The Rio Conventions are three legally binding Multilateral Environment Agreements (MEA) that were negotiated at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), informally known as the “Earth Summit”, held in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil from 3^rd-14^th June 1992.

They include:

1. The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC),
2. The United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (UNCBD) and;
3. The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD).

Solomon Islands is a party to a number of Multilateral Environment Agreements (MEA) and ratified the three Rio Conventions in 1990s.

The three Conventions regulate member nations’ efforts in dealing with human-induced issues affecting Climate Change (UNFCCC), Biodiversity (UNCBD) and desertification/land degradation (UNCCD). The implementation progress of the Conventions has been notable, although progress is varied across the three conventions.

The key national institutions looking after the interests of the Rio Conventions in Solomon Islands are the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Disaster Management (MECDM), Ministry of Forestry and Research (MoFR) and the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAL).

Rio Conventions and link to REDD+?

REDD+ and UNFCCC

• Emissions from deforestation and forest degradation play a significant role in global climate change accounting for between 12-17% of global emissions from all sectors.
• In recognition of this, The REDD+ was designed under the UNFCCC as a climate change mitigation mechanism purposely to reduce emission from deforestation and forest degradation in developing country.
• Based on the UNFCCC COP Decision 1/CP.16 (Para. 70) , the REDD+ mechanism has identified a number of activities, which developing countries can undertake to reduce forest carbon emissions. The five key main ones include:
  1. Reducing emissions from deforestation;
  2. Reducing emissions from forest degradation;
  3. Conservation of forest carbon stocks;
  4. Sustainable management of forests;
  5. Enhancement of forest carbon stocks.
• These activities will be operationalized at a national scale, with countries provided with positive incentives based on verified reductions in forest sector emissions. Hence, under the UNFCCC, REDD+ activities are not project-based (unlike the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM)) but rely on actions at national level. UNFCCC negotiations occur annually and it is anticipated that a deal may be reached in 2015 on how REDD+ could fit in a global agreement. Any mechanism related to this however is not likely to be operational before 2020.

REDD+ and the UNCBD

In October 2010, parties to the UNCBD adopted the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity for the period 2011-2020 which included the 20 Aichi Biodiversity Targets. These targets cover a number of areas including the conservation of marine and terrestrial ecosystems, access to genetic resources and the benefits arising from their use, and contributions to climate change mitigation and adaptation.

The table below provides an initial breakdown of some of the areas of synergy between the Aichi Targets and REDD+.

REDD+ and the UNCCD

The goal of the CCD is "to forge a global partnership to reverse and prevent desertification/land degradation and to mitigate the effects of drought in affected areas in order to support poverty reduction and environmental sustainability".

Land degradation within the developing countries like Solomon Islands has been identified as a key issue resulting from removal of forests by slash and burn agriculture as well as following deforestation or heavy degradation due to logging. In achieving the goal, the CCD invites all Parties to adopt and scale up (amongst other activities) sustainable forest management policies and practices to prevent soil erosion and flooding, to increase carbon sinks, and to conserve and sustainably use biodiversity (decision 4/COP.8).
A national approach to REDD+ will require the country to both maintain levels of forest cover to protect existing land areas and supporting reforestation activities to protect areas already deforested. It will also help strengthen existing processes of sustainable land management and planning at the local level while supporting the strengthening of safeguards to protect biodiversity and ecosystem services.

Delivery of REDD+ will also help the achievement of the UNCCD Strategic Objectives through the following: