We are happy to share this first newsletter of 2019 with you, filled with good news.
The United Nations General Assembly declared 2021 - 2030 the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, aiming at job creation, food security and addressing climate change through massive restoration of degraded and destroyed ecosystems that could remove up to 26 gigatons of greenhouse gases from the atmosphere.
In a potentially game-changing decision the Green Climate Fund Board approved its first payment for REDD+ to Brazil. Equally historic, Norway and Indonesia have agreed on a first payment under the two nations' 2010 agreement after Indonesia reduced its rate of deforestation in 2017.
Mozambique and DRC signed Emission Reductions Payment Agreements with the Forest Carbon Partnership Facility (FCPF), unlocking performance-based payments of up to US$105 million. In a guest blog from the World Bank you can read how this will positively impact people's lives in Mozambique.
In the Asia Pacific region Viet Nam has become the first country to complete the Warsaw Framework for REDD+ after fulfilling the UNFCCC safeguards requirements.
Finally, under 'Videos' you will find three new films highlighting UN-REDD's work in Nepal, Sri Lanka and Viet Nam. We plan to feature Africa in the next issue and the LAC region after that.
We hope you enjoy this issue and wish you a very happy International Day of Forests later this month!
