REDD+

REDD+
Planet Labs, Inc. · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Name	REDD+
Full name	Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation and the role of conservation, sustainable management of forests and enhancement of forest carbon stocks in developing countries
Established	2005
Parent	United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
Scope	Tropical and subtropical forested landscapes
Mechanism type	Climate change mitigation instrument
Funding	Multilateral funds, bilateral aid, carbon markets
Countries	Brazil, Indonesia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mexico, Vietnam, Nepal, Peru, Colombia, Tanzania, Cameroon

REDD+ is an international framework designed to provide incentives for developing countries to reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation, and to promote forest conservation, sustainable management and enhancement of carbon stocks. Launched within the context of the United Nations climate regime, REDD+ links climate policy, land-use planning and international finance to address greenhouse gas emissions from land-use change. The initiative has been implemented through multilateral institutions, bilateral partnerships and domestic policy reforms across tropical forest nations.

Background

REDD+ emerged from negotiations under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change at the 11th Conference of the Parties in 2005 and was further defined at the 13th and 19th Conferences of the Parties. It builds on earlier mechanisms such as Clean Development Mechanism and lessons from Kyoto Protocol flexibility instruments. Key moments include technical guidance from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and political endorsement at the Copenhagen Accord and the Paris Agreement architecture. Major proponents included delegations from Brazil, Indonesia, Democratic Republic of the Congo and advocacy by organizations like the World Bank and the United Nations Development Programme.

Mechanisms and Components

REDD+ operates through results-based payments tied to verified emission reductions or enhancements in carbon stocks. Core components include national forest reference emission levels, safeguards, benefit-sharing arrangements and measurement, reporting and verification (MRV) frameworks. Institutional arrangements often involve ministries of environment, agriculture and finance, interministerial committees, and partnerships with entities such as the Green Climate Fund and the Global Environment Facility. Technical inputs draw on methods developed by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and remote sensing approaches used in programs such as Global Forest Watch.

Governance and Financing

Financing modalities for REDD+ encompass bilateral agreements (for example, between Norway and Brazil, Norway and Indonesia), multilateral trust funds administered by the World Bank and results-based payments through funds under the Green Climate Fund. Private sector engagement has included voluntary carbon markets hosted by standard bodies like the Verified Carbon Standard and the Gold Standard. Safeguard frameworks reference instruments such as the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and national laws in countries like Peru and Philippines. Governance challenges frequently involve coordination among agencies, transparency mechanisms and participation of Indigenous organizations such as the Forest Peoples Programme and federations like the Coordinadora de las Organizaciones Indígenas de la Cuenca Amazónica.

Implementation and Country Experiences

Implementation varies widely: Brazil advanced large-scale emission reductions through satellite monitoring and enforcement linked to the Amazon Fund; Indonesia piloted jurisdictional approaches and peatland restoration following the 2015 haze crisis; Democratic Republic of the Congo and Cameroon focused on tenure clarification and community forestry initiatives; Nepal integrated REDD+ with its community forestry institutions; Mexico developed subnational programs blending conservation incentives and agricultural policy. Bilateral arrangements, such as the Norway–Brazil Memorandum of Understanding and the Norway–Indonesia Letter of Intent, produced significant early funding and pilot activities. Subnational projects have engaged actors from REDD+ readiness programs, national NGOs, and international conservation organizations like the World Wildlife Fund.

Environmental and Social Impacts

Documented environmental impacts include avoided carbon emissions, reduced forest loss in certain jurisdictions and enhanced protection of biodiversity hotspots such as the Amazon Rainforest, Congo Basin and Mekong headwaters. Social impacts are mixed: some initiatives strengthened Indigenous land rights and livelihood support through partnerships with organizations like Survival International and Forest Stewardship Council certification; others provoked disputes over benefit distribution, tenure conflicts and restrictions on customary resource use. Co-benefits have been pursued through links to Sustainable Development Goals and ecosystem services frameworks.

Criticisms and Controversies

Critics highlight risks of leakage, permanence, additionality and carbon accounting errors, citing contested cases in Indonesia peatland emissions and deforestation rebound in parts of Amazon Basin. Concerns over equity involve inadequate recognition of collective tenure rights in countries such as Peru and Colombia, and instances where safeguards underperformed. Market-based compensation approaches have been challenged by civil society groups including Amnesty International and Greenpeace for prioritizing carbon offsets over structural drivers like commodity supply chains involving companies such as JBS S.A. and Wilmar International. Debates persist over the role of voluntary carbon standards versus compliance mechanisms under the Paris Agreement.

Monitoring, Reporting and Verification (MRV)

MRV systems combine national forest inventories, satellite remote sensing, geographic information systems and greenhouse gas inventory methods established by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Tools and platforms commonly used include Global Forest Watch, Landsat and MODIS time-series analyses, and national greenhouse gas inventory submissions to the UNFCCC. Independent verification has involved entities accredited by bodies such as the Green Climate Fund and standards organizations including the Verified Carbon Standard. Improvements in community-based monitoring, capacity building supported by the United Nations Development Programme and technical assistance from research centers like the Center for International Forestry Research aim to enhance transparency and address controversies over baseline setting and emission factor selection.

Category:Climate change mitigation