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  Securing tropical forest carbon: the contribution of protected areas to REDD »

  Between 2000 and 2005, we estimate that 1.75 million ha of forest were lost from protected areas in humid tropical forests, causing the emission of 0.25–0.33 Pg C. Protected areas lost about half as much carbon as the same area of unprotected forest. We estimate that the reduction of these carbon emissions from ongoing deforestation in protected sites in humid tropical forests could be valued at USD 6,200–7,400 million depending on the land use after clearance. This is > 1.5 times the estimated spending on protected area management in these regions. Improving management of protected areas to retain forest cover better may be an important, although certainly not sufficient, component of an overall strategy for reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD).

  Resource Type: Journal Papers
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  CITES Species Checklist 2011 »

  The Checklist of CITES species is produced by UNEP-WCMC following each meeting of the Conference of the Parties to CITES, taking into account all changes agreed by the Parties.

  The 2011 Checklist of CITES species, containing updates from CoP15, is the latest edition of this document.

  This edition has been restructured, and now comprises:

  Part 1: CITES Species Index (previously called the Checklist of CITES Species):

  • lists all currently CITES-listed species
  • includes scientific and common names, synonyms, and current Appendix listing

  Part 2: History of CITES Listings (previously called the Annotated Appendices and Reservations):

  • provides a historical record of all taxa currently, or previously listed in the Appendices to CITES
  • includes full footnotes clarifying the populations, specimen parts, or specimen origins that are controlled under CITES
  • lists all reservations imposed by parties to CITES.

   

  The 2011 Checklist can be accessed here.

  Resource Type: Reports
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  Carbon, Biodiversity & Ecosystem Services: Exploring Co-benefits Ecuador »

  Analyses of the spatial relationships between carbon, co-benefits and socio-economic context can support planning and decision-making at national and sub-national scales. When such spatial analyses are based on data developed at an appropriate scale, done in consultation with a wide range of stakeholders, they can help to prioritise among the different benefits and services under consideration and the actions that might best deliver them.

  Ecuador is a country with high forest cover and very high biodiversity. However, Ecuadorian forests are under pressure from deforestation and resource exploitation. The government is addressing the issue by planning for a high quality REDD+ mechanism that maximises benefits for the climate, the environment and people. This report presents the result of spatial analyses to support this planning process.

  Resource Type: Reports
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  Making Biodiversity Safeguards for REDD+ Work in Practice »

   UNEP-WCMC has developed operational guidelines to assist countries to implement biodiversity safeguards for REDD+. The summary report, containing the operational guidelines, can be found here.

  Resource Type: Reports
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  Everything is connected: climate and biodiversity in a fragile world »

  This publication brings together eight original articles by experts to tackle head on some of the most difficult questions facing us all:

  * How a stable climate and a productive biosphere can be secured together.
  * Why this is an opportunity for green growth.
  * How a closer partnership between the multilateral environmental agreements, in particular the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Framework Convention on Climate Change, can help.

  Resource Type: Reports
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  Reducing Emissions from Deforestation: A Key Opportunity for Attaining Multiple Benefits »

  This paper reviews the potential for multiple benefits that might be attained by reducing emissions from deforestation (RED) through a mechanism developed under the UNFCCC. These benefits are relevant to national commitments under several environmental and sustainable development conventions and instruments, and may not be directly correlated with reduced carbon emissions. The design of the mechanism and its implementation will affect the degree to which these other benefits, such as biodiversity conservation, livelihoods, watershed protection and other ecosystem goods and services, are obtained.

  Resource Type: Reports
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  Reducing Emissions from Deforestation: global mechanisms, conservation and livelihoods »

  This briefing considers the implications for biodiversity conservation and local people’s livelihoods of the current discussion on reducing emissions from deforestation in developing countries (RED-DC, henceforth RED) under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The potential for RED to deliver multiple benefits for biodiversity conservation, livelihoods and other ecosystem services is well documented (UNEP-WCMC 2007). But it is important to note that RED could also have negative impacts on biodiversity and local livelihoods, for example as a result of the displacement of deforestation.

  Resource Type: Reports

• The climate relevance of ecosystems beyond forests and peatlands - A review of current knowledge and recommendations for action »

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  The linkages between biodiversity and climate change mitigation »

  It is clear from the literature reviewed that climate change mitigation policy has the potential to impact biodiversity both positively and negatively. Currently, many renewable energy projects are being planned without consideration for biodiversity impacts; as are some land-based mitigation strategies such as monoculture plantations. However, due to the important role of ecosystems in the carbon cycle, it is clear that the potential exists to develop ‘win-‘win’ mitigation policies that are beneficial for both climate change mitigation and biodiversity.

  Resource Type: Reports
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  Review of the Literature on the Links between Biodiversity and Climate Change »

  UNEP-WCMC has been providing technical support to the work of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) on biodiversity and climate change. We carried out three reviews of the recent scientific literature and these fed into the deliberations of the CBD’s Second Ad Hoc Technical Expert Group (AHTEG) on Biodiversity and Climate Change. These reviews, entitled Links between Biodiversity and Climate change: Impacts, Adaptation and Mitigation, have now been published as no 42 of the CBD Technical Series. This publication complements the main report from the CBD AHTEG which appears as CBD Technical Series No. 41 Connecting Biodiversity and Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation.

  Resource Type: Reports