What is reforestation? How does reforestation impact the environment? Here’s our guide to sustainable companies that keep reforestation in mind.

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Kara joined the team at Greenly in 2023 as SEO copywriter for the UK market.

Kara Anderson - Greenly

Kara studied her bachelors of law at the University of Glasgow and her masters in international law at the University of Aberdeen, before looking for a more creative career path. She found this in advertising, working as a content manager in London. After a move to Paris in 2019 she decided to switch to freelance copywriting in order to scratch her creative itch. Kara joined the team at Greenly in 2023 as SEO copywriter for the UK market.  

After seeking opportunities to put her various creative passions to good use, she joined Greenly in mid 2022 as SEO copywriter for the U.S. blog to provide her American perspective on the climate change issues we face today.

Stephanie Safdie - Greenly

Stephanie completed a bachelor's degree in English & Multimedia in 2020 at the University of Maryland College Park. She previously worked as a social media content video creator and freelance copywriter. After seeking opportunities to put her various creative passions to good use, she joined Greenly in mid 2022 as SEO copywriter for the U.S. blog to provide her American perspective on the climate change issues we face today. 

Ines Gendre

After graduating in 2016 with a master’s degree in marketing, Ines began her career in project management. However she soon decided to turn towards writing, to bring her core competencies to the service of societal changes. First working as a freelance copywriter, she joined Greenly in early 2022 to help fight global warming.

Alexis Normand

Alexis is a 37 year-old graduate of HEC and Sciences-Po. After his studies, he spent 2 years working in public policy consulting. He then spent 6 years at Withings, a leading company in connected objects. While there, he continued the companies operations in Boston, USA, and created the company’s health department. After the company was bought by Nokia, he joined the startup Embleema by working through Techstars, one of the best startup incubators in the United States, where he developed a taste for entrepreneurship. His return to France was an opportunity to put all his experience at the service of the environment, during a crucial moment in the climate crisis.

Arnaud Delubac

Arnaud, 26 years old, trained as a designer and in digital communication at INSEEC before joining the Master Entrepreunariat at ESSEC-CentraleSupélec. Passionate about social media since his teenage years, he has created some of the biggest Twitter communities in France before joining the digital communication team of the Prime Minister’s office in Matignon. It was at the Secretaries of State for Digital, Mounir Mahjoubi and Cédric O, where Arnaud directly managed the team, that he developed a strong conviction for the need to use technology to bring awareness to the greatest causes of our time.

Matthieu Vegreville

Matthieu is a 28 year-old graduate engineer from Ecole Polytechnique and Télecom Paris, with a background in data science at Withings. While there, he worked on watch activity detection algorithms, and developed a health study activity so that connected objects could be used to better monitor certain pathologies. He has long been involved in data science projects with his brother, who has the same training. Faced with the urgency of the climate crisis, he decided to put his know-how at the service of the environment. 

Justine Dumont

Justine a toujours été passionnée de lecture et d’écriture. En 2019, elle parvient justement à faire de sa passion son métier, en devenant rédactrice web indépendante. Motivée par ses engagements écologiques, elle rejoint l’équipe de Greenly en 2022 afin de mettre ses compétences au service de la cause environnementale. 

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What is REDD+ – and how does it aid the environment in the midst of deforestation projects? Can using REDD+ help businesses and forest degradation reduce their carbon footprint?

What is REDD+?

