Volume 14 - March 2011
The aim of this e-Newsletter is to inform CBD National Focal Points and CBD partners about biodiversity aspects in relation to reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation, and the role of conservation, sustainable management of forests and enhancement of forest carbon stocks in developing countries (REDD-plus). To subscribe, please visit http://www.cbd.int/forest/redd/newsletters/.
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NEWS

Asia-Pacific Regional Consultation and Capacity Building Workshop on REDD-plus Biodiversity Safeguards, Singapore, 15-18 March 2011
Participants from 21 countries and 19 relevant organizations met in Singapore to discuss biodiversity and indigenous and local community aspects of REDD-plus, including relevant safeguards. The workshop was co-organized by the CBD Secretariat and the National Parks Board of Singapore (NParks), with financial support from the Governments of the United Kingdom, and Germany, and the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity (ACB). The workshop report is available at: http://www.cbd.int/doc/?meeting=WSCBREDD-APAC-01.

New "Planet Change" Blog Highlights REDD, People and Climate Change Connections
The Nature Conservancy has launched Planet Change (http://change.nature.org), a blog designed to share stories about actions to fight carbon pollution, address impacts of climate change and help people see the connections between climate change and their daily lives. In a March 18 post, Greg Fishbein, the Conservancy’s forest carbon director, offers a post-Cancun view of the world’s progress on REDD: More: http://change.nature.org/2011/03/18/despite-lack-of-climate-progress-leaders-seeing-forests-for-the-trees/.

International Conference: Forest Biodiversity in a Changing Climate - Understanding Conservation Strategies and Policies
A call for paper is launched for this conference to be held in Freiburg, Germany, 22-23 September 2011. Papers addressing biodiversity conservation in forests (1) and forest and conservation policy (2) in a changing climate are welcome. Deadline for abstract submission: 31 March 2011. For further information see: http://www.freiburgconference2011.de/

PUBLICATIONS

Biodiversity and Livelihoods: REDD-plus Benefits
The Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and Deutsche Gesellschaft für International Zusammenarbeit (giz) have published a booklet on 'Biodiversity and Livelihoods: REDD-plus Benefits' available at: http://www.cbd.int/doc/publications/for-redd-en.pdf (in English). Spanish and French versions will follow shortly at: http://www.cbd.int/forest/publications.shtml.

A REDD-plus manual for botanic gardens
Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI) and the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, have recently published a new manual for botanic gardens. As well as providing background information on the REDD process, the manual also notes gaps in capacity for implementation and highlights opportunities for botanic gardens to contribute to REDD-plus projects. Further information and to download copies of the manual, please visit: http://www.bgci.org/resources/news/0764/.

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How can you publish in this Newsletter?

Your contributions to this Newsletter on issues related to biodiversity aspects of REDD-plus are welcome. Please send your submission to [email protected]. Articles should contain no more than 60 words, and must contain a hyperlink for more information. For more information please see: http://www.cbd.int/forest/redd/newsletters/

Deadline to submit articles for the next issue: 20 May 2011.

This Newsletter is published pursuant to CBD decision IX/5. The views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the views of the Secretariat of the CBD.
Photo credits (from top to bottom): Hemera/Thinkstock, iStockphoto/Thinkstock, iStockphoto/Thinkstock, SCBD, and iStockphoto/Thinkstock