Why is FFI in Copenhagen?

What’s at stake?

The core of the Copenhagen United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) meeting will be to agree a framework for post-2012 emissions reductions. Scientific consensus, through the Intergovernmental Panel of Climate Change (IPCC), is that the targets for these reductions will need to be much higher than those incorporated in the existing Kyoto framework if we are to avoid “dangerous climate change”.

Given the needs for such significant cuts in emissions, and recognising the contribution of deforestation to annual carbon emissions of around 20%, the case for including Reduction of Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation or REDD-type mechanisms into the post-2012 framework is clear to many from both the developed and the developing world.

Sharing our knowledge

As the world’s longest established international conservation organisation, FFI has unprecedented experience of making habitat protection work on the ground. We have been involved in the successful conservation of tropical forests for decades.

We are uniquely positioned to bring this experience to the table, and to use it to effectively inform the REDD agenda. For example, our experience has taught us that sustainable forest protection is only successful if local communities are involved and benefit. We put local rights and governance issues at the heart of our approach to REDD.

FFI is also in Copenhagen to make sure that biodiversity protection is recognised as a key component of REDD mechanism. After all, trees are not just “sticks of carbon”. They are part of a complex ecosystem full of wildlife without which they could not survive.

Who’s going?

Members of our innovative FFI Macquarie Taskforce will be attending and sharing lessons they have learned so far. Our Liberia team have been invited to be part of the Liberian Government delegation at and will be supporting them with their REDD negotiations. We’ve also got leaders of our community carbon pool initiative in West Kalimantan to showcase their cutting-edge pilot project.

And of course, FFI’s trusty communications team (Helen and Roger) are there interviewing FFI experts and blogging about everything that’s going on!