Zambia is one of the nine pilot countries for the UN-REDD programme and is currently at the first phase of readiness for REDD+ under the UN-REDD quick start initiative. A National Joint Programme (NJP) is tasked with developing a national REDD+ strategy. Outcome 5 of the NJP Programme Document is to strengthen the Monitoring Reporting and Verification (MRV) capacity for REDD+ in Zambia. A reliable system of Monitoring Reporting and Verification (MRV) is of critical importance to the effectiveness of REDD+. This report provides a comprehensive overview of the national REDD+ strategy and institutional capacity for MRV of REDD+ as well as the current state of knowledge of various elements critical to MRV of REDD+ in Zambia including: Current drivers and rates of deforestation and forest degradation; a review of standing biomass, forest growth rates and carbon stock estimates; and data sets available for MRV in Zambia. The report also identifies knowledge and data gaps that need to be filled in order to develop an effective MRV system for REDD+ in the country. Key knowledge gaps, such as carbon stocks and growth rates within different forest types, are outlined as well as recommendations as to how knowledge gaps and capacity to implement MRV of REDD+ can be addressed. The report also details how CIFOR's research in Zambia, particularly the Nyimba forest project in the Eastern Province, will contribute to MRV of REDD+ for Zambia.

Authors: Day, M.; Gumbo, D.; Moombe, K.B.; Wijaya, A.; Sunderland, T.C.H.

Publication type: Paper-R, Publication

Year: 2014

DOI: https://doi.org/10.17528/cifor/004932