Moving ahead with REDD: issues, options and implications

Abstract

Reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD) is based on a core idea: reward individuals, communities, projects and countries that reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from forests. REDD has the potential to deliver large cuts in emissions at a low cost within a short time frame and, at the same time, contribute to reducing poverty and sustainable development. Tis sounds too good to be true. REDD is based on a simple and appealing idea, but turning the idea into action is much more complex. We must address many difficult questions before we can create mechanisms that fully exploit the potential of REDD: How can we measure reductions in emissions when data are poor or do not exist? How can we raise the billions of dollars needed to put a REDD mechanism in place? How can we make sure that any reductions in deforestation and degradation are real (additional), and that they do not leadto more trees being chopped down in other forest areas (leakage) or next year (permanence)? How can we make sure that the poor benefit?