REDD+ is a mechanism to minimize the costs of achieving greenhouse gas emission reduction targets, in which high deforestation risk countries are compensated for the carbon value of avoided deforestation to offset emissions from industrialized countries. Theoretically, this concept should provide sufficient incentives such that forests are more valuable standing than cut down. Indonesia has made a bold commitment to reduce its GHG emissions by 26% and to transition its forestry sector from a net carbon source to a net carbon sink by the year 202, through the implementation of a national REDD+ strategy.       

Indonesia houses some of the most diverse and unique terrestrial habitats on earth. Within the archipelago's vast forests live tens of thousands of species, many of which are endemic or have only recently been identified. Hundreds of culturally-distinct communities also derive their livelihoods directly from the forests' resources. In recent years, illegal logging, land conversion to palm oil and timber plantations, severe forest fires, and strip mining operations have soared to unprecedented levels all over Indonesia.

The successful implementation of a national program that provides financial incentives for avoiding deforestation requires accurate, up-to-date information on forest cover change. In particular, the establishment of REDD+ necessitates the development of methodologies for baseline and carbon stock estimates, as well as a comprehensive system for monitoring, reporting, and verification.

The development of REDD initiatives can not be separated from the formulation of a national framework to support key governance  activities including the developiment of an overall REDD+ strategy, a national reference emission level (REL), a systematic approach for MRV, access to the carbon market, funding preferences, indigenous people participation, economic development cost assessment,  and mechanisms for payment distribution.