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UN-REDD Regional Lessons Learned Workshop for Asia and the Pacific, provided an opportunity for information exchange and joint learning across countries in the region. Experts from the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and other institutions based throughout the region shared the latest international guidance and technological advice on NFMS and RELs.

In his opening speech, Dr. Nguyen Phu Hung, Director of Department of Science, Technology and International Cooperation under VNFOREST, underlined the importance of developing a comprehensive national forest monitoring system in order for countries to integrate the forest sector into their approaches to climate change mitigation.

The NFMS and RELs are two of four key pieces of work that countries must complete to participate in a mechanism for REDD+ as part of a future international climate change agreement.

Viet Nam is one of the first countries in the world to move into the second phase of REDD+ Readiness, where on-the-ground demonstration activities are developed and implemented. This experience will be an important part of the learning process for other countries in the region.

The workshop is part of a series of regional events and serves as a platform for UN-REDD partner countries in Asia and the Pacific to build consistency in their approaches, to share successes and to learn how to handle challenges in preparing for REDD+. Co-organisers of the workshop also include two USAID-funded initiatives; SilvaCarbon and the Lowering Emissions in Asia’s Forests (USAID LEAF) project.