Contribution to the UN-REDD Pro-gramme (single phase)


Forests are a central solution to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, their sustainable management is an imperative for the planet but also for millions of vulnerable people. The UN-REDD Programme is a key player in accelerating the implementation of appropriate policies and actions in tropical low and lower-middle income countries to reduce deforestation and restore forests. The contribution will allow for a strong Swiss engagement jointly with the Federal Office of the Environment, and for the capitalization of existing work of the four SDC domains on forest ecosystems and related livelihoods.

Country/region Topic Period Budget
Global
Climate change and environment
Employment & economic development
Forestry policy
Rural development
15.12.2020 - 31.12.2025
CHF  5’000’000
Background Millions of indigenous and rural people depend directly on forests and their goods and services for their livelihoods. Forests, such as the Amazon, are ecosystems which are also vital to the planet’s biodiversity and climate. Deforestation and forest degradation is a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, but forests also have a high potential as carbon sinks. In the context of sustained pressure on forests, accentuated by forest fires and the current Covid-19 pandemic, increasing the efforts in the promotion and implementation of sustainable forest management to preserve forest ecosystems and ensure their contribution to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions are a priority - from climate, environment and sustainable development perspectives.
Objectives The full climate change mitigation potential of forests to be realized through substantial reduction of deforestation and degradation, conservation of existing forests, restoration and low-carbon forest management - in ways that respect and support environmental integrity and social equity – so to limit global atmospheric warming to 1.5oC by avoiding emissions and sequestering a total of up to 5.3 Giga tons (Gt) of CO2 emissions per year during the decade 2021-2030.
Target groups

Developing countries, mainly least developed, small countries in tropical zones, (priority regions and countries from an SDC perspective, where applicable)

National and sub-national governments and relevant sector ministries/agencies/services

Indigenous people, rural populations living near and from forests. 

Medium-term outcomes

1. Realizing forest solutions: Forest-based greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reductions and enhanced removals, achieved at a level of 1 GtCO2e per year

2. Rewarding forest solutions: USD 5 bn mobilised for REDD+ from results-based payment schemes, carbon markets and other transactions under Art. 6 of the Paris Agreement
3. Enhancing forest solutions: More than 15 countries enhance significantly the forest component of their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) in 2020-2025

4. Connecting actors and knowledge for forest solutions: A global, transformative forest-based solutions movement accelerates the response to the climate emergency

Results

Expected results:  

-  Countries implement REDD+ investment plans/
programmes to deliver Nationally Determined
Contributions (NDCs)

-  Forest landscape restoration low-carbon forest
management and forest carbon stock enhancement
accelerated

-  Deforestation-free commodity chains developed

-  Countries enabled to measure high-quality data,
emission factors and emission reductions with
policy-relevant monitoring systems

-  Knowledge on how to scale up REDD+
implementation is captured, managed and
disseminated to accelerate climate action


Results from previous phases:  

-  More than 30 partner countries have advanced their national REDD+ plans

-  40 countries were supported in developing national forest monitoring systems

-  15 countries have developed country approaches to meeting the UNFCCC social and environmental safeguards requirements

-  100+ projects have been implemented in pilot countries in community-based REDD+

-  10 countries have passed through their REDD+ readiness phases and are eligible to receive payments for verified emissions reductions in forests.


Directorate/federal office responsible SDC
Credit area Development cooperation
Project partners Contract partner
United Nations Organization (UNO)
  • United Nations Development Programme


Coordination with other projects and actors FAO, UNDP, UNEP
Norway, EU, UK, and other bilateral donors
Swiss contributions to global funds: Global Climate Fund, BioCarbon Fund, Forest Carbon Partnership Facility 
Budget Current phase Swiss budget CHF    5’000’000 Swiss disbursement to date CHF    4’000’000
Project phases Phase 1 15.12.2020 - 31.12.2025   (Current phase)