Make trees great and glorious again: The REDD+ plan to save the world

Now, if REDD+ is going to work, everyone needs to be on the same page—which is no small feat considering that getting countries to agree on anything is like herding cats (again, cat lovers, don't hate me, you know what I am talking about)!

Enter the Paris Agreement, which requires countries to submit Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) detailing how they will reduce emissions.

As of 2023, over 60 countries have included REDD+ in their climate plans (UNFCCC, 2023). It's like the global version of a group project where some people carry all the weight, and others coast along, hoping no one notices.

One of the biggest game-changers in REDD+ has been the inclusion of Indigenous peoples in forest management. Indigenous communities have been managing these forests since before the rest of the world even knew what carbon emissions were, so it only makes sense to give them a seat at the table finally.

The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) in 2007 pushed REDD+ to conserve forests and protect the people living in them (UNDRIP, 2007).

It's about time. It's like finally letting the Haaland into your fantasy football draft after you are done trying to act different like a wannabe.

Here's where we get into the nitty-gritty: Does REDD+ live up to the hype? Since its inception, REDD+ has helped prevent over 6 billion tons of CO2 emissions (UN-REDD Programme, 2022).

That's like taking over 1.2 billion cars off the road in one year.

But it's not just about carbon. REDD+ is also keeping biodiversity in check. Forests house around 80% of the world's terrestrial species, so when we're talking about deforestation, we're also talking about wiping out entire ecosystems (Nature, 2021).

Financially, REDD+ is no joke either. It's pumped over $2 billion directly into the hands of local communities, helping them switch from deforestation-based economies to more sustainable alternatives (World Bank, 2022).

So, instead of clear-cutting for quick cash, locals are now making a living in ways that don't involve eco-disaster. Call it nature's version of a side hustle.

Of course, there are always the critics, yapping about how we should ghost REDD+. Some say REDD+ is too focused on carbon, ignoring environmental goals like water conservation or soil health.

It's like eating only salads to stay fit while binge-watching Netflix all day like a couch potato—not precisely balanced. There's also the issue of dependency on international funding. When carbon markets tank (which they do, thanks to the whims of capitalism), REDD+ projects suffer. It's like relying on crypto to pay rent; in one minute, you're wealthy; in the next, not so much (IIED, 2022).

Another issue? Land rights. In many countries, nobody knows who owns the forests. It's like attending a party and realizing no one sent the invite. Governments, private companies, and Indigenous communities often clash over land ownership.

So, where does REDD+ go from here? It's primarily focused on tropical forests, but there's potential to expand to temperate and boreal forests—because those trees matter, too.

Also, tech innovations like drones and AI are only getting better. Imagine drones buzzing over rainforests, snapping pics of illegal logging like paparazzi catching celebrities in a scandal.

Financial sustainability is another issue. International funding can only take you so far—like living off your parents' credit card. At some point, REDD+ must stand on its own two feet, which might mean countries developing domestic carbon markets.

REDD+ is more than just a Band-Aid for climate change—it's a full-on solution with the potential to flip the script. By making forests valuable not for their timber but for their ability to store carbon, REDD+ gives countries a real reason to keep their trees standing.

REDD+ might be the most underrated climate strategy. While everyone else is busy arguing over who's more eco-friendly, REDD+ is full of frizz. It quietly saves trees, reduces emissions, and puts cash into the hands of the people who need it most.

That sounds like a win-win to me, but there is no cap. Maybe the forests will save us before we manage to ruin everything.

(The writer is an engineer-turned-finance-expert-ESG-enthusiast, trying to drink gulps from the immensely stimulating ocean of ESG and SDG and move to greener pastures of the development sector to shift from his regular tedious job in the capital market. Tell him how he can do that at [email protected])

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