UNFCCC Workshop on Reducing Emissions from

Deforestation in Developing Countries

UNFCCC Workshop on Reducing Emissions from

Deforestation in Developing Countries

Definitional Issues

Wulf Killmann, FAO

Definitional Issues

Wulf Killmann, FAO

General AspectsGeneral Aspects

•Core Terms

– Forest

– Deforestation

– Forest Degradation

•Supporting Terms

•Core Terms

– Forest

– Deforestation

– Forest Degradation

•Supporting Terms

GHG emissions from forests

GHG emissions from forests

• Natural processes & calamities

• Conversion to cropland, grasslands, wetlands, settlements

• Conversion to planted forest

• Sustainable Management and use of forests

• Unsustainable use of forests

• Natural processes & calamities

• Conversion to cropland, grasslands, wetlands, settlements

• Conversion to planted forest

• Sustainable Management and use of forests

• Unsustainable use of forests

Forest Change ProcessesForest Change Processes

ForestForest

• MA and FRA compared

• Land use or land cover

• Different thresholds

• Choice of thresholds up to countries

• Criteria: historical reporting

• Importance of national definitions

• MA and FRA compared

• Land use or land cover

• Different thresholds

• Choice of thresholds up to countries

• Criteria: historical reporting

• Importance of national definitions

ForestForest

Issues & Choices

• Single definition

• Fragmented forests, forest fallow

• Strip width

Issues & Choices

• Single definition

• Fragmented forests, forest fallow

• Strip width

DeforestationDeforestation

• Forest losses/gains can have human and natural causes

• Conversion forest to non-forest

• Temporarily unstocked areas do not count as deforested

• Forest losses/gains can have human and natural causes

• Conversion forest to non-forest

• Temporarily unstocked areas do not count as deforested

DeforestationDeforestation

Issues & Choices

• MA includes agro -& urban forestry

• Deforestation or net loss of forest ?

• Avoided deforestation

Issues & Choices

• MA includes agro -& urban forestry

• Deforestation or net loss of forest ?

• Avoided deforestation

Forest DegradationForest Degradation

• Decreases forest’s capacity to fulfill its functions

• Happens within forest

• Human and/or natural causes

• Short-term assessment difficult

• Not every carbon stock reduction =

forest degradation

• Canopy cover no good proxy

• Decreases forest’s capacity to fulfill its functions

• Happens within forest

• Human and/or natural causes

• Short-term assessment difficult

• Not every carbon stock reduction =

forest degradation

• Canopy cover no good proxy

Forest degradation and supporting terms

Forest degradation and supporting terms

T3

FRA Improvement

Restoration

Rehabilitation

Fragmentation: possible component of structural

degradation

FRA Degradation

T3

FRA Improvement

Restoration

Rehabilitation

Fragmentation: possible component of structural

degradation

FRA Degradation

Forest DegradationForest Degradation

Issues & Choices

• How address fragmentation

• Spatial scale

• Quantitative thresholds

• Direct and/or indirect human impact

• Carbon stock reduction or forest degradation

Issues & Choices

• How address fragmentation

• Spatial scale

• Quantitative thresholds

• Direct and/or indirect human impact

• Carbon stock reduction or forest degradation

ConclusionsConclusions• Definitions should be clear &

unambiguous

• Existing definitions preferable

• Parameters should be measurable during assessments

• Distinction needed between – deforestation & net loss of forests – deforestation & forest degradation– carbon stock reduction & forest degradation

• Definitions should be clear & unambiguous

• Existing definitions preferable

• Parameters should be measurable during assessments

• Distinction needed between – deforestation & net loss of forests – deforestation & forest degradation– carbon stock reduction & forest degradation

Parties to decide• which processes to cover

• on terms & definitions

• which forest definition to apply

Parties to decide• which processes to cover

• on terms & definitions

• which forest definition to apply

ConclusionsConclusions

Thank You Thank You