The 3 REDD ‘I’s

The role of forest in climate change has over the last 3 years received a level of international attention that forest economists – and others interested in tropical forests – barely could hope for. Under the heading of REDD or REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation in developing countries), forests are now at the centre stage of international climate negotiations. Donors have pledged some USD 4.5 billion to REDD+, national REDD+ strategies are being designed in some 50 countries, and dozens of pilot project have been initiated.

Forest economists should also be pleased to see that, in many...