30 April 2013: The UN Collaborative Programme on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation in Developing Countries (UN-REDD) has released a publication, titled ‘Legal Analysis of Cross-cutting Issues for REDD+ Implementation: Lessons Learned from Mexico, Viet Nam and Zambia.’ The purpose of the report is to identify key legal issues impacting REDD+ and highlight lessons learned and messages from legal reform and development in the case study countries.

The report is based on three country-level assessments of REDD+ legal preparedness as well as national stakeholder consultation workshops. Main conclusions include: the need to recognize customary rights; the importance of clear definitions of forests and REDD+; and the value of cross-sectoral approaches to addressing deforestation and forest degradation.

The report also stresses the importance of addressing contradictory laws in order to ensure harmonization across sectors and levels of government, as well as the need to enhance institutional coordination, stakeholder participation, and both public and private investments in REDD+.

Finally, the report explores issues related to decentralization, benefit sharing and national priorities for further legal analysis or reform in the focus countries. [Publication: Legal Analysis of Cross-cutting Issues for REDD+ Implementation: Lessons Learned from Mexico, Viet Nam and Zambia] [UN-REDD Press Release]