17 April 2014, IISD news - The Democratic Republic of the Congo  (DRC), Ghana, Mexico and Nepal will each receive $50-$70 million to demonstrate  how Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) can  work on the ground. Participants from 11 public and private funds adopted  resolutions to support these countries' Emission Reduction Program Idea Notes  (ER-PINs) at the Ninth Meeting of the Carbon Fund (CF9) of the Forest Carbon  Partnership Facility (FCPF).

The DRC aims to tackle the deforestation frontier of its capital, Kinshasa,  where the forest is under pressure from demand for charcoal, timber and food  from a growing population. The DRC proposed to develop a model provincial green  development program that maintains the area's forest cover while addressing  climate change, poverty reduction, natural resource conservation and  biodiversity protection. It includes an objective to strengthen recognition of  statutory and customary rights to land, including training on the Free, Prior  and Informed Consent (FPIC) process and participatory mapping exercises.

The Ghanaian 'Cocoa Forest Mosaic Landscape' program aims to reduce  degradation and deforestation while fostering a more sustainable, climate-smart  cocoa sector and landscape management. Ghana will use a community-based approach  to double cocoa yields in 25% of the country while partnering with the private  sector to green the cocoa supply chain. This proposal aims to: provide  deforestation-free chocolate; reduce forest loss from agricultural expansion;  and improve livelihoods for the one-third of Ghanaians who rely on the cocoa  sector.

Nepal aims to reduce carbon emissions, conserve biodiversity and boost  community livelihoods through a program that will build on the success of  Nepal's existing community-based forest management (CBFM). The proposed area  includes two World Heritage sites, three RAMSAR sites and habitat for Asian  rhinos and tigers.

Mexico's proposal focuses on states with high rates of net deforestation  while building on the country's current system for community-level forest  management. The proposal includes: benefit sharing arrangements; community  decision-making on forest and natural resources management; and regional level  planning.

The proposals all outline political commitment and support for the ER-PINs  and discuss existing national policies. Chile, the Republic of the Congo and  Peru also presented proposals at the meeting, which can be considered at the  next meeting.

Source: http://forests-l.iisd.org/news/carbon-fund-approves-redd-proposals-from-drc-ghana-mexico-and-nepal/