REDD+ and Forest Landscape Restoration: Interlinkages between the two mechanisms

Forests are critical ecosystems for a healthy planet. Yet, despite international efforts of the last decades, they continue to disappear at an alarming rate. Two main international political instruments have emerged to tackle deforestation and support regeneration, particularly in tropical countries. Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) and Forest Landscape Restoration (FLR) are different yet complementary approaches that have been developed to create a sustainable impact on forest ecosystems. Combining the two approaches can exploit synergies to create a more effective and efficient response and help to close the funding gap for action on the ground.

This report, on behalf of WWF Germany, aims to provide an initial assessment of interlinkages, overlaps and potential synergies between REDD+ and FLR. It highlights potential complementary aspects of both approaches and examines the benefits that could be gained from combining them. Interlinkages between the instruments are examined at three levels: (1) international policy frameworks, (2) implementation, and (3) financing, with a particular focus on enabling private sector impact investment in bankable projects.