On Tuesday 9th May The United Nations REDD+ Program launched the National REDD+ Investment Framework and Action Plan in a ceremony under the patronage of HE the President Maithreepala Sirisena and many other distinguished guests and participants.
REDD+ program is a current global effort under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to implement a climate change mitigation mechanism, The word REDD comes from the program name which is “Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation in developing countries”. This program is an effort to create incentives for developing countries to reduce emissions from forested lands and invest in low carbon paths to sustainable development.
Degradation and deforestation of the world’s tropical forests are cumulatively responsible for about 12% of net global carbon emissions. Therefore, tackling the destruction of tropical forests is core to any concerted effort to combat climate change. Traditional approaches to halting tropical forest loss have typically been unsuccessful, as can be seen from the fact that deforestation and forest degradation continue unabated.
REDD (reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation) incentivises a break from historic trends of increasing deforestation rates and greenhouse gases emissions. It is a framework through which developing countries are rewarded financially for any emissions reductions achieved associated with a decrease in the conversion of forests to alternate land uses. Having identified current and/or projected rates of deforestation and forest degradation, a country taking remedial action to effectively reduce those rates will be financially rewarded relative to the extent of their achieved emissions reductions.
Inaugarating the event Mr. Anura Satharasinghe, the Conservator-General of the Forest Department welcomed the invitees and other guests. Cheif of the Sri Lankan indigenous Vedda Tribe, Uru Warige Wannila Aththo speaking in the event described how the present generations are encountering all sort of disasters due to the activities related to the present development drive.
United Nations Resident Coordinator Ms. Una McCauley described how the deforestation and degradation of forests increase the emission of Green House Gasses, She also explained the activities behind formulating this framework and action plan with the participation of many intellectuals and also the general public. After her speech she handed over the Investment Framework and Action Plan to his excellency the president Mr. Maithripala Sirisena.
International MRV Consultant Mr. Raushan Kumar introduced recently launched National Forest Monitoring System(www.nfms.lk) which is an online portal that can be used to get almost all the information about the forest cover in Sri Lanka.
Principal Energy Economist at Asian Development Bank Dr. Herath M. Gunathilake delivered the Keynote Speech of the event and in his speech he talked about how Sri Lanka is performing well compared to other countries of the region and how we should focus our selves on natural resources.
Former minister of the Environment Mr. Anura Yapa too addressed the gathering.
