Definitional Issues Related to Reducing Emissions from Deforestation in Developing Countries

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.