Industrialization, urbanization, and the increased need for agricultural lands have all contributed to deforestation and in turn – created REDD+.<figure id="" class="w-richtext-figure-type-image w-richtext-align-center" data-rt-type="image" data-rt-align="center"><div id=""><img src="https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/6232f79b68d15d3d9b69c096/62e3dc759289b46e17f929cb_TfBbxh4ypxw_01d0UbFlzI_4sn3b-hWwK2ZEVCuOqoo4HsRgFvmpyDFbI7EgtUJmBeIHxj4vyuM7lQ2BXStzRMXLlXN-3rvb2FfSulEfC6uERnMB639m-L0Jl8v1Bzmj2ozxH40Us4YwiDlB7ClGJnA.jpeg" id="" width="auto" height="auto" loading="auto"></div></figure>‍What is REDD+, and how does it help to reduce the environmental impact caused by deforestation and general forest degradation?&nbsp;Is REDD+ ultimately successful at improving the environment and the forests, wildlife, and ecosystems that it seeks to protect? 💟‍<h2 id="">❓What is REDD+?</h2>‍REDD+ is a strategy originally created by the <a href="https://www.greenly.earth/blog-en/cop26-all-you-need-to-know" id="">UNFCCC and the Conference of the Parties</a> to recommend projects in the forest sector to reduce the carbon dioxide emissions created from deforestation and forest degradation.❓What is the UNFCCC?The UNFCCC is an international treaty that encourages participating members to reduce climate change. They attend the Conferences of Parties annually, in addition to members of the Paris Climate Agreement and other various global leaders – to discuss climate change.&nbsp;❓What is the Conference of Parties?The Conference of Parties, more commonly referred to as COP – is an annual meeting where global leaders gather to negotiate ways to mitigate change and various climate challenge issues that are a cause for concern around the world.&nbsp;The goal of the Conference of Parties is to address issues about climate change amongst members of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, or the UNFCCC – so that they have the information to create the necessary actions to reduce climate change. 🌡️💪This correlates to one of the main goals of REDD+, which is to contribute to the global fight against climate change.&nbsp;‍<figure id="" class="w-richtext-figure-type-image w-richtext-align-center" data-rt-type="image" data-rt-align="center"><div id=""><img src="https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/6232f79b68d15d3d9b69c096/62e3dc7603f1697f43a50a47_F_gzA3PB6v-G3MkZElU-H2kTYE7zhuwY8L1NpXmjGUZxrezEpdv883i_dy4V5HVhPLn7E79rhqZKTxnj4HbtCzmeuWR5ShOmF_d2_b9bbB67g6W6p02zvtzZCdBDvozsEV8JGhW-2pOE7uGF921YeZU.jpeg" id="" width="auto" height="auto" loading="auto"></div></figure>‍REDD+ also strives to develop more sustainable management for forest conservation, forest improvement, and <a href="https://www.greenly.earth/blog-en/reforestation-our-guide-to-sustainable-companies" id="">reforestation</a> in developing countries. REDD+ is dedicated to establishing these activities through the use of national governments in order to lower the detrimental impact on forests caused by various human activities.&nbsp;REDD+ is a voluntary establishment and is contingent on the support, circumstances, and willingness to comply from various nations and developing countries.&nbsp;❗The main goal of REDD+ to encourage developing countries to establish better management tactics to carefully consider the resources provided to them by their forests, and to ultimately aid in the collective fight against climate change.&nbsp;‍<h2 id="">🌳 What is the difference between deforestation, forest degradation, and reforestation?&nbsp;</h2>‍There is a difference between reforestation, forest degradation, and deforestation, and it is important to understand the difference in order to understand the objectives of REDD+.Reforestation is a method of attempting to reverse the negative effects of deforestation by planting new trees in place of the ones that have already been destroyed for industrialization or agriculture needs. This is done to improve the ecosystems and recreate a forest that already existed beforehand.&nbsp;❓Did you know that reforestation is a method of reducing carbon dioxide emissions, as trees absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere?Deforestation, on the other hand – is the term used to describe the continued destruction of forests around the world. These natural forests are removed by mankind for industrial, agricultural, or urbanization purposes despite these lands remaining vital to our ecosystems. 🌱Forest degradation is similar to deforestation – but isn’t quite the same.Unlike deforestation, where the forest land is completely destroyed – forest degradation is when a forest and the wildlife in the ecosystem is compromised, but the forest land isn’t eradicated entirely.&nbsp;Reforestation has sprouted as a way to mitigate the effects of deforestation, which has been occurring at a rapid rate since the 1960s as the world continues to modernize.&nbsp;&nbsp;Despite the short-term gain that deforestation can offer for industrialization or urbanization – deforestation is ultimately harmful for life on Earth as it contributes to climate change. 