The measurement, reporting and verification (MRV) of greenhouse gas emissions is a mandatory requirement for accessing payment for performance funding for REDD+ mitigation actions. The three activities must be conducted in a standardized manner so that the amount of verified emissions becomes an agreed basis for performance-based funding.

On December 15-16, 2017, WWF-Indonesia held a training on Participatory Measurement, Reporting and Verification of GHG Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation at Linggang Melapeh Village Hall, West Kutai. The training was attended by 23 participants from five WWF-assisted villages namely Linggang Melapeh, Laham, Batu Majang, Long Tuyoq and Minta and from the Regional Planning, Research and Development Agency (BP3D) and the Environmental Agency from Mahakam Ulu and West Kutai Regencies.

The training material that lasted for two days included the use of the MRV web-based system and the practice of using it. It also explained what climate change is, how it relates to REDD+ and how to measure greenhouse gas emissions. The purpose of this training is so that villages around the forest, as the spearhead related to forest conservation, can contribute to efforts to reduce emissions and maintain forest areas in their area in a sustainable manner and in line with the central and regional governments.

This training was facilitated by Abdul Mukti from WWF-Indonesia with trainer Arief Darmawan. The opening of this training was conducted by the Head of Linggang Melapeh Village.

The training received positive responses from the trainees who had the opportunity to learn theory and practice related to spatial data, forest inventory data and forest carbon measurement. "We from the village are happy because we can directly learn carbon measurement and data input in the MRV web-base system that we previously did not know at all," said Roy, one of the participants.

In his explanation during the training, Arief Darmawan said that when the GHG emission measurement standard has been built, MRV activities become a routine activity whose implementation can be assisted by information system technology (database), especially internet-based.

On the other hand, WWF-Indonesia has an initiative to develop an internet-based data portal platform to help conduct MRV REDD+ activities in a participatory manner. This platform has a database foundation specifically aimed at forest and peatland-based activities that have been and are being carried out by WWF-Indonesia. This platform is also equipped with a Multi-information Mobile System (MiMS) facility that uses an android-based smartphone device that can be very helpful in accommodating public participation related to field data collection.