Halting deforestation and forest degradation: a key climate, development and livelihood solution
Forests play an irreplaceable role as enormous carbon sinks; natural reservoirs that absorb and store carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere within their plant biomass and soils. According to current estimates, deforestation and forest degradation are responsible for approximately 11% of global CO2 emissions. This underscores the urgency and significance to address deforestation to achieve climate, development and food security objectives.
Beyond carbon, forests are key resources to enhance the livelihoods indigenous peoples, smallholder producers and local communities so they can secure income and ensure food security. As global hotspots for biodiversity, tropical forests are vital in ensuring essential ecosystem services by regulating local climate, providing freshwater, as well as food and fuel resources.
Despite forests’ importance, deforestation is pervasive with a worrying 10 million hectares lost annually. Halting deforestation could cost-effectively avoid emitting 14 per cent of what is needed between 2020 and 2050 to keep planetary warming below 1.5 °C, and if achieved brings a vast array of co-benefits for people, agricultural productivity and biodiversity.
Our work
Since 2008, FAO has supported countries to develop and implement national agendas for Reduce Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation (REDD+). Increasingly FAO’s work has now broadened from REDD+ “readiness” to addressing the underlying drivers of deforestation across the agriculture, forestry and land use (AFOLU) sector and supporting countries to implement measures to address them.
FAO now supports more than 40 countries to strengthen and align actions and policies, incentives and investments to halt deforestation, forest degradation and emissions while contributing to sustainable agrifood systems and meeting international commitments on REDD+ and other forest- and climate-related frameworks.
Navigating climate and results-based finance opportunities
Supporting policy design, upfront finance, results-based finances and payments, and REDD+
Transforming agrifood systems
Fostering sustainability in agricultural supply chains, and land use practices while promoting conservation and production for healthy forests and livelihoods
Harnessing forests for climate mitigation
Advancing sustainable management of forests as a climate solution, with co-benefits for livelihoods, biodiversity and resilience
Action areas in detail
Results-based payments/finance, and international public & private funds:
+ FAO helps countries navigate the complex world of carbon markets, carbon rights, and results-based finance, and supports them in their submissions and negotiations with with international public and private funds such as the Green Climate Fund (GCF) and other REDD+ financing initiatives.
Fostering sustainable agriculture supply chains and decoupling agriculture from deforestation:
+ Recognizing the crucial interconnection between forests and agriculture, FAO supports systemic changes by fostering sustainable agricultural supply chains and decoupling agriculture commodity production from deforestation. We address structural barriers, governance challenges, and land-use policies to promote more sustainable practices
Integrated landscapes and food systems transformation:
+ FAO advocates for integrated land-use approaches and the transformation of agri-food systems as key strategies to reduce deforestation and conserve forests. By balancing conservation and production goals, we enhance resilience and promote sustainable land-use practices
Local climate action and sustainable and legal forest value chains in REDD+ strategies:
+ FAO catalyzes local climate actions and integrate sustainable and legal forest value chains into REDD+ strategies, acknowledging the multifaceted roles forests play in mitigating climate change and serving as sources of livelihood for communities.
Cost effectiveness of measures to halt deforestation & degradation:
+ A central part of our mission is to assess the cost-effectiveness and scalability of measures to halt deforestation and degradation, ensuring that the strategies deliver tangible long-term impacts in alignment with national and international climate and biodiversity commitments..
National forest monitoring systems (NFMS):
+ FAO provides technical support to countries to develop robust and transparent NFMS, which are instrumental in monitoring forest-area change, comprehensive national forest inventories, and reporting on carbon stocks and emissions reductions. These systems underpin evidence-based decision-making and REDD+ implementation.
Forest reference (emission) levels (FRELs) and REDD+ results reporting:
+ FAO assists countries in establishing FRELs and in reporting their historical and current greenhouse gas emissions in the forest sector. These activities are essential for creating benchmarks against which progress on national and international climate commitments can be measured.
Safeguards and Safeguards Information Systems:
+ FAO supports countries in developing REDD+ safeguards and Safeguards Information Systems, ensuring adherence to the “Cancun safeguards”. These safeguards help minimize social and environmental risks while maximizing benefits for people and biodiversity.
Governance, policy and legal frameworks:
+ FAO helps countries create the enabling environment necessary for the implementation of REDD+ activities. This includes strengthening governance systems, developing effective policies and legal frameworks, addressing issues related to land tenure and fostering multi-stakeholder engagement.
Gender equality and equity:
+ FAO advocates for gender-responsive approaches to forest conservation and climate action ensuring that both women and men equally participate in, and benefit from, actions to halt deforestation, forest degradation and emissions.
Local, regional, and national stakeholder engagement:
+ FAO encourages countries to ensure that actions to halt deforestation are are participatory and inclusive, engaging local, regional, and national stakeholders in planning and decision-making processes. This approach enhances policy coherence, transparency, and community-driven solutions.
Knowledge management and South-South cooperation:
+ FAO FAO develops and disseminates innovative knowledge products and tools to address the underlying drivers of deforestation. We facilitate South-South cooperation and knowledge sharing initiatives, enabling countries to exchange best practices and scale up effective forest and land-use policies.