Conserving Forests to Combat Climate Change

The document describes REDD+ as a voluntary framework for developing countries to reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation while enhancing forest carbon stocks. It details the five core activities, the three phases of implementation (readiness, implementation, and results-based finance), and the requirements for receiving results-based payments, including national strategies and monitoring systems. The report also outlines how the 2015 Paris Agreement integrates REDD+ into the global climate architecture, specifically regarding Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and transparency frameworks.

• REDD+ is a voluntary framework for developing countries consisting of five specific activities: reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation, conserving forest carbon stocks, sustainable forest management, and enhancing forest carbon stocks.
• To maintain environmental integrity and avoid 'leakage'—where deforestation drivers simply shift outside a project area—REDD+ requires a national commitment and implementation at the national level rather than through isolated projects.
• The implementation of REDD+ typically follows three phases: Readiness (developing strategies and capacity), Implementation (executing policies and demonstration activities), and Results-based finance (measured, reported, and verified actions).
• Developing countries must establish four specific elements to be eligible for results-based payments: a national strategy or action plan, a national forest reference level, a national forest monitoring system, and a system for reporting on social and environmental safeguards.
• The 2015 Paris Agreement formally recognizes the REDD+ framework and encourages parties to consider REDD+ activities within their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) as part of their mitigation potential.
• Tropical deforestation is estimated to contribute up to 20 percent of total annual greenhouse gas emissions, and including reforestation of cleared land could increase the mitigation potential to 31 percent.

APA

WWF International (2016). Conserving Forests to Combat Climate Change. https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/1599/WWF_REDD__Report_FINAL.pdf

Chicago

WWF International. Conserving Forests to Combat Climate Change. 2016. https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/1599/WWF_REDD__Report_FINAL.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=WWF International |title=Conserving Forests to Combat Climate Change |date=2016 |url=https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/1599/WWF_REDD__Report_FINAL.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{wwfinternational2016conserving, author = {{WWF International}}, title = {{Conserving Forests to Combat Climate Change}}, institution = {WWF International}, year = {2016}, url = {https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/1599/WWF_REDD__Report_FINAL.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }