Kenya’s REDD+ Readiness Activities Presentation by Alfred N. Gichu NRCO

TABLE OF CONTENTS Background Information National REDD+ Goals Priority Areas of Focus REDD+ Readiness Activities Kenya’s Progress Towards Readiness Role of the Private Sector and NGOs

Background Information The Constitution, Vision 2030, Environment policy, Forest Policy, Agriculture policy, NCCRS all recognize the role of forests in the realization of national development goals. Constitution requires minimum 10% tree cover from current 5.6% Kenya loses about 50,000 ha of forests leading to emission of 1.5 million tonnes of CO2 annually and other benefits associated with forests and forest ecosystems. emissions in the forestry sector rose from 16.3 MtCO2e in 2000 to 19.6 MtCO2e in 2010. REDD+- A climate change mitigation mechanism with multiple benefits

National REDD+ Goals Realization of Constitutional and vision 2030 objectives of increasing forest cover to a minimum of 10%; Gov’t efforts in designing policies and measures to protect and improve its remaining forest resources in ways that improve local livelihoods and conserve biodiversity; Realization of the NCCRS goals. Contribution to global climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts.

Priority Areas of Focus for REDD+ Reducing pressure to clear forests for agriculture, settlements and other land uses; Promoting sustainable utilization of forests by promoting efficiency, energy conservation; Improving governance in the forest sector by strengthening national capacity for FLEG , advocacy and awareness ; Enhancement of carbon stocks through afforestation /Reforestation, addressing the fire problems

Guidance on REDD+ Activities REDD+ activities should be: country-driven;  consistent with the objective of environmental integrity and take into account the multiple functions of forests;  aligned with national development priorities;  consistent with national sustainable development goals; consistent with the adaptation needs of the country;  results-based;  Promote sustainable management of forests;

REDD+ Readiness Activities Intended to ensure the country is ready for REDD+ implementation once the policy frameworks and positive incentives are concluded at the UNFCCC. Readiness activities include A national strategy for implementation and the institutional and legal implementation framework, A Reference Emission Level and/or Forest Reference Level for greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions from deforestation and/or forest degradation; and A National Forest Monitoring System with Measuring, Reporting and Verification (MRV) capability to assess the effect of the REDD strategy on GHG emissions, livelihoods and other benefits.

Kenya’s progress towards Readiness Kenya RPP provides a roadmap of activities that will ensure Readiness. These include: National Management Arrangements Stakeholder Consultation and Participation Programme Assessment of Land use, Forest Policy and Governance REDD+ Strategy and arrangements for implementation SESA Establishment of a REL and/or Forest Reference Level and a National Forest Monitoring System

Progress in Readiness A National REDD+ Steering Committee constituted and operational ; NRCO established and Coordinator recruited; Six Thematic Working Groups constituted; Sensitization and information sharing ongoing; National Forest Programme under formulation; Studies commenced to support strategy formulation e.g. drivers of D& D and supply and demand of wood products

Progress in Readiness Forest Policy and legislation alignment to the Constitution, Vision 2030 and CC; National Carbon Investment and Trading Policy ; NCCRS Action Plans including a LCDS and NAMAs being developed (2 on forestry); Undertaking satellite imagery interpretation to establish baseline forest cover map and forest cover change information

Private Sector and NGO Participation Investors : performed by firms investing in the form of grants as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives. Producers through project development and implementation : Some private firms are leading the development of REDD+ projects as investors and implementers, leveraging their technical expertise and selling carbon credits. Brokers through carbon credit trading and retailing e.g. Ned Bank Group, who has bought carbon credits from Kasigau REDD+ project, and CAMCO. Advisors through technical expertise and capacity building : capacity- building for developing Project Design Documents (PDD), establishing the Reference Levels and Monitoring systems. E.g CAMCO, Support to scientific and technical capacity-building contribution at the national level. Examples include providing GIS, satellite imaging technology and innovative MRV technologies to participating REDD+ countries .

Private Sector Participation Financing of capacity building activities: financing of various skills-based capacity building sessions for REDD+, and its funding of various project feasibility studies in different continents End buyers through carbon credit purchasing: purchasing REDD+ credits as part of a CSR strategy or other organizations interested in offsetting their emissions. Auditors through validation and certification: private players involved in validation and certification of emissions reductions. E.g DNV who verified and validated WWC project and SGS.

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