REDD+ after Cancun: Moving from negotiation to implementation

The report details a workshop in Douala, Cameroon, focused on the implementation of REDD+ in Africa. Key discussions centered on the need for cost-effective safeguard information systems, the scalability of Measurement, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) from subnational to national levels, and the role of agriculture as a driver of deforestation rather than a direct part of REDD+. Participants emphasized the necessity of transparent, equitable financing that prioritizes local experts and the integration of gender and indigenous perspectives to ensure multiple co-benefits beyond carbon sequestration.

• Safeguard information systems for REDD+ must be cost-effective and based on national circumstances rather than being externally enforced. Effective systems require clear mechanisms for benefits sharing, dispute resolution, and land tenure arrangements, drawing on existing frameworks like Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) and REDD+ Social and Environmental Standards (REDD+ SES).
• Measurement, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) systems in Africa face challenges regarding the scalability of data from project or subnational levels to national levels. There is a critical need for capacity building in geographic information systems (GIS) and remote sensing, and a recommendation for African countries to appoint experts to UNFCCC technical groups to improve international participation.
• Agriculture is identified as a primary driver of deforestation and should be addressed as such rather than being integrated directly into the REDD+ mechanism at this stage. Participants argued that agriculture should be handled under the UNFCCC through the SBSTA, SBI, or AWG-LCA, with a strong emphasis on balancing mitigation with adaptation to support food security and livelihoods.
• International financing for REDD+ is currently viewed as inequitable, with funding often favoring large emitters like Brazil or Indonesia over many African nations. There is a call for transparent funding that allows countries to hire local domestic consultants instead of external ones to build national expertise.
• To achieve 'multiple benefits' beyond the 'do no harm' principle, REDD+ must ensure equitable benefits sharing and the active involvement of women and indigenous peoples. In Nigeria, for example, gender perspectives are being integrated into the National Forest Policy to involve women in sustainable forest management.

APA

Bernard, F., Murphy, D., & Boyle, J. (2011). REDD+ after Cancun: Moving from negotiation to implementation. International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/redd_douala_2011_workshop_report.pdf

Chicago

Bernard, Florence, Deborah Murphy, and Jessica Boyle. REDD+ after Cancun: Moving from negotiation to implementation. International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2011. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/redd_douala_2011_workshop_report.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Bernard |first1=Florence |last2=Murphy |first2=Deborah |last3=Boyle |first3=Jessica |title=REDD+ after Cancun: Moving from negotiation to implementation |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |date=2011 |url=https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/redd_douala_2011_workshop_report.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{bernard2011redd, author = {Bernard, Florence and Murphy, Deborah and Boyle, Jessica}, title = {{REDD+ after Cancun: Moving from negotiation to implementation}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2011}, url = {https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/redd_douala_2011_workshop_report.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }