REDD Project in Congo Basin region

The main objective of the GAF co-ordinated "Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation in Africa (REDDAF)" project is to further build on the existing company experiences in implementing a REDD Pilot Project in Cameroon, and initiate such a Pilot in a new country in the Congo Region. The methods tested in Cameroon, will be fully implemented in the Central African Republic (CAR) which is one of the countries that has been actively following the REDD process.

The UNFCCC Focal Points in both Cameroon and CAR have supported and endorsed the REDDAF concepts and objectives. The main activities for the project will include:

• User Requirements in CAR to identify the needs of stakeholders in terms of specific policy drivers, working practices and decision making cycles as well as the technical specifications for reporting.
• Reference scenarios for estimating deforestation and degradation; remote sensing analysis will provide forest area maps and forest cover change maps applicable for a national REDD scenario.
• Developing methods for degradation assessment,
• Testing a ‘direct' approach to biomass mapping using new sensor data (based mostly on the radar sensors),
• Undertaking technology transfer and capacity building to the countries.

A key objective in the REDDAF project is to provide improved methodologies to develop pre-operational service chains which will enable the REDD services and products to be provided at a national scale. These pre-operational service chains can then be adapted in other countries involved with REDD implementation. The REDDAF project will contribute to the scientific and conceptual understanding of the technical challenges, whilst taking note of the most recent developments in the scientific and policy communities.