ITTO Side Event at COP 13 of UNFCCC on Forest Day (Saturday the 8th December) SFM for REDD: from acronyms to implementation in the tropics

Deforestation and forest degradation have multiple economic, political, social, demographic and environmental aspects and any future arrangement aimed at addressing the issue of deforestation and forest degradation would need to be flexible enough to cover a wide range of situations. Forest management should be designed to include addressing deforestation and restoring forest degradation for carbon reservoirs as an important element of sustainable forest management (SFM). The Event shared ITTO’s experience in enhancing sustainable tropical forest management and its connection with reducing emissions from deforestation in developing countries in the tropics (REDD). In addition, in his keynote address, Governor Eduardo Braga, Amazonas State, Brazil highlighted the importance of Amazonas state conservation units in the global climate change. He stressed that more reward for environmental services provided by tropical forests should be made.

1. ITTO’s experience in promoting SFM in the tropics
   by Emmanuel Ze Meka, Executive Director, ITTO
2. Keynote address by Governor Eduardo Braga (Amazonas State, Brazil)
   Payment of environmental services and conservation in Amazonas, Brazil (with Virgilio Mauricio Viana, Secretary of State for Environment and Sustainable Development of the State of Amanonas, Brazil)
3. Sustainable forest management as a tool for reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation
   by Juergen Blaser, Intercooperation, Switzerland
4. Project experiences
   • Forest Canopy Density Mapping: Climate Change Mitigation, Forest Landscape Restoration and Sustainable Forest Management, Philippine Experience
     by Dr Merlinda R. Manila, DENR, Philippines
   • Strengthen forest law enforcement in the Republic of Congo through remote sensing technology and information systems
     by Ms Susan Minnemeyer, GIS Manager, World Resources Institute