REDD & REDD+
REDD & REDD+:
Introduction and Basic Concepts
REDD stands for Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation in developing countries. It was initially conceived in 2005 as a mechanism to provide financial incentives for developing countries to reduce forest loss and degradation.
REDD+ represents an expanded framework where the “+” refers to additional forest-related activities including conservation of forest carbon stocks, sustainable management of forests, and enhancement of forest carbon stocks. REDD+ is a voluntary climate mitigation framework developed under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
Historical Development
The evolution of REDD+ can be traced through several key milestones:
2005: Initial REDD concept introduced at UNFCCC
2007: Bali Action Plan formulated at COP-13, establishing policy approaches and positive incentives for reducing emissions from deforestation
2008: UN-REDD Programme launched collaboratively by FAO, UNDP, and UNEP
2010: Cancun Safeguards established at COP-16
2013: Warsaw Framework for REDD+ adopted at COP-19, providing comprehensive implementation guidelines
2015: REDD+ incorporated into the Paris Agreement under Article 5
The Five Eligible REDD+ Activities
REDD+ encompasses five specific activities that developing countries can implement:
Reducing emissions from deforestation
Reducing emissions from forest degradation
Conservation of forest carbon stocks
Sustainable management of forests
Enhancement of forest carbon stocks
The Three Phases of REDD+ Implementation
REDD+ implementation follows a structured three-phase approach:
Phase 1: Readiness
Development of national strategies and action plans
Capacity building activities
Policy development and institutional strengthening
Design of demonstration activities
Stakeholder consultation processes
Phase 2: Implementation and Demonstration
Implementation of national policies and measures
Results-based demonstration activities
Additional capacity building and technology transfer
Testing of national strategies and action plans
Phase 3: Results-Based Payments
Fully measured, reported, and verified emission reductions
Access to results-based payments upon completion of reporting and assessment processes
National-level implementation of verified actions
Warsaw Framework for REDD+
The Warsaw Framework for REDD+ (WFR), adopted at COP-19 in 2013, established a comprehensive structure for REDD+ implementation. This framework is considered a breakthrough in REDD+ negotiations, providing clarity on critical implementation issues.
Key Components of Warsaw Framework:
Robust measurement, reporting, and verification (MRV) systems
Enhanced transparency requirements
National-level centralization of processes
Integration of safeguards requirements
Clear eligibility criteria for results-based finance
Requirements for Results-Based Payments
To access results-based financing, developing countries must have four key elements in place:
National REDD+ Strategy or Action Plan
National Forest Monitoring System (NFMS)
Assessed Forest Reference Emission Level and/or Forest Reference Level
Safeguards Information System (SIS)
REDD+ Safeguards Framework
The Seven Cancun Safeguards
Established at COP-16 in Cancun, these safeguards ensure REDD+ activities are implemented responsibly:
Complement national forest programs and relevant international conventions
Transparent and effective national forest governance structures
Respect for Indigenous Peoples’ knowledge and rights and local communities
Full and effective participation of stakeholders, especially Indigenous Peoples and local communities
Consistency with biodiversity conservation and natural forest protection
Actions to address reversal risks
Actions to reduce displacement of emissions
Safeguards Information System (SIS)
Countries must establish systems to provide information on how safeguards are addressed and respected. These systems should be:
Transparent and consistent
Accessible to all relevant stakeholders
Updated regularly
Built upon existing systems
Implemented at national level
Flexible for improvements over time
Financial Mechanisms and Carbon Markets
Results-Based Payments
REDD+ operates on a performance-based payment system where countries receive financial compensation for verified emission reductions. The mechanism creates financial value for carbon stored in forests, offering incentives for developing countries to reduce emissions from forested lands.
Key Funding Sources
Multilateral Funds:
Green Climate Fund (GCF): Pilot programme for REDD+ results-based payments (2017-2022) with USD 500 million envelope, paying USD 5 per tCO2e
Forest Carbon Partnership Facility (FCPF): World Bank-hosted facility with Carbon Fund for emission reduction purchase agreements
Global Environment Facility (GEF): USD 250 million funding envelope for sustainable forest management/REDD+
Bilateral Arrangements:
Norway Initiative for Climate and Forest (NICFI): Billion-dollar agreements with Brazil and Indonesia
Carbon Credit Markets
REDD+ projects generate carbon credits that can be traded in voluntary carbon markets or used for compliance purposes. However, recent studies have raised concerns about the quality and effectiveness of many REDD+ carbon credits.
