Forestry and climate change

Forests and Climate Change Working Papers

E=English, F=French, S=Spanish

	Definitional issues related to reducing emissions from deforestation in developing countries Forests and Climate Change Working Paper No. 5 (2007), E
The paper provides background on definitional issues related to reducing emissions from deforestation in developing countries (RED-DC). It reflects the FAO presentation on “Definitional issues, including those relating to links between deforestation and degradation” given during a UNFCCC-organised workshop on RED-DC, held from 30 August to 1 September 2006.

	Choosing a forest definition for the Clean Development Mechanism Forests and Climate Change Working Paper No. 4 (2006), E
Developing countries must define “forest” before they can host afforestation and reforestation projects under the Clean Development Mechanism of the Kyoto Protocol. To do so, they must chose country-specific values from a range provided in the Marrakech Accords for minimum area, crown cover and tree height. Good practice involves choosing also a minimum strip width. Definitions in the Marrakech Accords and in the 2003 IPCC Good Practice Guidance leave some ambiguities.

	Forestry projects under the CDM: Procedures, experiences and lessons learned Forests and Climate Change Working Paper No. 3 (2005), E, 62 pp
This paper provides guidance on how to formulate new baseline and monitoring methodologies for CDM A/R (Clean Development Mechanism, Afforestation and Reforestation) projects. The analysis puts together lessons learned from baseline and monitoring methodologies which were submitted for approval so far and helps project developers to avoid mistakes made in those earlier methodologies. The paper is structured as follows: first the general rules of the development and acceptance of CDM baseline methodologies and CDM A/R projects are lined out and thereby the most important terms are explained. Secondly, an overview on CDM A/R projects and baseline methodologies which have been submitted so far is given. Thirdly, the reasons for the rejection of baseline and monitoring Background, Concepts, Methodologies and Procedures methodologies are analysed. This leads to the final part of the paper with lessons learned.

	Adaptation of forest ecosystems and the forest sector to climate change Forests and Climate Change Working Paper No. 2 (2005), E, 87 pp
The document summarizes information that facilitates the definition and formulation of policies and projects aimed at decreasing vulnerability to climate change, with special emphasis on forest ecosystems and the social groups that depend on them. It emphasizes that adaptation to climate change must be part of a country s development process, and that every adaptation action should be framed within the national development policies.

	Forests and climate change - Instruments related to the United Nations framework convention on climate change and their potential for sustainable forest management in Africa Forests and Climate Change Working Paper No. 1 (2003), E, F, 82 pp
Africa, although contributing relatively little to climate change, could be one of its major victims. With this publication, FAO seeks to inform African carbon sink experts and the forestry sector about climate change, the agreements reached, the current state of the clean development mechanism, other opportunities for forest conservation, adaptation and mitigation, and about prerequisites for implementation.

Central American series on forest and climate change

	Centroamérica - frente al cambio climático Serie centroamericano de bosques y cambio climático FAO Forestry working paper (2003), S, 68 pp
El sector forestal en América Central puede cumplir una función significativa en la mitigación de los impactos del cambio climático. El aprovechamiento de tierras, el cambio de uso de la tierra y las actividades forestales pueden contribuir mediante la conservación de los bosques al secuestro, substitución y reducción de las emisiones de carbono. La reducción potencial de las emisiones de carbono se basa en una estimación anual del nivel de deforestación en América Central del orden de las 388 000 hectáreas. Alrededor del 64 por ciento del territorio centroamericano ha sido deforestado, y dos terceras partes de ese porcentaje lo fue en los últimos treinta años.

	Belize - Facing the climate change Central American series on forest and climate change FAO Forestry working paper (2003), E, 60 pp

	Costa Rica - Frente al cambio climático Serie Centro Americana de bosques y cambio climático FAO Forestry working paper (2003), E, 60 pp

	El Salvador - Frente al cambio climático Serie Centro Americana de bosques y cambio climático FAO Forestry working paper (2003), S, 46 pp

	Guatemala - Frente al cambio climático Serie Centro Americana de bosques y cambio climático FAO Forestry working paper (2003), S, 52 pp

	Honduras - Frente al cambio climático Serie Centro Americana de bosques y cambio climático FAO Forestry working paper (2003), S, 59 pp

	Nicaragua - Frente al cambio climático Serie Centro Americana de bosques y cambio climático FAO Forestry working paper (2003), S, 67 pp

	Panamá - Frente al cambio climático Serie Centro Americana de bosques y cambio climático FAO Forestry working paper (2003), S, 6o pp