National REDD+ Strategy of Papua New Guinea for the period of 2017 – 2027.

Papua New Guinea has been at the forefront of REDD+ negotiations globally since 2005 when PNG and Costa Rica introduced the concept of reduced emissions from deforestation to the UNFCCC33. Over this time the GoPNG has worked to lead international discussions on REDD+ while building capacity and testing approaches to REDD+ domestically as part of a broader approach to climate change. PNG’s early efforts on climate change were formalised in 2008 with the establishment of the Office of Climate Change and Environment Sustainability (OCCES), which was re-established as the Office of Climate Change and Development (OCCD) in 2010 and, following the passing of the Climate Change Management Act (CCMA) in 2015, has now become the Climate Change Development Authority (CCDA).
Work has been conducted on assessing the drivers of forest cover change through partnership between CCDA and PNGFA as well as UNDP and FAO and developing the for key components of REDD+ namely the National REDD+ Strategy (NRS), the Safeguards Information System (SIS), the National Forest Monitoring System (NFMS) and the Forest Reference Level (FRL). This work shows significant progress with the NFMS becoming operational and publically available in 2016. Similarly, actions proposed within the NRS will work directly with key sector and cross cutting strategies such as those on nutrition, food security, land use planning and climate compatible development as well as the specific sector strategies for forestry, environment, agriculture, land and land use planning (pag. 26). The NRS targets actions within these two areas in an effort to strengthen food security within rural communities and to develop a commercial agriculture sector that is sustainable and able to respond to changing international standards (pag. 34).
PNG’s Vision For REDD+ states: forests are central to the country’s formal and informal economy and the diverse cultures of its people. They provide a critical role in regulating environmental services locally including river catchments and weather systems, regionally through influencing rainfall patterns and globally through their contribution to the removal of GHG from the atmosphere thus helping to mitigate climate change. REDD+ at both the national and international scale has projects in common with other projects globally. These include: Community based land use and development planning provide a critical basis for enhancing levels of forest conservation. Undertaking of activities in project-based can deliver rapid results but face challenges in long-term sustainability if not integrated into broader government planning and financing processes. A number of small, geographically discrete projects may deliver local benefits but are not able to address broader trends in forest cover change that are driven by national level challenges. Addressing challenges in one area may provide protection and local benefits but may displace threats to other areas if there is not broader national action.
National REDD+ Strategy aims alto at an Enhanced economic productivity and sustainable livelihoods. The development of a sustainable commercial agriculture sector: (DAL and DNPM) through improvements in guidelines and regulations for sustainable production of commercial products. Strengthened food security and increased productivity of family agriculture: (DAL and FPDA) through strengthening and expansion of extension services and support to rural communities.