At its 11th session, the Conference of Parties to the UNFCCC invited parties and accredited observers to (i) submit views on issues related to reducing emissions from deforestation in developing countries, focusing on relevant scientific, technical and methodological issues and the exchange of relevant information and experiences, including policy approaches and positive incentives and (ii) to make recommendations on any further process to consider these issues (decision FCCC/CP/2005/L.2). As a response to this invitation, FAO wishes to share information and experiences related to this subject and highlight the main issues that need to be considered in the further process. FAO has, since 1948, regularly assessed global forest area and area changes as a part of its efforts to contribute to a better and sustainable use of the world’s forests for a variety of products and services and to assist Member Countries in reducing food insecurity and rural poverty1 . In addition, FAO maintains a vast record of statistics, and is the official UN source for global statistics on agriculture, forestry, fisheries and land use, some of which are used as indicators for the Millennium Development Goals.

The Global Terrestrial Observing System’s Panel on Global Observations of Forest and Land Cover Dynamics (GOFC-GOLD) held a workshop on Monitoring Tropical Deforestation for Compensated Reductions, at Jena, Germany on March 21-22, 2006. At the workshop GOFC-GOLD formed the ad hoc working group to provide technical guidance and support on remote sensing capabilities for monitoring tropical deforestation at the national level in the context of UNFCCC discussions on reducing emissions from deforestation in developing countries. The workshop considered current capabilities for monitoring deforestation and forest degradation at global and national levels utilizing satellite data and complemented by in situ validation. The major conclusion was that changes in forest area can be monitored through, such methodologies with confidence. The remote sensing and forestry communities represented at the workshop are ready to provide support on the development of guidelines that can be implemented at the national level The working group is preparing a report to assess technical capabilities for estimating emissions as input to the upcoming SBSTA meeting. 

This methodology presents requirements for development and assessment of a standardized baseline for quantification of greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reductions in smallholder dairy systems. 1 It also includes guidance for quantification of baseline GHG emissions from dairy production in a defined geographical area within a country, for quantification of project GHG emissions, leakage, and net emission reductions due to project implementation. 

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