ABSTRACT
Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation (REDD) is one of the major global initiatives to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases from deforestation and forest degradation through financial incentives and policy reforms. The collaboration of swidden communities with governments and investors offers a significant opportunity for controlling carbon emissions and reducing global climate change. There are several substantive challenges to be overcome when taking up REDD mitigation opportunities with swiddeners. This chapter discusses several scenarios that are those in which human populations are affected by REDD+ agreements with national governments to reduce deforestation and degradation. Standards, safeguards and 'best practices' for REDD are developed to create protocols that prevent the swindling of local communities. Laos focuses on policy reforms in preparation for REDD. Serious challenges have been identified in both Indonesia and the Philippines that threaten the effectiveness of REDD+ as a mechanism that will help to eradicate poverty or generate sustainable livelihoods for rural poor and indigenous peoples.
