Delegates from more than 50 countries and international organisations agreed in Oslo on Thursday to launch an interim partnership to support developing countries' efforts to fight deforestation and reduce emissions.
Dubbed REDD+, for Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation, the programme aims to encourage developing countries to reduce emissions from deforestation and degradation while a legally binding U.N. accord on dealing with climate change is being negotiated.
The project, endorsed on Thursday by the heads of state or government, ministers and other representatives attending the Oslo Climate and Forest Conference, also covers sustainable management of forests, conservation and enhancement of forest carbon stocks in developing countries. Developed countries have promised to provide extra funding to developing countries for the implementation of REDD+ plans and actions, which were formally introduced at the 2007 U.N. Climate Change Conference.
