Development of New Methodological
Guidelines for REDD -plus
Considering Both Small Project and Sub-National / National Projects

1

Needs of Methodological Guidelines for REDD - plus
Balancing “Operation” and “High Transparency”

Participation of the multi stakeholders, private enterprises and NGOs in particular

Deforestation and forest degradation in developing countries are responsible for about 20% of human-induced greenhouse gas (GHG). Though the negotiation of the REDD-plus rules under the UNFCCC has yet to reach agreement,REDD-plus should be implemented immediately because of a huge potential for GHG emission reduction.
To promote the REDD-plus activities, participation of many stakeholders is crucial. In particular, participation of private
enterprises and other related organizations including NGOs will enhance REDD-plus activities, hence, attractive rules forthe multi stakeholders must be developed.
In recent years, REDD-plus activities have been conducted by project
units. However, sub-national / national REDD-plus schemes are required under the UNFCCC in the mid- and long-term, hence,ongoing
REDD-plus projects must be conducted taking future expansion to a
sub-national / national scale activities into consideration. (Figure 1).
The methodological guidelines must handle such a situation.

Improvement of the Methodological Guidelines

The development of the methodological guidelines would be basedon existing methodologies and experiences from ongoing projects.
The methodological guidelines should be continuously improved
according to the new outcomes (research results, findings and experiences).

2

Large

Geographical Scale

Expansion of Project Boundary: Project to Sub-National

Middle- and Long-term

Short-term(Compliance Market under the UNFCCC)

National

FutureActivities
Sub-nationalProjects
Current Activities

Small

The methodological guidelines need to
be developed to address consistencyof MRV systems between projects andsub-national / national activities.

Figure 1: Scaling-up from Projects to
Sub-National / National Activities

Contents of Methodological Guidelines

Accounting Requirements

Project period, project locations (country, region)
Non-permanence risks

Methodological Requirements
Described in Figure 2

Development of new methods and good practices
Respecting biodiversity conservation andlocal / indigenous people.
Notes on scaling-up in the near future
When the project site expands, various types ofdeforestation drivers will be used.
Reference levels for the project level and that forthe sub-national / national base should beconsistent.
Notes on scaling-up in the near future
Overlapping and cherry picking should be avoided.
In future, the land boundary will expand.
e.g. Jurisdictional boundaries

Development of new methodse.g., Plantation of fast-growing species in avast area (such as oil palm) is not applicable.

Landapplicability

Safeguards

Progressive methods
Methods for deforestation are developed first.

Eligibility

Deforestation

Technical
aspects ofREDD-plus

Referencelevel

Degradation

Sustainable
Forest Management

Leakage

Improvement of existing methodse.g., Buffer approach

Boundary

Additionality
Accounting,Monitoring

Improvement of existing methodse.g., Checking additionality by proposed
positive lists
Notes on scaling-up in the near futureDistinction from national inventory.
Combination of remote sensing and ground data.

Figure 2: Key Contents and Discussion Points of the Methodological Guidelines
Information

Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute (FFPRI),Japan Address 1, Matsunosato, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8687 JAPAN
REDD Research and Development Center E-mail redd-rd-center@ffpri.affrc.go.jp