KUALA LUMPUR - The government is in the midst of finalising the National Strategy on Reducing Emission from Forest Destruction and Degradation (REDD+) to ensure forest resources and ecosystem services are protected, the Dewan Negara was told today.

REDD+ which stands for Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation, Role of Conservation, Sustainable Management of Forests, and Enhancement of Forest Carbon Stocks in Developing Countries is a United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) mechanism to encourage developing countries to better protect, manage and use forest resources.

Deputy Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Hamim Samuri said all states which rely heavily on forest products would share the benefits fairly and equitably once the strategy was finalised.

"This is a lengthy and complex mechanism. The financial contribution procedure referred to as 'result based payment (RBP)' is being negotiated and has yet to be decided.

'Incidentally, the Minister (Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar) is now on his way to Bali for this purpose (finalising REDD + National Strategy)," he said during oral questions session.

Hamim was replying to Senator Khairiah Mohamed who had asked the ministry to explain how the government could help forest dependent states to be less reliant on forest products.

He said the strategy would also stress on recognising forests as an important natural resource and that forest does not imply access to timber alone.

REDD + is an incentive mechanism to encourage developing countries reduce greenhouse gas emissions from deforestation and degradation of forests in the conservation and preservation of forests, without involving market mechanisms or carbon credit transactions with any party.

-- BERNAMA