When the UN-REDD Programme intensified its work to address tenure issues within the context of REDD+, the challenge involved more than delivering financial and technical support to partner countries. It soon became evident that many countries, while recognizing that resolution of tenure issues was fundamental to REDD+ success, were nonetheless uneasy about taking the first steps. Particularly in situations where laws and policies governing land are not clear, where rights to land are customary rather than statutory, and where conversion pressures on land are high, the mere mention of tenure in official circles can cause some apprehension.

The UN-REDD Programme's newly released Methodological Brief on Gender defines its approach to gender equality and women’s empowerment. It provides guidance, concrete entry points and good practice examples to help countries achieve gender-responsive REDD+ action across the REDD+ policy cycle, including in design, implementation and monitoring.

Technical experts gathered in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire at the fourth and final regional “Training the Trainers” Workshop to share their knowledge on REDD+ Monitoring, and Measurement, Reporting and Verification. The workshop was hosted by the Global Forest Observation Initiative (GFOI) & GOFC-GOLD from 6-10 February 2017. 

A US$10-million investment to help combat climate change in a large swathe of the world's second-largest rain forest was outlined to stakeholders in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The Government of Equatorial Guinea is launching an extensive 18-month project to develop its national investment plan which will position the country to participate in the international initiative for Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation (REDD+). With the technical support of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and funding from the Central African Forest Initiative (CAFI), Equatorial Guinea is set to finalize its National REDD+ Strategy and quickly move to the planning of its REDD+ investments. The government says these investments shall fit with its broader strategies.