Assessing data availability for the development of REDD-plus national reference levels

Other than the finding that different RLs yielded different estimations on future deforestation areas, the analysis also identified the characteristics of each RL. The historical RL demanded simple data, but can be varied in accordance with a reference year or period. The forest-trend RL can be more reliable than the historical RL, if the country's deforestation trend curve is formed smoothly. The complicated BAU RL is useful as it can demonstrate the additionality of REDD-plus activities and distinguish the country's unintentional efforts.With the REDD-plus that involves widespread participation, there should be steps from which countries choose the appropriate RL; ranging from simpler to more complex measures, in accordance with data availability in each country. Once registered with REDD-plus, the countries with weak capacity and capability should be supported to enhance the data collection system in that country.Around 13 million hectares of global forest area is being lost every year largely in the tropics [1]. It is estimated that, following the burning of fossil fuels, tropical deforestation is the second largest source of greenhouse gas emissions [2]. Recognising the critical role of tropical forests in combating climate change, it is expected that an agreement under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) will be made with regard to: 'Policy approaches and positive incentives on issues relating to reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation in developing countries; and the role of conservation, sustainable management of forests and enhancement of forest carbon stocks in developing countries' ('REDD-plus') [3,4]. REDD-plus could contribute to the mitigation of climate change only if various methodological issues are resolved, including how to set country-specific reference levels (RLs). National RLs are used to determine the level below which the countries' reduced emissions could be measured and credited. Desirable RLs must e