| Overview : Papua New Guinea (PNG) has one of the most significant areas of largely-intact tropical forest in the world, although these forests appear to be facing acute and imminent threats. The Papua New Guinea Forest Authority (PNGFA) estimates that approximately 80% of the total area of the country is covered by natural forests, of which 60% are considered intact forests. Approximately 10 per cent of global GHG emissions are caused by land-use change and, in particular, the destruction of tropical forests. Slowing deforestation and forest degradation is a likely cost effective way of reducing carbon emissions compared to other mitigation strategies, such as curbing emissions from power stations. Since 2005, PNG has been at the forefront of intergovernmental negotiations under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to develop an international mechanism to compensate developing countries for reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD+). To be eligible to receive results-based finance for REDD+ results-based actions under the UNFCCC, PNG will have to develop the following elements: - A National Strategy or Action Plan;
- A national forest reference emission level and/or forest reference level;
- A robust and transparent national forest monitoring system for the monitoring and reporting of the REDD + activities;
- A system for providing information on how the safeguards on local community and forest biodiversity are being addressed and respected throughout the implementation of the REDD+ activities while respecting sovereignty.
The Government of Papua New Guinea (GoPNG) is receiving international support from a number of bilateral and multilateral sources to prepare the country for implementing REDD+ under the UNFCCC, including through readiness support from the World Bank’s Forest Carbon Partnership Facility (FCPF). A major component of the FCPF project is to support the development of PNG’s National REDD+ Strategy. In 2016, a draft REDD+ Communications strategy has been developed to map out key stakeholders’ participation in the implementation of the National REDD+ Strategy. A Communications Officer in the PMU leads and provides guidance on implementing the communications, consultation and participation strategy for the FCPF project as part of the government’s broader REDD+ programme. In close collaboration with CCDA and PNGFA, a core communications group has been established. The main goal of the communications strategy is to support the REDD+ readiness process by enhancing communication and knowledge with all relevant stakeholders on REDD+ within the context of PNG. The strategy will increase awareness raising and image building, promote and enhance communications and knowledge management, and build capacity and knowledge among all relevant stakeholder groups. To strengthen REDD+ branding a logo has been developed and endorsed by all stakeholders while a REDD+ website has also been completed to help stakeholders access information on REDD+ and developments in the country. (http://www.pngreddplus.org.pg/). PNG’s NFMS web portal has also been developed and provides spatial information on PNG’s forests helping to increase transparency of PNG REDD+ system (http://png-nfms.org/portal/). Thus, the FCPF REDD+ Readiness project in PNG is seeking a qualified technical person to help improve and maintain the national REDD+ website and provide capacity building trainings for relevant staff to ensure long-term sustainability of the website. | 
