Key Messages fromInternational Seminar"REDD+ Implementation and Sustainable Forest Management"
atU Thant International Conference Hall, United Nations University, Tokyo
February 6, 2014
Organized byForestry and Forestry Products Research Institute (FFPRI) andFood and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
Co-organized by
Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), International Tropical Timber
Organization (ITTO), Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES), andUnited Nations University (UNU)
Supported byForestry Agency, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Economy, Trade andIndustry, Ministry of Environment, the Government of Japan

Objectives of the International Seminar The main objective of the international seminar was to review and discuss thecurrent Sustainable Forest Management (SFM) approaches and activities at all
scales and forest types, exploring the linkages and synergies with REDD+, withthe aim of turning SFM into a means and an opportunity for REDD+,
specifically through: Facilitating the exchange of experiences, tools, and inspiring cases of SFM
implementation that can contribute to five REDD+ activities: reducing
deforestation, reducing forest degradation, sustainable management of forests,
conservation, and enhancement of forest carbon stocks.
 Discussing challenges encountered in scaling up implementation, and exploring
challenges caused by scaling-up from projects/demonstration activities tonational and sub-national scales.
 Facilitating reflections on the role of SFM in the context of REDD+
demonstration projects and full implementation.
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Key messages
Sustainable Forest Management (SFM) does not have a single definition, but it
is a well-established concept in the forestry sector. The UN Forum on Forests(2007) had defined SFM as “a dynamic and evolving concept that aims tomaintain and enhance the economic, social and environmental values of all
types of forests, for the benefit of present and future generations”
REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation,conservation of carbon stocks, sustainable management of forest, andenhancement of carbon stocks) has a shorter history relative to SFM and some
aspects are still being negotiated and elaborated by the Conference of theParties (COP) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate
Change (UNFCCC). REDD+ activities are expected by many to result in
substantial contributions to climate change mitigation while providing a wide
range of co-benefits.
Strong synergies exist between SFM and REDD+ activities under theUNFCCC. Practices and experiences from SFM can contribute to the design ofeffective REDD+ strategies and implementation approaches, while REDD+
architecture, actions and lessons can contribute to achieving the objectives ofSFM that have been slowly progressed in the tropics. SFM and REDD+
objectives can be achieved more effectively and efficiently by fully exploitingthese synergies.
Science has an important role to play in both SFM and REDD+, particularly in
improving understanding of ecosystems and the environment in a changing
economic and social context. Both SFM and REDD+ require better knowledgeof how forests can be managed in ways that maintain ecosystem functions andavoid ecological tipping points.
REDD+ strategies will only be successful when they are built on a soundunderstanding of local realities, especially of how local communities view theworld, their livelihoods and their aspirations. Analysis of local societies andlivelihoods, common resources and participatory forest management provide
knowledge on how REDD+ activities can be better designed and moresuccessfully implemented at local levels. Local people should be viewed as key
partners for SFM and REDD+, not as culprits responsible for deforestation.
How REDD+ can be decentralised and how roles, responsibilities andincentives can be assigned to local levels needs to be considered in eachcountry.
International financial and technical support for REDD+ must be tailored toassist governments in achieving their broader SFM goals and to reflect nationaland local realities. For example, investments in national forest monitoring
systems should not just build the capacity of countries to measure carbon2

stocks and monitor safeguards, they should contribute to monitoring otherforest values and ecosystem services that countries have deemed important intheir national forest plans, e.g. timber stocks, biodiversity, etc.
A phased approach to developing national forest monitoring systems isrecommended. Countries should build on existing systems and begin withsimple approaches, while being aware of uncertainty and accuracy, andstrengthen their approaches over time by incorporating new knowledge andtechniques. This will enable them to gain early experience with and build theircapacity for REDD+. The data/information needs and requirements, including
the required level of accuracy, will vary by purposes and users.
Participatory forest monitoring could be a promising approach in some cases.
But well-designed training programmes and on-going support to communities
are required, how best contribute to the National Forest Monitoring Systems
and cost-effectiveness must also be considered.
National REDD+ readiness will be a long process in many countries andshould proceed at a pace appropriate for each country if sustainability, longterm impacts and integration in national development plans is foreseen. SFMand REDD+ require major transformations in the forestry sectors of somecountries, to enable engagement of stakeholders at all levels, from governments
to communities. Governments are key to creating and maintaining enabling
environments for REDD+ (policies, regulations, governance, institutional andlegal framework), while other stakeholders are essential for materialising actions.
Increasing political will to reduce deforestation and forest degradation, and topromote SFM within a wider national development agenda through supporting
policies and measures will be vital to the achievement of REDD+ andsustainable development.
Successful REDD+ requires space for stakeholders to participate at multiple
levels in design and implementation. Careful planning and preparation will
reduce the risk of conflict.
The recent increase in REDD+ projects presents challenges but also provides
learning opportunities. REDD+ projects are moving quickly and are providing
valuable lessons on strategies, methodologies and benefit distribution, andproviding modest revenues in the mid-term. It is important that REDD+
projects be guided by governments to maximise their potential for capacity
building and as demonstrations of how REDD+ can be implemented.
Integrating projects will be a challenge because of their different methodologies
and the risk of over complexity at smaller scales, but new jurisdictional andnested approaches can help with integration and scaling up.
SFM and REDD+ cannot be realised through actions in the forestry sector
alone, as many of the drivers of deforestation and forest degradation lie outside3

this sector, e.g. in agriculture, energy and mining. Good governance andland-use planning under the well-designed coordination between the different
land-use sectors are keys to landscape approaches that provide a framework foranalysis and planning to tackle these drivers.
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