Project News

TV conference connecting Vientiane and Tokyo

There are opportunities to access various technical advices through the World Bank (WB), as Lao PDR is a participant country to the Readiness Fund and the Carbon Fund of FCPF. The forest carbon measurement and accounting is one of the technical fields which have drawn high interest due to its fast-evolving nature, and, not to mention, its system of performance-based payments. With such a background, the WB suggested the Government of Lao (GoL) to send their MRV^[1] expert to Vientiane to have a technical meeting with the GoL staff and development partners to discuss the proposed approach on the REL^[2]/MRV.

In the technical meeting the F-REDD experts, who are supporting the REL/MRV, made presentations on the basic strategy and some key methodologies which are considered for the Lao PDR's FCPF CF program. The WB expert also made a presentation on the key points of the Methodological Framework of FCPF CF and gave technical feedback regarding the approach on the presented REL/MRV. Then, the meeting was opened for free discussion.

At the end of the meeting, it was generally agreed that the presented strategy and methodologies of the REL/MRV are generally reasonable. It was also very meaningful to realize some challenges to improve the technical soundness of REL/MRV.

What is FCPF??

The Forest Carbon Partnership Facility (FCPF) is a global partnership — established under the WB and sponsored by developing countries and other partners — with the aim of promoting REDD+. The Lao PDR joined the Readiness Fund in 2008 and the Carbon Fund in September 2016.

The Carbon Fund is designed to pilot performance-based payments for emission reductions and removals by REDD+ programs in the participant countries. After joining the Carbon Fund, Lao PDR needs to prepare a detailed project document (ERPD) within 18 months. The F-REDD has been supporting Lao PDR to become a participant country from the initial stage, and it will continue to assist the preparation of ERPD in general and the determination of technical details of REL/MRV in particular.

(For more information, see the FCPF website <https://www.forestcarbonpartnership.org/ (external link)>)