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Sustainable Development and Implications to Amazonia through
Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD)
Virginia Rux, University of Washington
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ABSTRACT
The Amazon rainforest is the largest tropical rainforest in the world, sequestering a tenth of the world’s
carbon dioxide [2]
. Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD or REDD+,
depending on timeframe), a cost efficient and highly prioritized mechanism under the Kyoto Protocol of
1997, is a global climate policy mechanism which targets a reduction of deforestation in developing
countries that could considerably reduce the release of carbon dioxide, particularly through the
preservation of rainforests and sustainable agriculture. REDD+ financially incentivizes, educates, and
promotes sustainable agricultural practices to combat global warming while addressing disproportionate
economic growth between developed and developing countries. Agriculture significantly contributes to
deforestation as an immediate economic advancement for developing nations but consequently
contributes to greenhouse gases. Evidence shows that from 1970-2011, 20% of Brazil’s rainforest had
been deforested and 40% of savannah land had been converted for agriculture [2]
. The size, location, and
density of the Amazon rainforest affects local rainfall patterns and water cycles. If 30-40% of the forest
coverage is fragmented, Amazonia would become a permanently drier climate [5]
. According to remote
sensing satellite data, incidence of forest fires increased by 59% [1]
. In addition to fragmentation of
rainforests, reforestation and expansion of agriculture raises fire hazard potential, justifying necessary
considerations for policies within REDD and inhibit the potential for negating carbon savings and
unmotivated investors. Educational programs for farmers regulated by deforestation policies, provide
prospects for sustainable farming. Brazilian farmers have demonstrated how rapidly and widely
improved farming management techniques are adopted. Sustainable agriculture can actually contribute
to carbon reserves in time and enhance Amazonia’s economic development [2]
. The information
attributed to this mechanism are examined although increased monitoring and enforcements via satellite
provide spatial information about deforestation rates and additional research into sustainability strategies
are necessary for future scrutiny and success of the implementation of REDD/REDD+.
keywords: REDD, REDD+, deforestation, rainforests, drought, sustainability, agriculture, land use,
climate change, Amazon, developing, economy
Introduction
Due to scientific evidence that suggests a relationship between carbon dioxide and global average
temperatures, the earth is expected to continue warming, causing major implications for the planet.
According to Gattuso et. al., oceans are a major sink of carbon dioxide, absorbing some of the carbon
that induces warming in the atmosphere. Another large sink on Earth come from rainforests. The
Amazon rainforest is the largest tropical rainforest in the world and holds a tenth of the global carbon,
sequestering 0.49 ± 0.18
Pg
C
per
year
[2]
. Between 1970 and 2011, 20 percent of the Brazil’s rainforest
was lost and 40 percent of it’s savannah had been converted for agriculture [2]
. A fractionated forest
where portions have been deforested cannot contribute efficiently to the ecosystem whereas an intact
forest is more resilient to climate. Sunlight reaching the forest floor along with a warming climate
contribute to drought, forest fires and the collapse of biodiversity and the food web. If 30-40% of the
forest coverage is fragmented, Amazonia would become a permanently drier climate [5]
. Reducing
Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD) is a mechanism within the United Nations
Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), whose goal is to fund incentives to reduce
emissions from deforested and degraded land. Because the Amazon resides in developing countries of
South America, deforested land is used to boost their economies primarily through agriculture. Some

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agricultural practices contribute to greenhouse gases therefore policies like REDD+ and EMBRAPA (a
Brazilian Agriculture Research Corporation) [5]
are implemented to integrate, educate and advocate
sustainably produced cattle and soy. [5]
In addition, concerns about policies being developed under
REDD include forest fires which partially negates carbon emission savings. Research for reducing
deforestation rates along with allowing developing countries the freedom to expand their economy is a
concern for policy makers and the future development of REDD. According to a recent Washington Post
article [6]
, deforestation rates are beginning to increase again, suggesting that while REDD had been
working, it may not be meeting all the needs of Brazil’s economy. Evaluation of the evidence,
researchers seem optimistic that there is enough information to implement sustainable practices and for
REDD to be successful.