Global Implementation Examples
Brazil – Success Story
Brazil has achieved significant success in REDD+ implementation:
Dramatic reduction in deforestation rates from 2004-2016
Amazon Fund established as national REDD+ mechanism
Strong federal and state-level coordination (Amazonas, Mato Grosso, Acre, Pará)
Effective law enforcement and policy reform
Results-based payments received from Norway for verified emission reductions
Key Success Factors:
Robust institutional framework
Strong political commitment
Effective monitoring systems
Law enforcement capabilities
Multi-level governance coordination
Indonesia – Mixed Results
Indonesia’s REDD+ experience has been more challenging:
USD 1 billion agreement with Norway but limited disbursement (USD 112 million received by 2017)
Continued high deforestation rates despite REDD+ commitments
Governance and enforcement challenges
Efforts to learn from Brazil’s model and improve implementation
Challenges Faced:
Weak law enforcement
Complex land tenure issues
Limited inter-agency coordination
Ongoing conflicts between economic interests and conservation
India – National Strategy Development
India has made substantial progress in REDD+ readiness:
National REDD+ Strategy released in 2018
National Forest Reference Level submitted to UNFCCC in January 2018
Comprehensive coverage including forests and trees outside forests
Strong participatory approach involving tribal and local communities
Estimated potential for USD 1.24-1.96 billion in results-based payments based on carbon sequestration achievements
Key Features of India’s Approach:
National Governing Council chaired by Environment Minister
Technical committees for implementation support
State-level coordination through Principal Chief Conservators of Forests
Focus on sustainable livelihoods and biodiversity conservation
Challenges and Limitations
Implementation Challenges
Methodological Issues:
Overestimation of impacts in many REDD+ projects
Weak methodologies allowing excessive flexibility for project developers
“Phantom credits” that don’t represent real carbon reductions
Measurement and verification difficulties
Governance and Institutional Challenges:
Limited institutional capacity in many developing countries
Weak law enforcement systems
Conflicting sectoral policies that promote deforestation
Insufficient stakeholder engagement
Financial and Market Challenges:
Slow disbursement of committed funds
Market volatility affecting carbon credit prices
Limited private sector engagement
Transaction costs and complexity
Socioeconomic Concerns
Community Rights and Participation:
Limited benefit sharing with local communities
Insufficient consultation with Indigenous Peoples
Risk of marginalization of forest-dependent populations
Disappointment with realized benefits versus initial expectations
Equity Issues:
Unequal distribution of REDD+ benefits
Elite capture of financial incentives
Gender considerations often inadequately addressed
Environmental Effectiveness
Recent research indicates moderate and variable impacts of REDD+ initiatives:
Average reductions in deforestation and degradation achieved
Heterogeneous results across different regions and project types
Some projects showed increased deforestation or degradation
Environmental impacts generally better than socioeconomic outcomes
Criticism and Debates
Greenwashing Concerns
REDD+ has faced significant criticism regarding its effectiveness:
90% of rainforest carbon offsets certified by major certifiers like Verra found to be “essentially worthless”
Companies using REDD+ credits for carbon neutrality claims may inadvertently contribute to global warming
Gap between promises and delivery in many projects
Addressing Root Causes
Critics argue that REDD+ fails to address underlying drivers of deforestation:
Large-scale agriculture, logging, and infrastructure development remain primary threats
Focus on small and marginalized actors rather than major economic interests driving deforestation
Need for broader policy reform beyond forest sector
Future Directions and Improvements
Lessons Learned
Based on 15+ years of REDD+ experience, key improvements needed include:
More targeted interventions in critical deforestation hotspots
Improved contract design and financial mechanisms
Stronger long-term strategies and market reliability
Better integration of environmental and socioeconomic outcomes
Enhanced transparency and accountability mechanisms
Scaling Up
As REDD+ moves toward jurisdictional-level implementation, success will depend on:
Learning from first-generation projects
Addressing methodological weaknesses
Strengthening governance systems
Ensuring equitable benefit distribution
Maintaining long-term political commitment
Alternative Approaches
Recognition of REDD+ limitations has led to exploration of complementary mechanisms:
Direct public finance for forest conservation
Regulatory approaches to control deforestation-linked imports
Supply chain interventions targeting major corporations
Addressing consumption patterns in developed countries
Significance for Climate Action
REDD+ remains crucial for global climate objectives because:
Deforestation and forest degradation account for up to 11% of global CO2 emissions
Forests store 80% of above-ground and 40% of below-ground terrestrial carbon
Cost-effective mitigation option compared to other emission reduction strategies
Multiple co-benefits including biodiversity conservation and livelihood support
Essential for achieving Paris Agreement goals, particularly the 1 gigatonne emission reduction target from forests by 2025
REDD+ represents both significant potential and substantial challenges in global efforts to combat climate change through forest conservation. While early results show promise in specific contexts, the mechanism requires continued refinement to achieve its transformational objectives effectively and equitably.
