Researchers quantified the impact of a national program for Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) implemented in Guyana between 2010 and 2015, and found that the program reduced tree cover loss by 35%, which is equivalent to 12.8 million tons of avoided carbon emissions; however, tree cover loss increased 200% 1 year after carbon payments from the REDD+ program ended, suggesting that continuous payments for forest protection are important for national REDD+ outcomes.
###
Article #19-04027: "Evidence that a national REDD+ program reduces tree cover loss and carbon emissions in a high forest cover, low deforestation country," by Anand Roopsind, Brent Sohngen, and Jodi Brandt.
MEDIA CONTACT: Anand Roopsind, Boise State University, Boise, ID; tel: 925-205-6772; email: anandroopsind@boisestate.edu , aroopsind@gmail.com
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences