Challenges of Integration the Policies and Measures in the National and Local Strategy of Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation in Mozambique

Global political forums on climate have identified deforestation and forest degradation actions as the main sources of atmospheric emissions. Therefore, its reduction is basically the main international agenda. The objectives of environmental policy seem to prevail conflicting, between the global, which aims to stabilize emissions with sequestration of forest carbon and local poverty reduction. REDD＋ （Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation） is considered cheap proposal for mitigation and adaptation to climate changes. Thus, Mozambique is preparing for accessing to forest carbon financing. The study analyzed interaction of policies and measures in the national and local strategy of REDD＋ in Mozambique and resorted three methodological procedures, review of previous study, interviews and seminars, in a non-probabilistic sampling. Conflicting visions among nations hinder consensus on reducing emissions and REDD＋ aims to replace the KP （Kyoto Protocol）. National strategy of REDD＋ should suggest measures and policies to reduce deforestation in key sectors contributing to emissions. Interviewees suggested technological approach （30%）, agrarian reform （26%）, institutional reform （21%） and decentralization （20%）. Therefore, 77.3% supported technological use to increase production and productivity and for the forest sector, 86.4% supported forest concessions. They also highlighted conservation agriculture, SAFs （Agroforestry Systems）, energy accessibility and mining licensing. However, REDD＋ is being projected from the global to the local, but the debate must extrapolate negotiations restricted to government participation, as well as policy options and incentives to generate co-benefits that address local community priorities.

Mapping aboveground biomass by integrating geospatial and forest inventory data through a k-nearest neighbor strategy in North Central Mexico

As climate change negotiations progress,monitoring biomass and carbon stocks is becoming an important part of the current forest research.Therefore,national governments are interested in developing forest-monitoring strategies using geospatial technology.Among statistical methods for mapping biomass,there is a nonparametric approach called k-nearest neighbor(kNN).We compared four variations of distance metrics of the kNN for the spatially-explicit estimation of aboveground biomass in a portion of the Mexican north border of the intertropical zone.Satellite derived,climatic,and topographic predictor variables were combined with the Mexican National Forest Inventory(NFI)data to accomplish the purpose.Performance of distance metrics applied into the kNN algorithm was evaluated using a cross validation leave-one-out technique.The results indicate that the Most Similar Neighbor(MSN)approach maximizes the correlation between predictor and response variables(r=0.9).Our results are in agreement with those reported in the literature.These findings confirm the predictive potential of the MSN approach for mapping forest variables at pixel level under the policy of Reducing Emission from Deforestation and Forest Degradation(REDD+).

Governance of forest conservation and co-benefits for Bangladesh under changing climate

We focused on key aspects of forest governance for biodiver- sity conservation in implementing new climate change policies. The national forest institutions must be adaptive to identify the existing pitfalls of prior conservation policies to take advantage of new climate change policies. Strengthening roles and technical capacity of national institutions for systematic biodiversity monitoring and carbon stock assessment is required in developing and least developed countries. Community participation needs careful analysis to ensure equitable ac- cess of particular social groups to local decision-making processes and to sustain optional livelihoods. The livelihood options around forest reserves or protected areas must be taken into account to enhance forest-based adaptation.

Floristic Inventory and Evaluation of Carbon Sequestration Potential of the Misomuni Forest Massif,Kikwit City (Democratic Republic of the Congo)

The aim of this study was to inventory plant biodiversity and to evaluate the carbon sequestration potential of the Misomuni forest massif.An inventory of all trees with diameter at breast height(dbh)≥10 cm measured at 1.30 m height was performed.The aerial biomass(AGB)was used for estimating the stored CO2 and its carbon equivalent.88 plant species belonging to 71 genera and 32 families were inventoried.Fabaceae family displayed the highest number of species and genera.The highest basal area values were displayed by Scorodophloeus zenkeri(7.34±2.45 m2/ha),Brachystegia laurentii(5.82±1.94 m2/ha),Entandrophragma utile(5.28±1.94 m2/ha),Pentadesma butyracea(4.53±1.51 m2/ha).The highest values of stored carbon and their carbon equivalent were observed in Pentadesma butyracea(15.13±5.00 and 50.55±16.85 t/ha),Picralima nitida(7.02±2.34 and 23.66±7.88 t/ha),Strombosia tetandra(6.56±2.18 and 22.10±7.36 t/ha).The Misomuni forest massif is thus much floristically diversified and plays a significant role in the sequestration of CO2.The total AGB of the inventoried trees is 183.78±61.26 t/ha corresponding to stored carbon and carbon equivalent of 96.63±32.21 t/ha and 289.92±96.64 t/ha respectively.The protection of this ecosystem is highly needed for combatting climatic changes at local,national and regional scales and for the conservation biodiversity habitat.