The Amazon Rainforest
The rainforest ecosystem contributes more than just a carbon reservoir to the world, the Amazon
rainforest can affect local rainfall patterns. The rainforest has plentiful vegetation for evapotranspiration
(evaporation and transpiration from plants taking up moisture and transferring it back into the atmosphere
through the leaves) providing a hydrological cycle involving the creation of it’s own rainfall, thus
recycling approximately 25-50 percent of it’s water. [5]
Since the roots of the trees are shallow,
fragmented forest coverage from deforestation or forest fires allows the surface to be exposed and
warmed through solar radiation encouraging the forest floor to dry out—a feedback that effectively kills
more trees in an environment that is already predicted to experience more droughts. This has
ramifications on a warming climate, contributing to fire susceptibility, biodiversity, and degradation of
the soil conducive for plant growth. Policies including REDD+ use research and advocates from both
developing and developed nations to combat these implications. Incentives are in place for reducing
deforestation rates and future policy needs all the research possible to be more efficient in reaching those
goals. Without this mechanism, deforestation rates will have irreversible impacts to the local ecosystem
and extensive contributions to global warming through greenhouse gas emissions.
REDD/REDD+
Similar to the Clean Development Mechanism which provides credits for reducing greenhouse
gas emissions (GHGE), Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD) started
in 1997 under the Kyoto Protocol where afforestation and reforestation were credited for reducing
GHGE. REDD was considered high-priority and one of the most cost effective mitigation mechanisms
addressing climate change, potentially reducing emission by 13-50 billion tons of carbon by 2100 [1]
. In
2010, new policy segments were included to REDD and the acronym was altered to REDD+. Currently,
new considerations under REDD+ include reducing emissions from deforestation and degradation,
conservation and enhancement of forest carbon stocks, and sustainability management [7]
. These goals
were broadened to not only mitigate climate change and sustain an important ecosystem, but also alleviate
poverty through sustainable agriculture which will drive the economy. REDD+ will provide the financial
incentives and alleviate educational burdens to sustainably practice farming methods which will provide
a better quality of life for workers and communities seeking advancement while maintaining the
reduction goals of GHGE.
Enhanced Fire Risks
Changes in land usage through secondary forests and agriculture will not be as successful without
realizing the enhanced fire risks. Growth of mechanized agriculture over cleared land along with
increased fire incidence may negate the savings of GHGEs under REDD. The incidence of forest fires

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increased by 59% according to data derived from remote sensing satellites [1]
. Susceptibility of fire
occurrence can often come from fractionated forest covers because the soil and vegetation drying out and
becoming an ignition source. Once these forests have burned, they are more vulnerable to future burns
[5]
. Fire analysis on the Amazon by Aragão and Shimbukuro shows that secondary forests are a common
area of increased frequency in forests fires, primarily due to human ignition. Fire occurrences therefore
become a source of carbon in the atmosphere and affects the revival of soils and rainforests [1]
. Research
indicates that proper monitoring and enforcement is important for stakeholders in REDD. Failure to
comprehensively monitor fire incidence and the degradation of these forests may discourage investors
within REDD. Through past considerations, REDD+ currently employs an important role in reducing
fires through management policies from early detection, prevention, preparedness and early response for
suppression and restoration of scorched areas [8]
. Drought and growth in agriculture also contributes to
fire risks. Soil quality from scorching also has further implications for agricultural economic
development in Amazonian countries.
Agriculture
The agriculture sector has been a vital economic resource for Amazonia. Of the deforestation in
Amazonia, 70% was provoked by cattle ranching [5]
. Although cattle and mechanized agriculture
operations contribute considerably to GHGE, sustainable techniques such as crop rotation, no-till, and
re-fertilization of degraded soils substitute as an initial short term greenhouse gas investment (nitrous
oxide and methane, both potent but short lived molecules in the atmosphere), but can eventually grant an
overall carbon sink for the region. Sustainability programs strive to enrich sandy Amazonian soils in
already deforested land areas and savannah, promote crop rotation and utilize integration methods which
allow for multiple crops to grow with nitrogen fixing crops during the dry season to bulk cattle. To
enhance carbon storage, these farmers are implementing no-tilling methods which would release GHGs
into the atmosphere. Galford et. al. (2013) reports that Brazilian farmers demonstrated how rapidly and
widely improved farming management techniques are adopted. Additional benefits include decreased
run-off, decreased erosion and improved water quality, noting that although GHGE through these
methods are not well documented, Galford et. al. remains optimistic of these conservation and sustainable
approaches to reduce emissions contribute positively to developing countries. Further research in this
area could make a difference in sustainable strategies and inspire developed countries to adopt similar
techniques regardless of current state of agricultural practices.
