It is universally recognised that tropical deforestation has a huge influence on the climate system as well as catastrophic impacts on biodiversity and forest communities.

The initiative to address deforestation in developing countries was therefore welcomed by Parties and NGOs alike. Several specific policies to address deforestation emissions have been proposed. Most, however, are better suited to developing countries with high deforestation rates and, as such, provide no incentives to regions with low levels of deforestation, such as the Congo Basin, to protect their forests.

In other words, those with high deforestation rates can be compensated through current proposals, but those that have conserved their forests may not.

As the Congo Basin countries pointed out in their SBSTA plenary statement, this is unfair. A range of policy approaches should be considered to provide incentives both for countries with high existing deforestation emissions and for those with a high potential for future increases. 

Delegates should carefully consider inclusive policy approaches which take into account the range of country circumstances. This will enable and encourage developing countries with large forested areas to make a substantial contribution to the international efforts in avoiding dangerous, anthropogenic interference with the climate system.