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Definitions
Below is a directory of terms used in the debate about reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD). Most of the terms have been reproduced from the UN University Institute of Advanced Studies (UNU-IAS), the Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR), and the Meridian Institute.
In the run-up to this year's climate talks in Copenhagen, governments the world over are proposing ways to reduce forest emissions. But are they backed by scientific evidence? And how can developing countries ensure they benefit?
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Readiness
REDD country actions including a process of policy design, consultation and consensus building, and testing and evaluation for a REDD national strategy prior to scaled-up REDD implementation.
REDD-plus
Also called REDD+, these proposals encompass REDD activities, but also include consideration of the role of conservation, sustainable forest management and enhancement of forest carbon stocks in developing countries.
Reduced impact logging (RIL)
Planned and carefully controlled tree felling to minimise environmental impact. RIL can also reduce carbon emissions from logging.
Reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD)
REDD refers to mechanisms currently being negotiated under the UNFCCC process to reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation. REDD may refer to a broad set of approaches and actions that will achieve this, but the core idea is to create performance-based mechanisms that reward projects or countries that produce emission reductions.
Reducing emissions from deforestation (RED)
Initial REDD proposals that only considered reducing emissions from deforestation but not forest degradation.
Reference level/line
See 'baseline'.
Reforestation
Reforestation is the human-induced conversion of non-forested land to forested land through planting or seeding on land that was once forested, but has been converted to non-forested land. In the first commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol, reforestation activities have been defined as reforestation of lands that were not forested on 31 December 1989, but have had forest cover at some point during the past 50 years.
Reverse leakage
A mitigation activity that results in emission reductions in areas outside the original mitigation area. Also called 'positive leakage'.
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