This study looks at four forest carbon projects in eastern Africa and explores the to understand the challenges and successes of such projects that combine climate change, biodiversity conservation and community development objectives, and to understand their applicability to future USAID program development, including those related to reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD+). The study findings are reported, comparing the four projects in the body of with respect to: Measurement, Reporting and Verification for carbon standards (MRV); financial costs, risks and benefits, and co-benefits; natural resource management practices; biodiversity conservation; and intersection with host-country government policies (including REDD+).