Forest carbon rights in REDD+ countries: a snapshot of Africa

Summary

The world's forests are disappearing at an alarming rate. Not only does this endanger biodiversity and the livelihoods of forest-dependent communities, it is a major contributing factor to global climate change. It is a challenge that needs to be addressed – urgently.

The international community has responded by developing a policy initiative to Reduce Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation, otherwise known as REDD+. The ongoing negotiations under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) have seen substantial progress in the development of a potential REDD+ mechanism. In the interim, numerous countries have begun their preparations to become "ready for REDD+", with the assistance of both donor nations and the multilateral development banks. As this work progresses, it is becoming clear that there is a need to develop a consistent approach to the concept of "carbon rights" in national REDD+ regimes.