FLEGT and REDD+ Synergies and Impacts in the Congo Basin: Lessons for Global Forest Governance

This document provides the results of a study on the synergies and impacts of FLEGT and REDD+ in the Congo Basin countries. The results point to the conclusion that fundamental governance reform and a change in incentive structures and enforcement will be needed for FLEGT and REDD+ to effectively contribute to the global efforts of reducing tropical deforestation. FLEGT and REDD+ and other global policies to reduce deforestation should be mainstreamed into national economic strategies to help tropical countries shift away from extractive scenarios, otherwise the processes will have only a marginal overall impact on protecting and conserving tropical forests.