The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development’s (ICIMOD) Regional REDD+ Initiative organised the regional workshop ‘Measurement Reporting and Verification (MRV) in the context of REDD+ in the Hindu Kush Himalayas’ 24-26 October in Naypyitaw Myanmar followed by a two-day field visit to community forest and Inlay Lake in Shan State. The workshop was organised in collaboration with the Forest Research Institute (FRI), Forest Department, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation (MoNREC), the Union of Myanmar. The event was formally inaugurated by the Director General Nyi Nyi Kyaw of Forest Department and MoNREC.

The objective of the workshop was to understand the current status of forest monitoring in the context of REDD+ in partner countries — Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal and Pakistan —  and to discuss where and how the MRV components need to be strengthened under the regional platform. Professionals from the relevant government ministries and departments in Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal and Pakistan participated in the workshop. They presented the status and evolution of forest monitoring activities in their respective countries and had discussions on fostering regional collaboration in the HKH to enhance knowledge sharing on measurement, reporting and verification for successful implementation of REDD+ in future. Franz Arnold, Technical Specialist UN-REDD programme, presented the programme’s pertinent experiences across Asia and Pacific which paved the way forward for enriched panel discussions. The group work focused on addressing the gaps and challenges faced by each country utilising each other’s strengths and experiences in measuring and monitoring forests resources. Following this meeting, the MRV experts from the region will collaborate in developing a common methodology for MRV in the region.

Participants were also given opportunity interact with the local community and staff of the Forest Department during field visit to Shan State and Inlay Lake.

This assembly of experts from five countries of the HKH formed a regional ‘south-south learning’ platform under the REDD+ Initiative which provides basis for learning on various aspects of REDD+ MRV at regional level. This platform will also encourage establishing measuring and reporting systems for piloting REDD+ activities on local scales.

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