🌡️❗Did you know that deforestation and forest degradation account for nearly 15% of global greenhouse gas emissions? 😲REDD+ seeks to improve the poor effects caused by deforestation and various projects that have harmed other forests impacted by human activities.&nbsp;❗REDD+ is sometimes referred to as the Warsaw Framework for REDD+, or WFR – as the concept for REDD+ was adapted at COP19 in Warsaw.&nbsp;<h2 id="">😟 Why is deforestation and forest degradation so bad for the planet?&nbsp;</h2>‍Deforestation has multiple negative effects on the environment 😬Deforestation leads to soil erosion, which creates insufficient food production and ultimately forces the wildlife in those deforested areas to flee their natural habitats. Deforestation and forest degradation impacts animal species, plants, and flowers that are all essential to cultivating a healthy ecosystem necessary to provide the resources for a healthy human life. 💦Forest degradation and deforestation throw off the natural balance of ecosystems, and therefore – impact all forms of life and the resources that could be used to mitigate climate change otherwise. ⚖️❗Some ways to prevent the need for deforestation in the first place include eating less meat, consuming less overall to decrease the need for supply, and lower the use of fossil fuels or palm oils that contribute to greenhouse gas emissions and global warming. 🌎While small efforts like the ones listed above are great, a long-term plan that aims to reduce the effects of forest degradation and deforestation will ultimately be more impactful and efficacious at mitigating the consequences that deforestation projects have on climate change.&nbsp;🔴In comes REDD+!‍<figure id="" class="w-richtext-figure-type-image w-richtext-align-center" data-rt-type="image" data-rt-align="center"><div id=""><img src="https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/6232f79b68d15d3d9b69c096/62e3dc75e73b691844cb9d7a_1aTcT2zGAPSSrdXXegQNEOiZjHp-RhD3cfmoxf99qE9rHKzdP2x8o8xHrDf2x40-SkPLoxbjs83Co7KXtNhN_-LcbBxsbhoc1qzAk8XaQUYIJcfTLwhvZyJ1f9YhBf2FrzgX2dzPSj_1XRYPlcFIo30.jpeg" id="" width="auto" height="auto" loading="auto"></div></figure><h2 id="">🔨 How does REDD+ work?</h2>‍In order to begin the process of creating a REDD+ strategy plan, a country must first comply with the four core values of REDD+. 📕First, REDD+ national strategy should primarily strive to solve paramount problems that are created from the effects of deforestation and forest degradation – like land tenure, governance, and the equal rights for those who dwell in the locals communities where the deforestation of forest degradation takes place.📍Second, the nationality applying for REDD+ should show that they have a National Forest Monitoring System in place – and how this system is executed, observed, and why this specific forest monitoring strategy was chosen.&nbsp;Third, those applying for REDD+ should establish a Safeguards Information System, which demonstrates the method in which a country approaches environmental and social risks that could become a cause for concern due to REDD+ – as REDD+ poses a few potential negative consequences.&nbsp;The fourth and final value of REDD+ for those applying is to establish a Forest Reference Level. 🌲A Forest Reference Level, otherwise known as FRL – makes use of historical data to predict the baseline emissions in contrast to determine the amount of carbon emissions that the nation in question should strive to reduce. ⬇️‍<figure id="" class="w-richtext-figure-type-image w-richtext-align-center" data-rt-type="image" data-rt-align="center"><div id=""><img src="https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/6232f79b68d15d3d9b69c096/62e3dc75c863296fdadd2e1b_VMjyQVjs-HF_jW2nKiV9pMCZkzRC0sbDB417H7MyphXVYtrYACh9vOjo4yaDJnjKPrCEi39DJ_ksOauxXV-_QsKlsZJcRbRTIdvP3fScmQOnWMIe3mG-W88xoKSzqSTiIk2GTH5Ok-768FjHXqEMmDc.jpeg" id="" width="auto" height="auto" loading="auto"></div></figure>‍Applicants for the&nbsp; REDD+ program should illustrate how their efforts to reduce carbon emissions from deforestation and forest degradation are in line with the Paris Climate Agreement. 🇫🇷Countries applying for REDD+ should then produce an estimated calculation of their emissions reductions so that the data can be reported to the REDD+ information hub. A secretary from the UNFCCC will review the documentation provided by each applying country to make sure all the requirements for REDD+ have been met for approval. 📝One way that countries will try to reduce their carbon emissions is through <a href="https://www.greenly.earth/blog-en/carbon-offset-in-2022-all-you-need-to-know" id="">carbon offsetting</a>, such as reforestation projects to attempt to rebuild the forest, local community, and ecosystem that was destroyed through deforestation and forest degradation. 🏚️❗REDD+ encourages nations to develop sustainable management plans for their forests, including developing countries. Therefore, REDD+ seeks to improve both the&nbsp; biodiversity of a forest and the local community or country that it belongs to – all whale reducing greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change. 