Australia and Indonesia have taken a key step towards helping to secure an agreement at Copenhagen to reduce emissions from forests.

The two nations have submitted a joint submission ahead of the UN climate change negotiations in Bonn from 10 - 14 August.

The submission is the second joint Australia - Indonesia submission on reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation in developing countries (known as REDD).

"This submission highlights the importance both countries place on achieving a successful outcome on REDD at Copenhagen," Senator Wong said.

The submission builds on the successful Australia - Indonesia submission on REDD at the Poznan climate change negotiations in December 2008 which broke new ground by demonstrating a new model of cooperation between developed and developing countries in the negotiations.

This latest joint submission focuses on the necessary technical and institutional requirements to make REDD work.

These foundations are essential to providing certainty to the international community that emission reductions from REDD are genuine and can be accurately measured.

Australia is actively supporting Indonesia's early efforts on REDD by acquiring satellite data and assisting Indonesia build its capacity in carbon measurement, accounting and reporting under the Indonesia - Australia Forest Carbon Partnership.

"This practical cooperation highlights the progress being made on REDD, and the successful role of capacity building efforts between developed and developing country partners," Senator Wong said.

The joint submission is available at: www.climatechange.gov.au/international/unfccc-submissions.html