UNFCCC COP23 Side Event
Mangroves in the Tropics: Realizing their Potential for
Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation
Room 4, Bonn Zone
13 November 2017

Jenny Wong, Programme Officer
Mitigation, Data and Analysis Programme, UNFCCC secretariat,

Milestones in REDD+ under the UNFCCC• Since COP 11 (Montreal, 2005) when the proposal by governments of PNG and Costa Ricaon possible approaches for addressing emissions from deforestation was taken onto theUNFCCC agenda, many milestones achieved• Important milestones for REDD-plus in Bali (COP 13, decision 2/CP.13) and Cancun (COP16, decision 1/CP.16). Emergence of a work programme and framework for REDD-plus•

At COP 19, 7 decisions adopted as the Warsaw Framework for REDD-plus – providing
the methodological guidance and financing framework• COP 21 (Paris) adopted 3 decisions – completing the work on methodological guidance• The policy work is now complete -providing the framework and guidance for implementationon the ground and for financing entities to provide adequate support to countries
implementing REDD-plus. Many developing countries are already demonstrating theirREDD-plus actions and meeting their commitments

Role of forests in climate change mitigation under the Convention
 Even before REDD-plus, forests was recognized by the Convention and its Kyoto Protocol
 Role of terrestrial ecosystems, including forests under Convention:
Article 4.1(d): All Parties shall … promote sustainable management, promote and cooperate in conservationand enhancement … of sinks and reservoirs of all greenhouse gases (GHGs) … including biomass, forests…
 Role of forests as part of mitigation actions under the Kyoto Protocol by both developed countries (Art. 3.3 and3.4) and developing countries (Art. 12, CDM afforestation/reforestation) The UNFCCC process through the COP in various decisions has:
 Acknowledged the contribution of emissions from deforestation and forest degradation to global
anthropogenic GHG emissions; Recognized the complexity of the problem with multiple drivers; Affirmed the urgent need to take further meaningful actions to reduce emissions from deforestation andforest degradation, particularly in developing countries.

Forests in the Paris Agreement
 A stand alone Article: Recognition of the role of forests in climate change mitigation and adaptation(Article 5)

 Scope• A reference to global forests as sinks and reservoirs of greenhouse gases (referring to Article 4.1(d) of theConvention)• Encouraging Parties to take action and support efforts to reduce emissions from deforestation and forest
degradation, i.e. continue with the implementation of REDD+, or consider alternative policy approaches such as
joint mitigation and adaptation approaches, and promote associated non-carbon benefits.
 Sends a strong political signal on the importance of ecosystems, in particular forests, for the implementation of
the new Agreement Reaffirms and recognizes the ongoing mitigation efforts by Parties and/or other stakeholders in the forest

sector. Limited operational implications

Role of Mangroves in Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation
 Developing countries demonstrating their REDD-plus implementation through submissions of reference levels andresults to the process.
 To date, 26 submissions of reference levels (covering African, Asian and Latin American countries). 4 countries havesubmitted the results of their REDD-plus actions. All submissions under go technical assessments by LULUCF experts.
 In their submissions, countries provide their forest definition. A number of countries have included mangroves as part ofdefinition on forests. Mangroves are recognized as a forest type by these countries and are included in the activity andemission data used in establishing their reference levels and reporting on results. These countries are planning andimplementing actions to reduce deforestation in and promote conservation of mangrove forests

 REDD-plus also requires the implementation of other elements that could promote the conservation and sustainable
management of mangroves:•Addressing the safeguards – e.g. transparent governance, conserving natural forests and biodiversity, stakeholder participation andinvolvement;•Establish a national forest monitoring system that monitors all types of forests (including mangroves);•Addressing drivers of deforestation in the national strategy•

Promoting co-benefits and non-carbon benefits (mangroves generate many of such benefits for both ecosystem and communities)•Principles of REDD-plus also recognizes the importance of taking into account adaptation needs as part of implementation

 Importance of adequate support – finance, capacity building, technology, enabling institutions and policy

Concluding remark

Thank you for your attention!
Questions? jwong@unfccc.int

Website: http://redd.unfccc.int/