Future Implications
Rates of deforestation and thus carbon emissions in Amazonia are sensitive to growth through
infrastructure building (roads), agriculture and logging exports, threatening carbon emissions to increase
again. REDD+ is an incentive based mechanism but has received some debate of becoming market-
based as countries continue to develop although it is not currently being supported [7]
. Through
implementation of forestry policy along with sustainable agriculture in mitigating global warming, more
monitoring of deforestation rates, drought and fire incidence through remote sensing and enforcements
of planning and execution of these policies are continuous concerns for the future of REDD [5]
. Despite
the decrease in deforestation rates over the past decade, a February 2016 Washington Post news article
[6]
claimed that deforestation rates have started to take a turn due to recent economic decline. News of
the economic decline and deforestation increase place concerns for more intervention in Amazonia and
in particularly troubled regions. Deforestation, human induced ignition of fires, drought projections and
forest fragmentation in a warming world will drastically alter biodiversity, hydrology and weather
patterns in the locale and accelerate chaos if REDD+ and other governmental policy aspects are not
continually revisited and addressed.

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Conclusion
REDD+ is essential for South America to significantly mitigate long term global climate change
contributions. More research involving strategies to maintain rainforest coverage while allowing
countries to sustainably enhance their economy and living quality will demonstrate that these strategies
allow countries who may be affected disproportionately by climate change and can proactively contribute
fairly to climate change policy. Rainforests withdraw carbon dioxide from the atmosphere with the
Amazon rainforest being one of the largest rainforest carbon reservoirs. While reforestation is practical
for growing these reserves, controlling fire outbreaks and large-scale agricultural operations are vital
considerations which could potentially negate policy goals. For REDD+ to be successful and decrease
deforestation and the effects of drought, weather patterns and hence the hydrologic cycle, the globe needs
to continue pursuing research, monitoring and enforcement of sustainable agricultural practices while
maintaining a decrease of deforestation rates. The Amazon rainforest and their countries are sensitive to
potential net contributions or solutions to global warming. Despite the most recent news, a lot of
researchers are optimistic that REDD+ is a cost efficient and effective way to mitigate climate change.
“Some countries however are likely to include REDD+ as a strong component of their INDC given the
importance of forests as both a source and sink of greenhouse gas emissions.” [7]
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References:
1. Aragão, L.E.O.C. & Shimbukuro, Y.E. (2010). The Incidence of Fire in Amazonian Forests
with Implications for REDD. Science, 302. 1275-1278.
2. Galford, G.L. & Soares-Filho, B. & Cerri, C.E.P. (2013). Prospects for land-use sustainability
on the agricultural frontier of the Brazilian Amazon. Phil Trans R Soc B 368: 20120171
3. Gattuso, J.-P., et. al. (2015). Contrasting futures for ocean and society from different
anthropogenic CO2 emissions scenarios. Science, 349(6243). aac4722-1 – 10.
4. Gullison, R. E. et. al. (2007). Tropical Forests and Climate Policy. Science, 316.
5. Malhi, Y. et. al. (2008). Climate Change, Deforestation, and the Fate of the Amazon. Science,
319. 169-172
6. Mooney, C. (2016 February 11). The solution to climate change that has nothing to do with
cars or coal: Why saving forests has emerged as a key part of the global climate picture. The
Washington Post
7. The REDD desk: a collaborative resource for REDD readiness. (2015 July 10). Retrieved from:
theredddesk.org/what-is-redd#toc-2
8. FAO at the 5th
International Wildfire Fire Conference: Sun City, South Africa. (9-13 May
2011). Food and Agriculture of the United Nations. Retrieved from:
fao.org/docrep/014/am663e/am663e00.pdf