27 January 2017
Workshop to launch the FAO-supported NFMS programme held in Kinshasa today
The workshop today marked the launch of the Programme to finalize and implement the National Forest Monitoring System (NFMS) under the DRC’s National REDD+ Fund (FONAREDD). This programme was approved by the FONAREDD Steering Committee as a cross-cutting initiative in response to its call for proposals. It aims to contribute to achieving outcome (3) of the DRC’s REDD + Investment Plan, namely “Deforestation and degradation resulting from forest exploitation are reduced through more sustainable management”.
The effective and sustainable operationalization of the NFMS will enable the DRC to achieve several major objectives, such as:
- the implementation of the REDD+ decisions of the UNFCCC COP, including the Warsaw framework for REDD+
- the implementation of the practical recommendations of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) for the estimation of forest-related GHG emissions and removals, and
- Information on forests that is essential for the development of a national policy for sustainable forest management that contributes to mitigating climate change, reducing poverty and contributing to sustainable development, in line with CAFI’s objectives.
This programms builds on ample amounts of efforts undertaken and results already achieved.
The Ministry of the Environment, Nature Conservation and Sustainable Development (MECNDD), in particular the Directorate of Forest Inventories and Management (DIAF) and the Sustainable Development Department (DDD), benefited from technical and financial support (UN-REDD Programme, FAO MRV-COMIFAC Regional Project) to realize its NFMS, building on three major pillars:
- the Satellite Land Surveillance System (SSTS) – for which the DIAF Geomatics Division was strengthened technical and material), the first forest reference map (1990) was produced and the change in the forest cover between 1990 and 2014 was analyzed;
- the National Forest Inventory (NFI) – a national forest pre-inventory was carried out to analyze the variation in forest carbon stocks for different strata
- the National Forest Inventory Inventory of Greenhouse Gas (IGES) – a pilot GHG inventory was produced and national communications were produced.
The workshop today sought to inform stakeholders on the content and objectives of the Programme. Representatives from the government of DRC, FAO and its implementing partners will present:
- CAFI and the REDD + National Fund of the DRC;
- the content of the Programme for the finalization and implementation of the National Forest Monitoring System ;
- the operational organization of the programme and possible synergies with other REDD + projects and initiatives in the DRC;
- the preliminary work plan for 2017 and expected results this year.