This brief summarizes progress made on REDD+ at the December 2009 Copenhagen climate talks, and discusses continuing challenges. The COP15 climate conference in Copenhagen saw continuing negotiation on the shape of a potential REDD+ mechanism, and further clarifications on the draft agreement text. A final and binding agreement on REDD+ was not reached, but substantial progress was made in two crucial areas:
- REDD+ instead of REDD
- Environmental and social safeguards became an explicit element of REDD+
Key Messages
- With REDD+ now accepted, growing emphasis on social and environmental safeguards, and recognition of local stakeholder skills and knowledge, a space has clearly opened up for community-based forest management.
- There is still ample opportunity for forest sector stakeholders to influence REDD+ negotiations to ensure progressive and equitable outcomes benefiting both people and forests.
