REDD+ Brasil

Just over two years after the submission of its forest emissions reference level (FREL), covering deforestation in the Amazon, Brazil begins the preparation of a FREL for deforestation in the Cerrado biome. The VI meeting of the Technical Working Group on REDD+ was held between 20 and 21 June in Brasilia, with the aim of collecting inputs and identifying knowledge gaps. Experts on land cover mapping, ecology and vegetation classification in the Cerrado attended the meeting and contributed with their inputs for the preparation of the FREL submission draft. The participants had the opportunity to discuss key issues regarding the development of the reference level for deforestation in the Cerrado. A widely discussed issue was the necessity to promote consistency between the legends applied to the different vegetation maps produced for the biome scale, as it had already occurred during the previous meeting. Moreover, the issues that require consistency between the coming FREL submission and the Third National Communication of Brazil to the UNFCCC were analyzed, producing inputs for the preparation of a first draft. The Technical Working Group meeting furthers REDD+ in Brazil, as it provides the opportunity for conceptual debates that are key to verifying results achieved in reducing deforestation. The next meeting should continue to address such discussions, having as a basis a more advanced draft of the FREL for deforestation in the Cerrado biome.   PAVING THE WAY TO A NATIONAL FREL   The option for the Cerrado for Brazil's next REDD+ submission to the UNFCCC is justified by the significance of the Cerrado to the total emissions from the land use, land-use change and forestry sector (LULUCF). According to data for 2010 from the Third National Communication, Cerrado emissions amount to approximately 19.6% of the LULUCF sector total. The initiative signals Brazil’s intent to advance towards measuring, reporting and verifying (MRV) results on a national scale, as planned on the National REDD+ Strategy. Brazil has adopted a step-wise approach to REDD+, that entails promoting the MRV of new activities and biomes as the country builds capacity for doing so. Doing that, in turn, should contribute to enhancing Brazil's potential for attracting additional results-based payments from international partners.