The Korea Forest Service (KFS) introduced on 13 January {that a} discipline workplace of the provincial mission administration unit for the sub-national Decreasing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation in creating nations (REDD+) mission collectively carried out by Lao PDR and the Republic of Korea was launched briefly on 9 January within the Phongsaly Province, northern Laos.
Since 2018, the KFS has been implementing a small-scale REDD+ pilot mission within the Champasak Province in southern Laos in cooperation with the Laos Ministry of Agriculture and Setting. Constructing on this expertise, the 2 nations signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in 2023 for a large-scale, sub-national stage REDD+ mission below Article 6 of the Paris Settlement hosted within the Phongsaly Province, which covers roughly 1.5 million hectares of forest, with the goal of contributing to nationally decided contribution (NDC) targets. In 2024, the Korea–Laos REDD+ Cooperation Middle was additionally based, steadily laying the groundwork for mission implementation.
Following the opening of the sphere workplace, forest authorities and forestry consultants from each nations carried out discipline research within the Phongsaly Province to research the causes of deforestation and forest degradation. Cooperation measures have been additionally explored with stakeholders, together with provincial authorities officers and native communities. Based mostly on these efforts, a strategic implementation plan to boost forest carbon shares can be developed.
The provincial mission administration unit will work with the REDD+ Cooperation Middle to hold out REDD+ actions within the Phongsaly Province, equivalent to forest conservation, sustainable forest administration help, capability constructing for native communities, and monitoring of carbon emission discount, whereas managing the mission on the bottom.
Cha Junhee, Director of the World Forest Sources Division on the Korea Forest Service, said, “Worldwide forest carbon discount tasks are being acknowledged by varied worldwide organizations as cost-effective worldwide mitigation initiatives.” He added, “Beginning with the Lao PDR mission, the KFS will broaden large-scale REDD+ tasks to actively reply to climate-related disasters and contribute to attaining the Republic of Korea’s greenhouse gasoline discount targets.”
