ABSTRACT
Much community forest management (CFM) in developing countries involves management of natural forests that would otherwise be degraded or deforested, and producing carbon emissions. When communities participate in forest management in forests in their vicinity, they generally halt or reduce the rate of deforestation and degradation, and they allow the forest to regenerate, which enhances the forest sink. This type of forest management is not credited under the current carbon payment mechanisms of the Kyoto Protocol, but under REDD+ policy (Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation), it is possible that community forest management could link into a carbon crediting system. REDD+ policy will operate on the basis of overall national efforts to slow down loss of carbon from forests. Within this mechanism, CFM projects could contribute to efforts under the forestry sector as part of a country-level REDD+ programme. It is probable that individual projects within the country would then be internally credited or financed by the country's government, out of funds earned by the government from the sale of REDD+ credits internationally.
