Reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD+): game changer or just another quick fix?

BACKGROUND

The article provides an extensive review of Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) in terms of its promise of multiple co-benefits as well as the various challenges it faces in its implementation. It features the Norway-Indonesia REDD+ as the most recent case study and examines whether it holds true to its name as a breakthrough mechanism in reducing Greenhouse Gas (GHG) build-up in the atmosphere primarily due to the unabated carbon emissions and tropical deforestation.

CONCLUSIONS & TAKEAWAYS

The article delves into the potential of REDD+ in the field of tropical forest conservation. As part of the Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) scheme. Faced with the continuous drivers of tropical deforestation notably agriculture and other anthropogenic activities, the “+” sign in REDD (as compared to its predecessor RED) has included biodiversity conservation, protection and enhancement of carbon stocks in different carbon pools, and sustainable management of forests in its wider array of co-benefits.

It provides an explanation as to why REDD+ is “promising.” One, the authors assert that REDD+ has the potential to mitigate anthropogenic climate change. REDD+ was customized to focus on tropical forests due to its high carbon content, the rate of forest loss, and consequently, its potential for carbon sequestration. Two, although there are also challenges to REDD+ such as issues on its technical implementation, permanence & leakage, and socio-economic and political issues, REDD+, compared to past efforts on tropical forest conservation, have the ability to generate funds – from $10 to $60 billion in payments to developing countries.

Lastly, the study recommends that REDD+ also provide non-monetary benefits to ensure that developing countries can slowly transition away from unsustainable forest practices and contribute to the global action of mitigating climate change.