Given the high level of interest and support for REDD, the pace and number of readiness projects and initiatives has been increasing at an encouraging rate. This document provides a snapshot view of readiness activities around the world. The information in this overview is a compilation of materials from governments, NGOs, and civil society organisations participating in REDD readiness activities.

Reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD) initiatives are more likely to be effective in reducing emissions if they build on, rather than conflict with, the interests of local communities and indigenous groups (referred to henceforth as ‘forest communities’).

Despite the adoption of many international agreements over the last decades, degradation of forests and deforestation has continued. Since this is largely due to the market's failure to account for forests' multifunctionality, this issue argues that a new, holistic approach is necessary to ensure sustainable forest management (SFM) is adequately supported and financed. Against this background, 35 articles explore the role of:

This paper aims to provide an overview to potential policy approaches and positive incentives for reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD) in the post-2012 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). In particular, the paper discusses the potential implications or key elements for consideration when determining positive incentives for REDD. The post-2012 United Nations (UN) climate agreement must incorporate reduction targets, mechanisms and incentives to avoid the worst impacts of climate change.

This newletter contains four short articles discussing the potential for financing carbon sequestration services. The articles particularly focus on this issue in the context of the Kyoto protocol and Clean Development Mechanism (CDM). Below are the titles of the four articles and some of the key points made by their authors: Access to finance for community forest management under the UNFCCC and Kyoto Protocol

This paper argues strongly that forestry generally - and in particular as a means of carbon storage – has an important role to play in the achievement of environmental protection, social development and economic development goals.

This paper argues that though greenhouse gas emissions from the burning of fossil fuels are the principal causes of global warming, tropical deforestation is responsible for 20 to 25 percent of annual global carbon dioxide emissions.

Payments for environmental services (PES) is an emerging economics based methodology of conservation management. The basic principle of PES is that external environmental services (ES) beneficiaries make direct, contractual and conditional payments to local landholders and users in return for adopting conservation and restoration practices.This paper, based on primary and secondary data from Latin America and Asia, aims to demystify PES for non-economists.

This paper examines strategies for carbon sequestration, and how this is provided for under the Kyoto Protocol, with particularly attention to Malaysia's carbon sequestration strategies. Carbon sequestration is a significant technique that plays a major role in bringing down global warming. Since it is comparatively cost effective and multi beneficial, "Annex 1" countries of the Kyoto Protocol have shown their interests in initiating carbon sequestration projects with Non-Annex 1 countries.

This is a report of findings following research and a three-week field assessment of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) in response to nationwide marine inundation by extreme tides. During the course of the investigation, several findings were identified. One of the findings is that climate risk management that focuses on community-based adaptation, and is implemented through effective land use policies can improve food and water security, environmental conservation, and sustainability.