Nepal emits 0.025% of GHGs in atmosphere which is very minimal in comparison to other developing countries. Forest absorbs the GHGs widely .But deforestation and Forest Degradation can alter the proportion. So to reduce emission from Deforestation and Forest Degradation REDD⁺ has evolved as a mean to reduce carbon emission through sustainable forest management. According to UN Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD) is an effort to create a financial value for the carbon stored in forests, offering incentives for developing countries to reduce emissions from forested lands and invest in low-carbon paths to sustainable development. "REDD+" goes beyond deforestation and forest degradation, and includes the role of conservation, sustainable management of forests and enhancement of forest carbon stocks.

REDD+ pilot project is  implemented since 2010 in 105 Community forest of three distinguished watershed  region of Nepal: Kayarkhola watershed ( Chitwan) , Charnawati watershed (Dolkha) and Ludhikhola watershed (Gorkha) with total area of 10,266 hect for the carbon sequestration by reducing forest deforestation and degradation.

 It is also a smart policy that addresses economic upliftment of people by economic benefit, and tackles upon mitigation of Climate change under cooperation and collaboration of Community Forest Users Group (CFUG), ICIMOD, UNFCC, ANSAP. “REDD⁺ is an Smart policy incentive based mechanism for conservation if enough environmental and social safeguard are in place REDD can promote conservation and sustainable management of forest resources by forest management, however it depends upon how the global policy and agreement are reached on REDD.” said Bhaskar Karki (Resource Economist, ICIMOD). REDD payment = forest carbon stock and forest carbon enhancement(40%) + ethnic diversity(25%) + population of women(15%) + number of poor household(20%).

REDD⁺ focused toward the community participation for the capacity building to the people to monitor and measure the CO₂  Concentration themselves. The REDD policy empowered women toward Sustainable forest management activities, income generation opportunities through cloth sewing , fish farming  which helped in the livelihood of people and also uplifted the cooking method to Biogas fuel which reduced the indoor air pollution and wood demand and also helped control forest fire.

Therefore, REDD⁺ program assist to achieve Conservation practice and Sustainable Forest management through community participation, that reduce deforestation and forest degradation, mitigate Climate Change phenomenon through Carbon sequestration. Along that it is an effort to create a financial value for the carbon stored in forests. It also empower women through their active participation and income generation opportunity through capacity building to safeguard social environment and motive people toward sustainable forestry practice in developing countries.

So, these are the learning that I learnt from the Documentary REDD plus for Green Community : A pilot plan in Nepal. Published by ICIMOD.