Costs for REDD

The document argues that REDD is a cost-effective method for reducing heat-trapping emissions, noting that $5 billion annually could protect nearly 20% of tropical forests at risk, while $20 billion could protect about half. It identifies opportunity costs as the largest expense and highlights that global models provide more conservative, comprehensive cost estimates than regional studies. Total implementation, administrative, and transaction costs are estimated at nearly $1 per ton of reductions, with separate stabilization costs estimated at $630 million per year for the ten most critical countries to prevent international leakage.

• Opportunity costs, which compensate landowners for the value of the most profitable land use like agriculture or logging, constitute the largest portion of REDD expenses. Global models generally calculate higher and more conservative opportunity costs than regional studies because they account for reactions to global economic changes, population growth, and interest rates.
• Annual funding levels for REDD correlate with specific levels of tropical forest protection: $5 billion can protect nearly 20% of forests in danger of deforestation, $20 billion can protect approximately half, and funding near $50 billion could reduce tropical deforestation by two-thirds.
• Total costs for implementation, administration, and transactions are estimated at nearly $1 per ton of reductions. Stabilization costs, intended to prevent 'international leakage' where deforestation moves to non-participating countries, are calculated separately; one study estimates these costs at $630 million per year for the ten most important stabilization countries, including those in the Congo Basin.
• REDD is considered a highly cost-effective climate mitigation strategy because the least expensive emission reductions can be achieved early. Potential funding sources include voluntary contributions, market-linked auction revenues from domestic cap-and-trade programs, and direct carbon market offsets.

APA

Boucher, D. (2008). Costs for REDD. Union of Concerned Scientists. https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/attach/2018/02/TFCI_REDD_Estimating-costs%255B1%255D.pdf

Chicago

Boucher, Doug. Costs for REDD. Union of Concerned Scientists, 2008. https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/attach/2018/02/TFCI_REDD_Estimating-costs%255B1%255D.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Boucher |first1=Doug |title=Costs for REDD |publisher=Union of Concerned Scientists |date=August 2008 |url=https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/attach/2018/02/TFCI_REDD_Estimating-costs%255B1%255D.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{boucher2008costs, author = {Boucher, Doug}, title = {{Costs for REDD}}, institution = {Union of Concerned Scientists}, year = {2008}, month = aug, url = {https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/attach/2018/02/TFCI_REDD_Estimating-costs%255B1%255D.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }