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This working paper, updated in November 2019, examines the implementation of REDD+ (reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation) over the last decade, focusing on lessons learned from national, subnational, and project-level initiatives to inform future forest-based climate change mitigation.

This report assesses progress toward Goal 4 of the New York Declaration on Forests, which focuses on supporting alternatives to deforestation driven by basic needs, such as subsistence farming and fuelwood collection. The document highlights a significant lack of aggregate global data to measure progress, relying instead on proxy indicators like the distribution of clean cookstoves and related financial funding.

The 2018 Progress Assessment Goal 7 Update reports that Goal 7, which sought to include forest-related mitigation in a post-2020 global climate agreement, was achieved through the 2015 Paris Agreement. The report evaluates progress based on the operationalization of REDD+ financing and the inclusion of land-use targets in Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).

This 2018 guide by the World Resources Institute helps businesses navigate the legal requirements for sourcing wood, focusing on the regulatory frameworks of the United States, Australia, and the European Union. It emphasizes that illegal logging drives forest degradation and greenhouse gas emissions, and distinguishes between legal and sustainable sourcing. The guide outlines the role of trade regulations, procurement policies, and certification services in mitigating the risk of illegal timber in supply chains.

This report by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) analyzes the systemic use of official documentation to launder illegal timber from the Peruvian Amazon for international export. By reviewing 865 Visual Inspection Certificates and 2,364 Forest Transport Permits (GTFs) from 2015, CIEL identifies patterns where exporters exploit gaps in supervision and transparency tools to bypass legality controls, particularly when exporting to markets with weak due diligence requirements.

This technical annex assesses progress toward Goal 7 of the New York Declaration on Forests, which aims to include forest-related mitigation measures in a post-2020 global climate agreement. As of November 2015, the report finds that while the REDD+ methodological framework is largely complete, the final text of the Paris Agreement remains under negotiation, and the extent to which land-use sectors are integrated into national commitments (INDCs) varies significantly across countries.

This research paper provides a spatially explicit assessment of woodfuel supply and demand across the tropics for the year 2009, estimating the levels of unsustainable harvesting and the resulting greenhouse gas emissions.

This research paper examines 'readiness finance' for REDD+ through the lens of the Brazilian Amazon Fund and the Congo Basin Forest Fund (CBFF). It finds that readiness has evolved from a technical focus to one encompassing governance and policy. The authors argue that readiness is not a static phase with a clear end point but requires sustained investment in institutional strengthening that continues into the performance-based phase of REDD+.

This research paper details a large-scale field study on the impact of selective logging and forest fires on carbon stocks in the Amazon, concluding that forest degradation can result in carbon losses equivalent to 40% of those caused by deforestation.

This briefing summarizes the outcomes of an April 2012 expert workshop in Nairobi, Kenya, focused on two primary determinants for the success of REDD+ (Reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation): the development of safeguard information systems (SIS) and the engagement of the private sector.

This policy brief examines whether REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation) can support climate compatible development in developing countries. It discusses the mechanism's potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and provide economic opportunities, while warning of risks to forest-dependent communities and the need for robust institutional frameworks to manage financial flows and monitor performance.

This briefing by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) and the World Agroforestry Centre (ASB-ICRAF) outlines key messages for the Copenhagen climate talks based on workshops held in Vietnam and Kenya. It advocates for the inclusion of Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD) and agriculture in international climate agreements, while emphasizing the need for balanced measurement requirements, regional cooperation to prevent leakage, and a phased implementation approach to support varying levels of national capacity.

The Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) submitted comments to the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) and the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) arguing that proposed trade liberalization in the forest product sector could exacerbate forest degradation and loss. CIEL contends that the current U.S. environmental review process is inadequate and calls for the administration to halt negotiations until a comprehensive assessment, guided by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), is completed. The document emphasizes that trade liberalization can intensify negative impacts if countries lack robust forest protection frameworks, and suggests that developed nations provide technical and financial assistance to developing ones to establish sustainable management systems.

A statement by a coalition of Indonesian civil society organizations expressing dissatisfaction with the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) agreed upon on 6 December 2022. The groups argue that the regulation is a unilateral initiative that fails to address the root causes of deforestation, lacks sufficient protections for human rights and smallholders, and contains inadequate definitions and monitoring mechanisms.

This working paper analyzes 32 REDD+ readiness proposals submitted to the Forest Carbon Partnership Facility (FCPF) and the UN-REDD Programme to evaluate how countries are addressing governance challenges in programs designed to reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation.

This working paper by the World Resources Institute (WRI) summarizes feedback from 2008 and 2009 workshops conducted with local and indigenous communities in Cameroon and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) regarding the design and implementation of Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD).

A World Resources Institute fact sheet identifying over two billion hectares of global potential for forest and landscape restoration, primarily in tropical and temperate regions. It distinguishes between wide-scale, mosaic, and remote restoration opportunities and emphasizes a holistic approach that integrates local stakeholders and diverse land uses to improve biodiversity, food security, and climate mitigation.