What is REDD?

REDD stands for "Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation." The concept was incorporated into the United Nations' international climate negotiations to halt deforestation around the world and promote sustainable forest management.

The aim of REDD is to create incentives to preserve carbon-storing forests and help in reforestation. Developing countries are meant to receive compensation payments if they lower emissions by protecting their forests. The German Development Ministry is involved in the project with a budget of more than 350 million euros.

But international talks are still focused on what form of compensation developing nations should get for preserving their forests – whether it’s emission permits issued on the carbon trading market, special international funds or a mix of both.

The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) is pushing to design the REDD mechanism in such a manner so that emissions cuts stemming from forest preservation are counted in addition to greenhouse gas cuts in the energy sector.

"Countries should not be allowed to buy their way out of their responsibilities for lowering emissions in the energy sector through trading in forest-related emissions permits," Hermine Kleymann from the WWF says.

Author: Alexa Meyer (jp)
Editor: Sonia Phalnikar