Any solution to climate change must involve tropical forests. Deforestation pumps carbon into our atmosphere, while forest restoration can soak up substantial carbon. Later this year, Glasgow will host the 26th Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP26). The UK government have pledged to put ‘nature-based solutions’ at the heart of this COP. These include the UN policy known as REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation). REDD+ seems like a straightforward idea (poorer tropical forest countries receive funding to reduce their deforestation) but has been highly controversial. Drawing on 20 years’ experience carrying out applied research in the eastern rainforests of Madagascar, Professor Jones will explore the problems with REDD+ and examine why it is so important that these issues are addressed.
Professor Julia P. G. Jones is a conservation scientist interested in the impacts of conservation interventions (including Payments for Ecosystem Services, community forest management, protected areas and biodiversity offsets). She has a particular focus on the social dimensions of conservation, and greatly enjoys working with people, methods and approaches from across disciplinary divides. She is the leader of the Forest4Climate&People project, which aims to ensure that forest carbon programmes are more effective and avoid negative impacts on the poor (http://forest4climateandpeople.bangor.ac.uk/). She has recently taken over as the Director of the Sêr Cymru National Research Network for Low Carbon, Energy and Environment. In 2020 she featured in the BBC documentary ‘Extinction: The Facts’, presented by Sir David Attenborough.
The lecture is free and open to everyone. Audience members will have the opportunity to ask questions. The event is organised jointly by Bangor University and the Menai Branch of the United Nations Association.
For further information please contact public.lectures@bangor.ac.uk.