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Food and Agriculture Organisation of the UnitedNations (FAO), the United Nations DevelopmentProgramme (UNDP) and the United NationsEnvironment Programme (UNEP), was launched in2008 to support efforts to reduce emissions fromdeforestation and forest degradation in developingcountries. The Programme provides direct support to 12 countries in Africa, Asia-Pacific and LatinAmerica and the Caribbean, and has welcomed 20more partner countries to be observers to theProgramme's Policy Board. The UN-REDD Programme's primary goal is to supportcountry-led REDD+ efforts. The Programme works atboth national and international levels to providetechnical advice on ways to address deforestation andforest degradation, as well as provide importantmethods and tools for measuring and monitoringgreenhouse gas emissions and forest carbon flows. It is essential that Indigenous Peoples and Civil Societyparticipate in the design of national REDD+ strategies,and the UN-REDD Programme is deeply committed tosupporting countries in that process. Other areas ofwork for the Programme include assisting countries inthe design and implementation of REDD+ strategiesthat ensure forests continue to provide multiplebenefits for livelihoods and biodiversity, while storingcarbon at the same time.EARLY LESSONS REDD+ efforts are still in their initial phase ofdevelopment and implementation, but early lessonsare already starting to emerge. We are now keenlyaware that the process of developing REDD+strategies, through rigorous stakeholder engagementCHALLENGES AHEADThere are, however, many unanswered questions aboutREDD+. How can forest communities and IndigenousPeoples participate in the design, implementation andmonitoring of national REDD+ strategies? How willREDD+ be funded, and how will countries ensure thatbenefits are distributed equitably among all those whomanage the forests? How will countries monitor theamount of carbon stored and sequestered as a result ofREDD+ efforts? REDD+ will provide payments for thereduction of CO2 emissions from deforestation anddegradation, but can it reward governments orcommunities that are already fully protecting their forests? REDD+ is not just about carbon and a singular focuson carbon could drive policy objectives to focus onemission reductions without considering the broadercauses of deforestation, which are mostly outside theforestry sector. Addressing these drivers has not andwill not be easy. It will require systems, actions, laws,and policies that are transformational in a range ofgovernance sectors from land tenure to participation.We have to accept that there is no "one-size-fits-all"approach to REDD+. We also need to recognise thatforests provide other services, such as regulating watercycles and housing at least two-thirds of all terrestrialbiodiversity, both of which can help people to adapt toclimate change. The design and implementation ofREDD+ has to take into account the multiple benefitsof forests. HOW THE UN-REDD PROGRAMMEWORKSThe UN-REDD Programme, a joint collaboration of the124FORESTRY" "DEFORESTATIONAND FORESTDEGRADATIONCONTRIBUTEGLOBALLY APPROXIMATELY17 PER CENT OFALL GREENHOUSEGAS EMISSIONSAbove: Forest area in EastKalimantan, IndonesiaRight: Bolivian forest UN-REDD DIRECT SUPPORT & PARTNER COUNTRIESPhoto: Christoforus Terry