The project supports Guyana’s REDD+ initiatives by enhancing the tracking and reporting of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and removals from Land Use, Land Use Change, and Forestry (LULUCF), setting quantifiable Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) targets, and Policy and Measures impacts. This will be achieved through:

Improving the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) ‘s capacity to manage and operationalize an expanded REDD+ Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification System (MRVS).

Strengthening the MRVS to include detailed tracking of LULUCF categories beyond forest change in line with UNFCCC guidelines.

Monitoring and assessing the effectiveness of Policies and Measures (PaMs), including their impacts and support received.
Developing quantifiable targets for the NDCs in this sector.

Establishing and fostering interagency collaboration to ensure the full utilization of MRVS capabilities for sustainable land-use management and planning.

The project aims to strengthen Guyana’s REDD+ MRVS by expanding its capacity to monitor a broader range of ecosystems, land use categories, and ecosystem services while improving data accuracy to support more informed policy decisions and raise awareness on sustainable land-use practices.

GBP 46 million Climate Finance mobilized

33,000 ha under sustainable forest management

6 operational Guidelines

155 MRV technical capacity built

3,000 people with climate change awareness

Ineragency coordination

100,000 tCO2/year avoided emissions

15 Policies and Measures with mitigation and GEDSI impacts indicators

Guyana’s current REDD+ Measurement, Reporting, and Verification System (MRVS), developed through the Guyana-Norway Partnership since 2010, has been effective in targeting forest land use and its changes. However, it primarily focuses on forest-related land use and does not fully capture the broader Land Use, Land Use Change, and Forestry (LULUCF) categories. Expanding the MRVS to include comprehensive LULUCF tracking will enable Guyana to secure carbon finance by providing transparent data on emissions reductions and removals. This will directly benefit local communities by supporting sustainable development initiatives. Moreover, it will reinforce national policies by ensuring standardized, accurate data collection, which will inform evidence-based land management and conservation decisions.

Expanding the MRVS will also enhance Guyana’s credibility in international climate negotiations, meeting reporting requirements and attracting additional investment and technical support for forest conservation and climate resilience, including climate finance.
The proposed expansion of the REDD+ MRVS will accelerate Guyana’s strategic climate-resilient development and mitigation efforts by incorporating the following components:

An expanded MRVS that includes LULUCF tracking.
Separate mangrove mapping distinct from other forests.
Emission factors for mangrove forests.
A revised national vegetation map.
A forest species map.
An updated accessibility map.
A database for tracking Policies and Measures (PaMs).
Quantifiable forest-related Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) targets.
Support for exploring non-carbon ecosystem services.
Strengthening institutional arrangements.
Establishing or revising a data-sharing protocol.
Building institutional capacity for the MRVS.
Enhancing transparency through case studies, knowledge sharing, and awareness-building activities

The project is expected to lead to expanded REDD+ MRVS that foster strategic climate-resilient development and climate mitigation efforts in Guyana through the following outcomes:

OUTCOME 1: Improved expertise in MRVS data collection, analysis, and reporting.
Enhances accuracy
Informs policy decisions
Bolsters long-term carbon finance readiness

OUTCOME 2: Enhanced MRVS governance
Promotes transparency, accountability, and efficiency which supports REDD+ goals
Facilitates informed decision-making
Enables access to sustainable carbon finance.

OUTCOME 3: The expanded REDD+ MRVS incorporates Land Use, Land Use Change, and Forestry.
Distinguishes mangroves from other forests
Establishes country-specific emission factors for mangrove forests
Updates both the national vegetation map and the accessibility map.
These enhancements contribute to a sustainable MRVS that quantifies the forest-related impacts of Policies and Measures (PaMs) and Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) targets. This process ultimately improves reporting accuracy, comparability, and transparency, facilitating access to climate finance.

OUTCOME 4: Standardized data reporting
Enhances consistency, transparency, and efficiency, fostering collaboration, informed decision-making and accountability across agencies for effective MRVS governance.

OUTCOME 5: Enhanced knowledge sharing
Increases stakeholder awareness
Promotes data-driven decision-making
Strengthens MRVS engagement
Supports sustainable forest and carbon finance initiatives.

MRVS (GY016) – Fact Sheet V2_0320