ABSTRACT
This chapter explores the research question of whether REDD can and will be able to assist developing and least developed countries to achieve sustainable economic growth, to alleviate poverty, and to mitigate global emissions. It demonstrates that REDD increases the risk of perverse incentives toward mono-culture forests, destroying the existing harmony in the biodiverse system. Weak governance and institutional capacity in some countries, as well as inadequate institutional mechanisms for effective participation by local communities in land-use decisions, could seriously compromise the delivery of both local and global benefits and the long-term sustainability of REDD investments. The demand for forest products is rising not only in developed countries but also among the "pockets of rich" in emerging economies such as India and China. The United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF) encourages member states to effectively implement sustainable forest management practices to address emerging forest-related challenges such as climate change, loss of forest cover, forest degradation, desertification, and biodiversity loss.
