The Forests and Climate Change Programme (FORCLIME) is a collaborative project implemented by Gesellschaft für_Internationale_Zusammenarbeit_(GIZ) and the Indonesian Ministry of Forestry. The project aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the forestry sector and improve the livelihoods of Indonesia’s poor rural communities. This policy brief discusses the manner in which the FORCLIME initiative is contributing to the development of Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD) in Indonesia. The brief begins by outlining the concept of REDD and FORCLIME’s REDD strategy. It then goes on to discuss project partners, project activities and learning and innovation accomplishments. This document also briefly discusses the Merang REDD Pilot Project.

This policy brief outlines participatory carbon monitoring (PCM) pilots in Viet Nam. Developing countries undertaking REDD+ activities will need to provide evidence of “results-based action” in order to receive payments for the reduction of carbon emissions or the enhancement of terrestrial carbon stocks. The brief begins by outlining the context of PCM activities in Viet Nam and then goes onto describe the objectives of PCM. Testaments from PCM participants are provided and key steps of PCM are discussed. It is argued that there is a strong rationale behind PCM as, among other things, it recognises and capitalizes on the skills and knowledge possessed by local communities.

This policy brief discusses the issue of food security in relation to trade and the anticipated impacts of climate change within Southeast Asia. It begins by contextualizing the debate before examining the manner in which trade, climate change and food security are interlinked within the Mekong region. The brief goes onto examine Cambodia as a case study in order to establish lessons for other countries in the region. The document ends with a series of policy recommendations drawn from the experience of Cambodia; these include: a call for a more holistic approach that links policymakers operating in different sectors, a greater degree of participation by actors at the local level and by civil society organizations, a stronger and more long-term vision and an enhanced degree of regional coordination.

This document details Vietnam’s progress in relation to Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) Readiness; it was submitted to the Forest Carbon Partnership Facility (FCPF), a World Bank programme that aims to assist developing countries with REDD+, during March 2012. It sets out a timeline of Vietnamese REDD+ Readiness; national REDD+ readiness management arrangements; stakeholder consultations and communication; REDD+ strategy preparation; the development of a reference scenario and monitoring, reporting and verification.

This policy brief examines the role of forests for climate change adaptation in the region of Asia. It is organized into several sections. Firstly, anticipated changes to precipitation and temperature in Asia under a low and a high emissions scenario, between 2010 and 2039, are outlined. Following on from this, the key elements of Forest-Based Adaptation (FBA) are discussed and the current status of FBA in Asia is highlighted. Finally, recommendations aimed at moving forest-based adaptation forward are made. The following suggestions are made: FBA should be integrated into wider sustainable forest management, National Adaptation Programmes of Action (NAPA) should include forestry, FBA should be built into mitigation projects, FBA should be built into national development and conservation policies and links between forestry and non-forestry sectors should be acknowledged.

This document presents analysis of key issues relating to Community Forest Management (CFM) in Vietnam. CFM has emerged as an important mechanism for realizing multiple development goals. The first section focuses on issues that relate to the transfer of forest rights to local people through Forest Land Allocation (FLA), including: an overview of FLA in Vietnam, a case study highlighting tensions that can arise between conservation and food security and a discussion of customary land rights of ethic minorities. The second section discusses CFM in relation to two existing policy frameworks in Vietnam, Payment for Environmental Forest services (PEFS) and Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+). It is argued that PEFS must be organized around CFM and REDD+ must employ an inclusive community-based approach. The final section examines how CFM can be improved in Vietnam.

This policy brief examines the manner in which Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD) pilot projects have been undertaken in Indonesia and Peru. The research data summarized within the brief was gathered using a method known as Fair and Efficient REDD Value Chain Allocation (FERVA). The FERVA analysis is used to capture the perceptions and expectations of REDD stakeholders at the preliminary stages of REDD initiatives; it also informs stakeholders of the different functions of the REDD value chain. The brief ends with a call for complementary research to focus on REDD value chain analysis; ideally, this would include an examination of the way in which time, cost, technical capacities and governance implications impact upon the different functions of the value chain. It is argued that research should also work towards establishing a minimum project threshold for local-level benefits, such as contributions to livelihoods.

This briefing note has been produced Forests and Climate Change Programme (FORCLIME). It outlines the concept of Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) and makes the case for the use of PES on Borneo island. The brief goes on to argue that the implementation of PES initiatives (including Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation +) have the potential to support the conservation and development of both national parks and regional economies. The brief then delineates the relationship FORCLIME has with its partners at national, sub-national and local levels. These include: members of national and local government, national park organizations and Non-Governmental Organizations. The brief concludes by outlining FORCLIMES activities that support PES.