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This technical document provides guidance on how to formulate new baseline and monitoring methodologies for Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), Afforestation and Reforestation (A/R) projects. The analysis puts together lessons learned from baseline and monitoring methodologies which were submitted for approval so far and helps project developers to avoid mistakes made in those earlier methodologies.

This technical document stresses the necessity for developing countries to define “forest” before they can host afforestation and reforestation projects under the Clean Development Mechanism of the Kyoto Protocol. To do so, they must chose country-specific values from a range provided in the Marrakech Accords for minimum area, crown cover and tree height. The paper also discusses ambiguities and problems of the existing definitions.

This technical document provides background on definitional issues related to reducing emissions from deforestation in developing countries. It analyses existing definitions for forest, deforestation and forest degradation and other forest-related terms and the issues related to their use in the context of the UNFCCC and Kyoto Protocol. The paper concludes that, in order to facilitate efficient negotiations and implementation, as well as streamlined future reporting, Parties to UNFCCC might consider, ex ante, a comprehensive set of definitions for the negotiations on reducing emissions from deforestation in developing countries.

This activity report discusses the linkage between traditional knowledge, sustainability, food security and climate change. Traditional farming, fishing, pastoralism/herding, foraging and forestry are based on long established knowledge and practices that help to ensure food and agricultural diversity, valuable landscape and seascape features, livelihoods and food security. In addition, the report presents FAO projects that support the use of traditional knowledge to promote rural development, gender equity, conservation of biocultural diversity, and sustainable management of agro-ecosystems, among others.

The FAO Glossary on Climate Change and Bioenergy contains 212 concepts and definitions, where appropriate, which have been selected from FAO and international documents and publications on climate change, as well as from the proceedings of meetings of experts discussing climate change, bioenergy and food security issues.

This manual is designed to help educate children and young people about climate change and food security while encouraging them to take action against global warming, environmental degradation and hunger in the world. It includes activities to reduce environmental foodprints and to learn how to make better consumer choices. Also available in Italian.

This video presents the environmental and climatic risks caused by forest degradation and deforestation. It also introduces the United Nations Collaborative Programme on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation in Developing Countries (UN-REDD) and its activities to preserve forests and their ability to store carbon.

This video introduces the  United Nations Collaborative Programme on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation in Developing Countries (UN-REDD), a collaborative initiative implemented by three United Nations agencies – FAO, UNDP and UNEP – with the aim to reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation.

This policy document summarizes the main findings of five workshops organized between 2006 and 2008 by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO) to promote multi-sectoral dialogue between countries on improving forest law compliance. It also highlights the lesson learned from experiences on the ground. In addition, the document sets out elements for an approach to forest law compliance and governance that benefits climate change mitigation.

This video highlights that continuing deforestation and forest degradation account for almost one-fifth of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions more than the entire global transport sector. It explains how society can combat climate change by conserving and managing existing forests, by tackling causes of deforestation and by planting new forests. It stresses the use of wood as a renewable energy source and as a raw material, pointing out that wood products store carbon for their entire lifetime, until they decay or are burned.

This analytical report is based on a series of 15 international case studies conducted between September and November 2008 to develop an improved understanding of the linkages between livelihoods and small-scale bioenergy initiatives. The focus of the study is on the impacts that different types of local level bioenergy initiatives can have on rural livelihoods in different contexts in the developing world. Livelihoods are understood as the enhancement of the full range of natural, financial, human, social and physical capitals on a sustainable ongoing basis.

This manual is intended to guide extension service advisors and institutions who work with small-scale farmers and foresters with an interest in carbon finance and carbon projects. Its aim is to support setting up carbon projects which involve small-scale farmers. Their participation allows them to be involved in the development and implementation of the project, influence its design to generate positive impacts for the farmers and increase their knowledge about carbon finance. 

This polocy document is the product of the joint efforts of members and partners of UN-Water, and is addressed to practitioners and policymakers of water resources management, sectoral decision-makers as well as those who shape policy regarding climate change. The paper aims to draw attention to the critical importance of better water resources management in adapting to climate change and gives reasons why it should be systematically integrated into national plans and international investment portfolios.

This analytical report stresses that climate change is emerging as a major challenge to agriculture development in Africa. The increasingly unpredictable and erratic nature of weather systems on the continent has placed an extra burden on food security and rural livelihoods. The document discusses the impact of climate change on African agriculture and analyzes prospects for adaptation at regional level.

This manual consists of a toolkit on food security. It has been specifically designed for Pacific Island Countries and Territories (PICTs) with the aim to improve Pacific Islanders’ ability to produce and access safe and nutritious foods that meet their dietary and cultural needs. Targeting food security in the Pacific region is a critical action in the face of climate change, which will continue to place added pressure on existing food and water resources.

This e-leaning tool provides a training course on climate and flood forecast applications for disaster preparedness in agriculture. It promotes the use of the emerging ability to provide timely and skilful climate and flood forecasts as tools to improve decision-making in the agricultural sector for reducing societal vulnerability to climate-related risks.

This policy document highlights the potential impacts of climate change on agriculture, forestry and fisheries in the Pacific Islands due to sea level rise, ocean acidification, increased frequency of extreme weather events, and altered circulation of oceans and the atmosphere. The brief notes the importance of diversification of agriculture and the need to prepare for changes in the distribution and abundance of fisheries, particularly tuna. It calls for governments to build resilience into food systems by implementing National Adaptation Programmes of Action (NAPAs) alongside collaboration with international partners.

This activity report describes a FAO-supported project designed to improve the adaptive capacities of rural populations and their resilience to drought and other climate change impacts in Bangladesh. The document provides a summary of the working approach developed and tested to promote community-based adaptation within agriculture. It presents lessons learned from the implementation process as well as the details of good practice options for drought risk management in the context of climate change.

This manual has been prepared as a reference and guide for further training and capacity building of agricultural extension workers and development professionals to deal with climate change impacts and adaptation, using the example of drought-prone areas of Bangladesh. It also presents suggestions for a three-day training course that would be readily adaptable for any areas of Bangladesh affected by climate-related risks. The information presented would enable participants to prepare, demonstrate and implement location-specific adaptation practices and, thus, to improve the adaptive capacity of rural livelihoods to climate change in agriculture and allied sectors.

This video provides an introduction to Conservation Agriculture (CA) as a valid tool for Sustainable Land Management (SLM). Conservation agriculture aims to achieve sustainable and profitable agriculture and subsequently to improved livelihoods of farmers through the application of the three CA principles: minimal soil disturbance, permanent soil cover and crop rotations. This approach has been proven to work in a variety of agroecological zones and farming systems.