31 August 2012, UN-REDD news - Between 25 and 26 July, the UN-REDD National Programme Management Unit in Indonesia organized a workshop on multiple benefits of REDD+ to raise awareness of the importance and potential of multiple benefits derived by REDD+. More than 50 participants from the provincial REDD+ sub-working group, the provincial forestry council and various universities and NGOs were given a new perspective on the non-carbon benefits that could be achieved through REDD+ alongside climate change mitigation.

The workshop took place in Palu, the capital of Central Sulawesi, which is a pilot province of the UN-REDD Programme. Opening sessions were given by a representative from the Ministry of Forestry and the head of the provincial Forestry Council.

UN-REDD Programme colleagues from UNEP's World Conservation and Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC) contributed an overview of the multiple benefits of REDD+ introducing the different benefit types, as well as social and environmental risks that can be associated with different REDD+ options. UNEP-WCMC also presented in a session on the economic values of multiple benefits and how to integrate them in REDD+ planning. Further sessions presented a framework for the assessment of REDD+ options, the costs of REDD+, the importance of biodiversity benefits and examples of multiple benefits from Lore Lindu National Park in Central Sulawesi. A participatory session included two group discussions of the most important non-carbon benefits under REDD+ in Central Sulawesi and how to account for them. By involving many different stakeholders in the ongoing REDD+ process, the UN-REDD National Programme created a supportive environment for REDD+ in Central Sulawesi.