ABSTRACT
“Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation (REDD)” was originally presented as a technological fix (cf. Li, 2007) to confront the global problem of deforestation and to reduce global carbon emissions, but the focus of REDD quickly moved from strictly carbon storage and uptake to multiple objectives (Angelsen and McNeill, 2012). The plus was added to REDD to signalize a stronger commitment, that the so-called “co-benefits” of forest conservation (e.g. protecting biodiversity and livelihoods) are included on an equal footing with carbon functions. 1 The inclusion of additional objectives into the REDD project reflects the diversity of actors involved in REDD arenas and their ability and power to advance their agendas (Brockhaus and Angelsen, 2012). REDD is based on the idea that it is possible to reduce deforestation and forest degradation by offering economic compensation to various actors (for not) changing the use of forest lands.
