Constructive critique. This book provides a critical, evidence-based analysis of REDD+ implementation so far, without losing sight of the urgent need to reduce forest-based emissions to prevent catastrophic climate change.
REDD+ as envisioned has not been tested at scale. Results-based payment, the novel feature of REDD+, has gone untested. International funding (both public and private) remains scarce, and demand through carbon markets is lacking.
Better national enabling conditions. Over 50 countries have included REDD+ in their NDCs and developed national REDD+ strategies. REDD+ has improved countries monitoring capacities and understanding of drivers, increased stakeholder involvement, and provided a platform to secure indigenous and community land rights all key conditions for addressing deforestation and forest degradation.
Modest forest and social impacts. Local REDD+ initiatives have achieved limited but positive outcomes for forests. Well-being impacts have been modest and mixed, but have proved more likely to be positive when incentives are included.
National coordination, with a positive narrative. Forest-based mitigation strategies must now be mainstreamed across sectors and levels of government. A strong positive narrative on how forests contribute to economic development and climate goals could boost forest-based mitigation, in spite of the current political uncertainties in key emitting countries.
Evolving REDD+ and new initiatives. REDD+ has evolved, and new initiatives have emerged to support its broader objective: private sector sustainability commitments, climate-smart agriculture, forest and landscape restoration, and more holistic jurisdictional approaches working across legally defined territories.
2 Pathway to impact: Is REDD+ a viable theory of change?
3 Financing REDD+ : A transaction among equals, or an uneven playing field?
4 Results-based payment: Who should be paid, and for what?
5 Information and policy change: Data on drivers can drive change – if used wisely
6 Strategic alignment: Integrating REDD+ in NDCs and national climate policies
7 Multi-level governance: Some coordination problems cannot be solved through coordination
8 Land and carbon tenure: Some – but insufficient – progress
9 National and subnational forest conservation policies: What works, what doesnt
10 Forests and carbon: The impacts of local REDD+ initiatives
11 People and communities: Well-being impacts of REDD+ on the ground
Part 4 Evolving initiatives
12 Subnational jurisdictional approaches: Policy innovation and partnerships for change
13 The private sector: Can zero deforestation commitments save tropical forests?
14 Climate-smart agriculture: Will higher yields lead to lower deforestation?
15 Forest restoration: Getting serious about the ‘plus’ in REDD+
16 Conclusions: Lessons for the path to a transformational REDD+
Topic: climate change, ecosystem services, mitigation, emissions, forests
Publisher: Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR), Bogor, Indonesia
Publication Year: 2018
ISBN: 978-602-387-079-0Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.