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This policy brief describes Grenada's 2011 Strategic Program for Climate Resilience (SPCR), a national strategy developed under the Pilot Program for Climate Change Resilience (PPCR) to transition the country toward low-carbon and climate-resilient development. The document outlines the SPCR's focus on physical infrastructure and forestry, its funding through the Climate Investment Funds, and the lessons learned from its participatory design process.

This policy brief examines Viet Nam's efforts to design a benefit distribution system for the Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) scheme. It draws on the country's history of decentralized forest management to identify design options, such as performance-based payments and dedicated national funds, while highlighting critical challenges regarding land tenure, carbon rights, and the legal status of village communities.

This report, part of the Mistra-SWECIA Annual Report 2011, examines the climate change adaptation needs of the Swedish forestry sector, noting that while higher temperatures may increase productivity, negative effects are also expected.

This policy briefing examines the governance challenges facing the forestry sector in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) following a review of logging titles between 2006 and 2010. It highlights systemic issues including corruption, institutional incapacity, and a significant gap between legal policy and practical implementation, particularly regarding the involvement of local communities.

This research paper explores the technical and institutional challenges of establishing Measurement, Reporting and Verification (MRV) systems for REDD+ in developing countries. It emphasizes the need for clear definitions of 'forest' and 'reference levels' (RL/REL), the utility of nested approaches to scale subnational efforts to national levels, and the critical role of capacity building and stakeholder involvement to ensure the credibility of carbon credits.

This research paper by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines the role of safeguards and the pursuit of 'multiple benefits' within the REDD+ mechanism established by the Cancun Agreements. It explores how safeguard systems can move beyond a 'do no harm' approach to actively promote sustainable development, poverty alleviation, and biodiversity conservation. The document analyzes various international safeguard standards, reviews how developing countries are integrating these into their Readiness Preparation Proposals (R-PPs), and discusses the institutional and financial challenges of creating a transparent information-sharing system for monitoring compliance.

This fact sheet describes a research project initiated at the end of 2008 to investigate how expanding agriculture and forestry, and the resulting land use and cover changes, impact the regional hydroclimate of the La Plata Basin and interact with climate change.

This research paper by Bruno Locatelli and Emilia Pramova explores the bidirectional relationship between forests and climate change adaptation, introducing the concept of Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA). The authors argue that forests provide critical services that reduce human vulnerability ('forests for adaptation') and that forests themselves require management to survive climate shifts ('adaptation for forests').

This briefing by Frances Seymour argues that sustainable forest management provides a 'no regrets' synergy between immediate development needs and long-term climate adaptation and mitigation. While acknowledging potential trade-offs and governance challenges, the author advocates for ecosystem-based approaches and democratic processes to manage the transition.

This report, published by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) in November 2009, provides a technical and strategic analysis of the negotiations surrounding Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD) leading up to the COP 15 summit in Copenhagen. It examines the evolving scope of REDD, financing options, measurement and verification systems, and the institutional frameworks required to implement these mechanisms in developing countries.

This research paper examines how voluntary sustainability standards (VSS) influence the distribution of decision-making power within global value chains for coffee, forestry, and fisheries. Using a participatory governance framework, the authors analyze six major standards organizations to determine if these initiatives empower marginalized producers or reinforce existing power asymmetries.

This briefing describes the bioenergy, agriculture, and forestry provisions of the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009 (ACES, H.R. 2454). The bill proposes a cap-and-trade system to reduce nationwide greenhouse gas emissions, exempting bioenergy from renewable biomass and allowing farmers and land managers to sell carbon offsets. It also includes mandates for renewable electricity, a woodstove change-out program, and the authorization of the National Bioenergy Partnership.

This research paper examines the potential for climate change mitigation through land-use measures in the agriculture and forestry sectors, focusing on the challenges of integrating these sectors into international policy frameworks like the UNFCCC and the Kyoto Protocol. It analyzes technical barriers such as permanence and leakage, the role of REDD in developing countries, and Canada's domestic approach to carbon accounting and emissions trading.

This briefing by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines the role of agriculture, forestry, and other land use (AFOLU) in climate change mitigation. It analyzes the potential for carbon sequestration in developing countries, the technical and financial obstacles to including these sectors in international agreements, and the specific policy positions and regulatory frameworks of Canada.

This 2009 position paper by Friends of the Earth International defines and critiques 'destructive logging,' identifying it as a primary driver of forest destruction often carried out by transnational corporations. The document argues that flawed political frameworks, corruption, and unsustainable timber demand facilitate these practices, which undermine the rights of indigenous and local communities and cause severe environmental degradation.

This report, titled 'México: Estudio sobre la disminución de emisiones de carbono (MEDEC)', provides a comprehensive economic and technical evaluation of low-carbon development options for Mexico. It identifies 40 specific interventions across five key sectors—electricity, oil and gas, end-use energy, transport, and agriculture and forestry—to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2030. The study compares a 'baseline' scenario of continued fossil fuel reliance against a 'MEDEC' scenario, demonstrating that Mexico can stabilize its emissions at 2008 levels while maintaining economic growth through a combination of energy efficiency, renewable energy, and sustainable land management.

This 2008 briefing from Friends of the Earth International defines Community-based forest governance (CFG) as a collective-communal approach to forest conservation and sustainable use. The document contrasts CFG's reliance on traditional knowledge with 'forest science' and outlines the diverse actors capable of implementing CFG, as well as the specific organizational and legal characteristics necessary for its success.

This research paper examines the early implementation of decentralization laws in Indonesia, specifically Law No. 22/1999 and Law 25/1999, and their impact on the forestry sector. It analyzes how the shift of power from the central government to districts has led to the emergence of 'district timber regimes' focused on revenue generation, often at the expense of forest conservation and sustainable management.

This research paper examines the impact of decentralization on forest management in the lowlands of Bolivia, focusing on the relationship between municipal governments and local forest users. It analyzes how policy reforms since the mid-1980s, including the Popular Participation Law of 1994 and the Forestry Law of 1996, transferred powers to local authorities. The author finds that while decentralization has increased the bargaining power of marginalized groups like indigenous people and small-scale timber producers, the actual outcomes for forest conservation and social equity are mixed due to bureaucratic hurdles, limited municipal budgets, and the continued influence of local elites.

This report documents the proceedings of the Regional Forum on Trade and Environment held in San Salvador from July 7 to 10, 1999. Organized by SG-SICA, CCAD, IISD, IDRC, and IUCN, the forum aimed to establish a regional agenda for Central America to integrate environmental sustainability into global and regional trade negotiations, particularly within the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA).