REDD+ Preparation Process in Pakistan
Pakistan is committed to working towards the global goal to mitigate climate change. Its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) states that subject to the availability of international financial support, Pakistan intends to reduce up to 20% of its 2030-projected GHG emissions. Even though land use change practices and the forestry sector only contribute to 2.5% of the overall national emissions, the prevention of forest loss and recovery of forested areas could provide benefits for the country in the long run. According to the NDC, the projected emissions from land use change and the forestry sector for the year 2030 are 29 MT CO2- equivalent.
In addition, the country is particularly interested in participating in the REDD+ mechanism. In 2013, Pakistan submitted its Readiness Preparation Proposal (R-PP) to the Forest Carbon Partnership Facility (FCPF)1to receive support for the preparation for REDD+. It was not until 2015 that the country signed the agreement for USD 3.8 million to implement the project. In 2018, based on the advances on the implementation, Pakistan was granted an additional USD 4.01 million to continue and consolidate the REDD+ readiness process.
The year 2010 is considered as the beginning of the preparation process for REDD+ in the country. During that year, the Government of Pakistan initiated consultative workshops and awareness-raising events that provided stakeholder’s opinions and concerns later used to prepare the Readiness Preparation Proposal (R-PP), which set the basis for further discussions and coordination.
As part of the REDD+ readiness process, a National Steering Committee (NSC) was established to ensure multi-sectoral coordination and cooperation for the planning and implementation of REDD+ activities. The provinces and territories also established Provincial REDD+ Management Committees (PRMCs) and appointed Provincial REDD+ Focal Points.
The readiness preparation process included actions to ensure four elements:
1) the organization and consultation about REDD+ consolidation in Pakistan,
2) the preparation of the National REDD+ Strategy,
3) the development of the National Forest Reference Emissions Level, and
4) the design of the National Forest Monitoring and Safeguards Information Systems.
These components had several mechanisms for consultation with pertinent stakeholders to ensure that their opinions and needs would be fully incorporated into the design of the products.
The development of the National REDD+ Strategy took into account the characteristics and requirements established by the UNFCCC and incorporated the best practices, technical standards, and guidance available at the international level to consider and incorporate the current institutional and legal framework as well as new information and the decisions made during the consultation and preparation process.
The development of the National REDD+ Strategy took into account the characteristics and requirements established by the UNFCCC and incorporated the best practices, technical standards, and guidance available at the international level to consider and incorporate the current institutional and legal framework as well as new information and the decisions made during the consultation and preparation process.
During the preparation of this Strategy, a comprehensive consultation process was designed, which included communities, government departments at the federal and provincial levels, civil society organizations, academia, forest owners, media, actors from diverse sectors, and market players (including but not limited to the wood products industry). Apart from these stakeholders, consultation meetings were also held in the provinces with the PRMCs, as these are responsible for REDD+ affairs in their respective provinces, and with the Working Groups of the NSC. This process used several techniques to acquire information, such as focus group discussions, key informant interviews, questionnaires, and consultative workshops2.
Meetings and discussions have also taken place concerning the way in which Pakistan is addressing and respecting the Cancun Safeguards, the Safeguards Information System, the National Reference Emission Levels, and the National Forest Monitoring System. Decisions and related endorsements involved a wide variety of topics, such as inter alia the national forest definition, the national interpretation of safeguards, REDD+ activities, and Strategy Options, and characteristics of the Safeguards Information System and the National Forest Monitoring System.