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Forest Carbon in the News

Guatemala's REDD+ program draws diversity of opinions and results 18 March 2016
Tanzania's forests at risk as climate finance dries up 15 March 2016
Freshfields to invest in tree-planting program 10 March 2016
Quebec Cree First Nation delegation in B.C. to learn from those who signed Great Bear Rainforest Agreement 8 March 2016
The Financial Times investigates: REDD+ in Indonesia 6 March 2016
Seagrass carbon project under development in Mauritius 5 March 2016
Greenpeace report investigates no deforestation commitments 1 March 2016
Press Release: Government of Peru Takes Measures to Reduce Deforestation 15 December 2015

Financing REDD: Meshing Markets with Government Funds

By Virgilio Viana, International Institute for Environment and Development

Deforestation accounts for roughly 17 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions. So it is no surprise that in the runup to the December 2009 climate talks in Copenhagen, REDD – reduced emissions from deforestation and degradation – is emerging as a strategy with big potential for mitigating climate impacts.

With REDD, local communities can be rewarded for conserving their forests, so the approach works for poverty alleviation as well as emissions reduction. Evidence is showing that REDD is simple and workable. Funding is an altogether more complex issue, however. Looking at the roles of market and government, is a combined approach to financing REDD feasible?