and agreed upon a Submission of Views to be presented at the Twenty-Seventh Session of the SBSTA of the UNFCCC. (Link>>)
****UNFCCC 26th Meeting of the Subsidiary Bodies:** 7-18 May 2007, Bonn, Germany: The Parties considered the report of the Secretariat on the 2nd Workshop and began drafting the recommendations called for at the 11th Conference of the Parties. (Link>>) (SBSTA Conclusion>>)
UNFCCC Workshop on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation in Developing Countries -- 7-9 March 2007, Cairns, Australia: At the workshop, which was hosted by the Government of Australia, governments presented the latest results of their activities to reduce emissions from deforestation, the lessons learned and elaborated on possible ways to move this issue forward. (More>>) (Chair's Report>>)
****UNFCCC Climate Change Conference** --November 6 -17, 2006: Kenya hosted the second meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol (COP/MO P 2), in conjunction with the twelfth session of the Conference of the Parties to the Climate Change Convention (COP 12), in Nairobi from 6 to 17 November 2006. During SBSTA #25, the Parties agreed to a second Workshop on Deforestation and elements for the process forward. (see SBSTA Conclusion>>)
****Stern Review on the Economics of Climate Change** -- Sir Nicholas Stern has identified reducing emissions from deforestation as a key element for future climate change policy discussions. Prime Minister Blair, through several of of his Ministers, has agreed to work in cooperation with Germany and the Rainforest Coalition to address this important issue. (Chapter of Stern Review>>) (Speech by Chancellor Gordon Brown>>) (UK Minister for Climate Change>>) (UK & German Secretaries for Environment>>)
CfRN Heads-of-Government Dinner -- September 20, 2006, New York: Prime Minister Somare of Papua New Guinea and President Arias of Costa Rica invited their counterparts to a Invitation-Only Dinner featuring Dr. Joseph Stiglitz, Nobel Laureate for Economics, to address environmentally sustainable economic growth -- fair trade, climate change and tropical forests.
**** UNFCCC Workshop on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation -- August 30 - September 1, 2006, Rome, Italy:** The Parties charged the UNFCCC Secretariat to organize a Workshop to address issues related to UNFCCC COP-11 Agenda Item #6: Reducing Emissions from Deforestation in Developing Countries. Invitees will include Parties, Accredited Observers, International Agencies and Relevant Experts. (Workshop Website>>) (Workshop Report>>)
31st ACP & EU Session Council of Ministers -- June 1-2, 2006, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea: Ministers from 79 nations in Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific met with Ministers representing the European Union. The ACP formally endorsed support for UNFCCC COP-11 Agenda Item #6. Further, the Parties of the ACP and EU agreed to approve an ACP-EU Joint Declaration on Climate Change and Development which specifically expressed support for the UNFCCC Initiative on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation (Text of Declaration>>)
****SBSTA #24** -- May 16-28, 2006, Bonn, Germany: The Parties met at the UNFCCC Meetings of the Subsidiary Bodies to agree on the scope for a Workshop organized by the Secretariat to address issues related to Reducing Emissions from Deforestation in Developing Countries. (Chairman's Text>>)
****Policy Workshop --** March 13-14, 2006, New York : UNFCCC Focal Points attended a high-level policy workshop to prepare 'Submissions of Views' to meet the deadline of March 31, 2005 for for UNFCCC Parties and accredited observers. Partially sponsored by PROFOR and the World Bank, national participants hailed from Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Pacific, including: Bolivia, CAR, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Gabon, Guatemala, Indonesia, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Papua New Guinea, etc. (Summary Doc.>>)
Dec. 9 , 2005 -- COP-11 Approved Conclusion for Agenda Item #6: Reducing Emissions from Deforestation in Developing Countries: Approaches to Stimulate Action. (Conclusion Text>>) Considered at the COP-11 Plenary Meeting held at 10am on 30 November 2005, the agenda item received overwhelming support by the UNFCCC Parties. (More>>) (Webcast>>) (Recent Press >>)
Dec 9, 2005 -- United States Senators welcome initiative by Rainforest Coalition. In letter to COP President, Minister Stephane Dion, four Senators pledge to work together to develop market based emission reductions regime (Letter>>)
******July 8, 2005 -- G8 Declaration seeks to address illegal logging, deforestation and carbon sequestration. (more>>)

Upcoming Events

CfRN CD REDD Workshop: REDD Readiness--Forests for Climate Change Mitigation in the Context of National Development Policies August 14-15, 2009, Bonn, Germany
CfRN United Nations General Assembly Heads of State Salon Dinner
September 2009, New York, New York. The Four Seasons Restaurant, Date TBA

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Issue Spotlight

The Coalition Nations are simultaneously struggling to defeat poverty while challenged with responsibility over a majority of the world’s biodiversity. Their challenge is to properly align market incentives with sustainable outcomes. Never before have such nations voluntarily initiated an agenda of such scope related to rainforest management.

The Problem: In many forested rural areas, the only real options for economic growth often require the destruction of natural forests – either when clearing for agricultural commodities (like soy, coffee, tea, sugar, rice, etc) or through the sale of wood products. In effect, international markets offer perverse incentives from the perspective of environmental sustainability, biodiversity conservation, and climate stability.

Solution at Scale: Reversing the tide of deforestation can only be accomplished through initiatives which are global in scope. Developing Nations alone cannot overcome the outmoded market incentives along with the corruption and poverty which drive illegal logging, clear-cutting and transfer pricing. These market failures can only be remedied through regime shifts which are driven first within industrialized nations.

The Concept**:** The Rainforest Coalition endorses market-based ‘developmental finance’ mechanisms which yield concrete environmental benefits. For example, Developing Nations will demonstrate leadership and agree to be held accountable for their carbon emissions and forest management policies, if in exchange, Industrialized Nations encourage such action through EQUAL participation within global markets for emissions and forest products.

Revenue Streams: Coalition Nations aim to establish models that will work for all forested tropical countries, using a combination of income streams derived from: carbon sequestration (carbon releases avoided by retaining forests), selective logging coupled with vertical market integration, eco-friendly ‘cash crop’ cultivation, biodiversity purchase and leases, community-based venture creation, reprioritized international grant strategies, etc.

Outcomes: By drawing on economics and conservation biology, it is now possible to develop collaborative frameworks within which developing countries can dramatically improve the long-term global prognosis for rainforest stewardship, biodiversity conservation, climate stability (via reduced carbon emissions), sustainable development, and poverty reduction.