🙌🏻<h2 id="">📅 What is the current status of REDD+ as of mid-2022?</h2>‍The Warsaw Framework for REDD+ has created multiple resources to follow through with establishing the mission and executing the goals of REDD+ – such as for technical assistance, building for optimal capacity, demonstration activities, and finance based on the success of REDD+.&nbsp;Developing countries around the world have drastically increased the need for overseeing forest activity, and ultimately support the overall missions of REDD+ – as it remains vital in attempts to protect forests and create long-term forest sustainable management.&nbsp;Since the start of 2020, fifty developing countries have requested a forest reference from REDD+ for a forest reference emission to be sent to the UNFCCC. In addition, fifteen countries have asked for summarized guidance on how to preserve their forests, with twelve of the fifteen having submitted new national plans to protect their forests. 🌲❗In short, REDD+ is not operating at full speed or capacity like it could – but it is well on its way and the development of REDD+ has not been ignored amidst the climate change crisis.&nbsp;<figure id="" class="w-richtext-figure-type-image w-richtext-align-center" data-rt-type="image" data-rt-align="center"><div id=""><img src="https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/6232f79b68d15d3d9b69c096/62e3dc757f06254758b65904_FZco78SZ0f63INgJovaNhM4r5brsRuuwPmPXX2pLqgG3CnVsvW8Wi9fBNGwewYruaFbLDdAw77HnczWbbpl-X9zxy_kwkFQdViNgSCHKvAHvqWRo2izMXptm7k3OZQrql0_vzt-sL6BI13xW3nYyMlE.jpeg" id="" width="auto" height="auto" loading="auto"></div></figure>‍<h2 id="">🔴✅ What are the pros and cons of REDD+?</h2>‍REDD+ has a lot of benefits, but like everything else in life – it isn’t foolproof, nor is it perfect.The pros of REDD+ include its excellent and proven methods of mitigating climate change, how REDD+ protects and promotes biodiversity and new watersheds, how REDD+ focuses on local communities by providing them with new sustainable life habits for those who dwell in local communities or developing countries that depend on forest resources, how REDD+ creates social benefits, and how REDD+ helps old communities that were disregarded during forest degradation use their voice in new political processes to prevent further deforestation or forest degradation.&nbsp;❗The cons of REDD+ are just as abundant and important to note as the pros of REDD+.The cons of REDD+ are that there is no unified definition of what can be called a forest or what sustainable forest management means. This doesn’t allow for a collective data of forest progress as no concrete or standardized measurements towards sustainable forest management can be taken. 🙅‍♀️Also, ownership of the forests of the world aren’t clear – as diverse legal systems often remain in charge of these forests. This makes it difficult to outlaw or define when a local community is considered a resident of a forest land, and makes it hard to prevent forest degradation or deforestation. These legal systems will often not seek to protect the people who live in the forests for this reason.&nbsp;REDD+ does not halt corruption or carbon fraud, as the only places in the world known to have strong governance institutions regarding forests are Brazil and Costa Rica. 🌎&nbsp;REDD+ does not have a proper plan or even an outlined method of how to be financed. If REDD+ cannot be properly financed, then REDD+ cannot help to establish better forest management or ultimately aid in the fight against climate change. 🌡️The cost to upkeep REDD+ is expected to increase, and it will continue to fluctuate depending on the world’s need for better forest management and as climate change continues to persevere as a global predicament. Therefore, the management of REDD+ is also expected to become more difficult, and will require extra time and effort to monitor and adjust the REDD+ program.&nbsp;<h2 id="">🌍 Is REDD+ ultimately beneficial to forest management and the environment?</h2>‍REDD+ doesn’t only prevent climate change, but it also decreases the chances of deforestation and forest degradation. As a result, the encouragement of sustainable forest management allows developing countries and communities around the world to conserve water, prevent flooding, improve soil erosion, and ecosystems. 🌱So, yes – REDD+ is great for the environment! 🙌🏻<h2 id="">What about Greenly? 💚</h2>‍If reading this article about REDD+, deforestation, and reforestation has made you interested in reducing your carbon emission to further fight against climate change – Greenly can help you!Greenly can help you make an environmental change for the better, starting with a carbon footprint assessment to know how much carbon emissions your company produces.<a href="https://www.greenly.earth/en-us" id="">Click here</a> to learn more about Greenly and how we can help you reduce your carbon footprint.&nbsp;‍

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