Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD) Projects: Lessons for Future Policy Design and Implementation

Background

This study reviews six representative Reducing Emissions through Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD) initiatives, two each from Africa, Asia and Latin America, by presenting their strengths, weakensses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT).

Conclusions & Takeaways

The main policy and project implementation factors that enable more effective and successful REDD project outcomes are presented. These include having clearly formulated project design, governance, land tenure rights and capacity, equity and transparency, indigenous peoples’ rights and knowledge, local–international coordination, and enhancing local and institutional capacities. The authors provide recommendations, which include promoting the preservation of intact forests while including specific standards that protect biodiversity and ecosystem services, recognizing the role forests play in the livelihood and culture of indigeneous peoples, recognizing land tenure rights, and prioritizing the rights and interests of forest dependent peoples.