Policy Support
Helping countries shape strong policy to fight deforestation and increase forest cover.
Policy Support
Helping countries shape strong policy to fight deforestation and increase forest cover.
An Overview
We have striven for a systemic change to make trees worth more alive than dead since 2004. From the original inspiration of Chief Sir Michael Somare, the then-Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea, through years of tough international negotiations to the successful inclusion of our mechanism– Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation (REDD)–within the Paris Agreement, we never lost sight of our goal
Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation (REDD+) is the innovative concept introduced by CfRN at UN Climate Summit (COP11) in 2005. After over a decade of persistence, and with over 50 rainforest countries in support, the Coalition of Rainforest Nations finally succeeded in establishing REDD+ within a global climate agreement between the members of the United Nations. REDD+ is also viewed as one of the pillars of low-carbon development strategies for countries who depend on rainforests as a major component of their economy.
While we were successful in our mission to mandate REDD+ as part of the Paris Agreement, we still have work to do ensure that rainforests as a climate solution remain recognized in the Paris Agreement; that participating countries receive results-based payments for stopping deforestation, and to support countries with domestic policy efforts. REDD+ initiative has still not yet been implemented at its full potential, and the lack of international funding is our primary challenge.

CfRN delegates in India learning about forest inventories in a South-South learning experience.

Participants, including Alfred Gichu, Head of the Climate Change Response Program at Kenya Forest Service (KFS) and national REDD+ coordinator, of the CfRN training in Nairobi, 2019.
REDD+ has become the most internationally recognized, economically viable, and immediate mitigating agent of climate change.
REDD+ has become the most internationally recognized, economically viable, and immediate mitigating agent of climate change.

Kevin Conrad and Federica Bietta of CfRN negotiating at the Paris Agreement talks in 2015.

What we do
The Coalition for Rainforest Nations (CfRN) is a party grouping recognized under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
Since 2005, the CfRN has achieved significant influence within international policy related to tropical forests and the climate emergency, and has also generated significant international political will to:
- support REDD+ initiatives and dramatically expand REDD+ reach;
- secure significant milestones within international climate negotiations;
- catalyze international mechanisms for analysis, capacity, and technology;
- and piloted related policy, such as World Bank’s Forest Carbon Partnership Facility and the UNREDD Program.
As a result, REDD+ has become the most internationally recognized, economically viable, and immediate mitigating agent of climate change.
The introduction of the REDD+ concept into the climate negotiations and the launch of our policy support the Coalition has inspired many countries to join the initiative.