Are Countries Ready for REDD+ Payments? REDD+ Readiness in Bhutan, India, Myanmar, and Nepal

The Paris Agreement recognized the significant role of forests in climate change mitigating and adapting. It also emphasized importance Reducing Emissions from Deforestation forest Degradation (REDD+) mechanism as a vital tool for achieving goal limiting global warming to 1.5 °C above pre-industrial levels. This study aims assess REDD+ readiness Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal preparation effectively implementing at national level. A total 57 indicators across five categories were used evaluate readiness: overall readiness, technical institutional financing strategy safeguard readiness. indicator-based questionnaire was administered government officials, NGOs, private sectors, academics. results showed that slightly more advanced owing part longer period World Bank-supported Terai Arc ER-P. India scored highly has several sub-national programmes implementation. Bhutan had strong ratings but lower scores Myanmar consistent areas, score However, political governance situations pose challenges effective implementation Myanmar.