Thailand to support forest conservation plans at UNFCCC

Thailand intends to announce its support to the forest conservation programme in developing countries as a means of combatting global warming at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Poland next month.

Aree Wattana Tummakird of the Office of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning (Onep) said that the Thai delegation will also learn how the Forest Carbon Partnership Facility Fund will benefit the country’s carbon emission reduction efforts. Onep held a meeting on Tuesday to give an update on progress on the international climate change talks and detail the agenda of the 14th session of the UNFCCC, or COP 14, to be held in Poznan in Poland from Dec 1 to 12.

Ms Aree said Bangkok fully supported the idea of helping developing countries come up with sound and effective forest conservation plans as part of the global greenhouse gas emission reduction effort. Ms. Aree also said that she hoped that the Poznan talks would clarify clear rules and conditions about the grants and the qualifications of eligible recipients. She also expressed her hopes that Ladawan Puangchit, a forest management expert from Kasetsart University, urged relevant agencies to draft applications for financial support from the fund for Thailand.

About 8,000 participants, including world leaders, are expected to attend the UN Climate Change talks in Poland. The event is aimed at advancing international cooperation on a future climate change regime and ensuring progress on key issues.