REDD+ Decision Support Toolbox 

Overview: Sound quantitative estimates of forest extent and quality are essential for REDD+. The observation of forest change is fundamental to demonstrate emission reductions that result from policies and measures. Developing forest reference emission levels (emission baselines) and monitoring capacity requires REDD+ countries to make a number of technical and policy decisions and build capacity.

To assist countries in this respect, the FCPF developed the "REDD+ Decision Support Toolbox" that lets users explore policy, methodological and technological options for a specific jurisdictional area and context. It also provides comprehensive technical training materials.

How it works: The interactive toolbox is intended to be used by FCPF countries as they consider the design and technical components of their national or subnational REDD+ programs. It provides practical guidance based on existing REDD+ frameworks including the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change the FCPF's Carbon Fund Methodological Framework. 

Users are guided through four modules, some of which require data input - REDD+ Design, Reference Levels, National Forest Monitoring systems, and Reporting and Verification.  The exercise usually takes about an hour to complete, and upon finishing a summary shows all the key decisions made and customized reference levels that can help countries conceptualize what decisions fit together and where the greatest opportunities for emission reductions might be under a REDD+ program. 

UNFCCC

• UNFCCC Decision booklet REDD+ (link)
• Cost of implementing REDD+ methodologies and monitoring systems (link) 

IPCC

• IPCC good practice guidelines and guidance (link) 
• 2006 IPCC Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories on Agriculture, Forestry and Other Land Use (link) 

GOFC-GOLD

• GOFC-GOLD (link)
• GFOI Methods and Guidance (link)
• A sourcebook of methods and procedures for monitoring measuring and reporting (link)

UN-REDD

• National Forest Monitoring Systems: Monitoring and Measurement, Reporting and Verification (M & MRV) in the context of REDD+ Activities (English, Spanish, French) 

FAO

• Collect Earth and the Geospatial Toolkit (link)

USGS

• Global Land Survey (GLS) Datasets from US Geological Survey (link)

FCMC

• REDD+ Measurement, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) Manual 2.0: Forest Carbon, Markets and Communities (FCMC) Program. (link)

GlobAllomeTree

• International web platform for tree allometric equations (link) 

GOFC-GOLD Training Modules

Overview: Complementary to the REDD+ Decision Support Toolbox, this set of training materials was produced jointly with the Global Observation of Forest and Land Cover Dynamics (GOFC-GOLD) initiative.  This resource was created in response to country calls for technical assistance and guidance for improving operational forest monitoring and building capacity to measure, report and verify the results of REDD+ intervention.

How it works: The material includes fourteen self-guided technical modules with practical country examples and training exercises. This modular structure means the material can be used in different settings (workshops or hands-on training) and be tailored to different audiences (REDD+ policy or in-country technical experts). This material can be used in combination with the FCPF REDD+ Decision Support Tool and complementary guidance documents (such as GOFC-GOLD Sourcebook or technical guidance from the Global Forest Observation Initiative).

It is also available in Spanish and French.

REDD+ Cost Assessment Tool

Overview: The purpose of this tool is to provide REDD+ project or program planers with an economic tool to assess institutional, transaction and implementation REDD+ cost elements in a consistent manner, and quantify the abatement costs of the proposed REDD+ activities. It helps to calculate the GHG emission (reductions) and opportunity costs of a Reference and a REDD+ scenario. The tool also provides a template that can be applied at different scales (project, province or region, and national).

How it works: The tool is designed in an iterative manner and requires the user to fill out an array of entry fields. Within the tool, fields marked in yellow may be filled out by the user while the remaining fields are calculated automatically. Based on the input entry field the tool automatically generates information on the GHG emissions between the Reference and the REDD+ scenario, REDD+ costs and opportunity costs. Users should have basic background knowledge of MS Excel. The tool is accompanied by a user manual.

REDD+ Opportunity Costs Training Manual

Overview: This training manual shares hands-on experiences from field programs and presents the essential practical and theoretical steps, methods and tools to estimate the opportunity costs of REDD+ at the national level. The manual addresses the calculation of costs and benefits of the various land use alternatives in relation to their carbon stocks and the identification of economic trade-offs involved in REDD+ activities. As required data are generally not readily available, the manual also includes information on data collection, analysis and evaluation techniques.

How it works: The online manual is divided into ten chapters (and additional appendices), which can be downloaded all together or as stand-alone units. A self-paced review of the materials can be done individually or with a group at workshops and meetings. The manual is accompanied by a workbook with spreadsheet examples of alternative land uses and calculation of opportunity cost curves. Users are also encouraged to explore the REDD-Abacus software, developed by the World Agroforestry Centre, which provides an enhanced approach to derive opportunity costs curves.

It is also available in Spanish.