| CBD | Convention on Biological Diversity |
| CDM | Clean Development Mechanism |
| CER | certified emissions reduction |
| CIFOR | Center for International Forestry Research |
| DOE | Designated Operational Entity |
| EB | Executive Board (of CDM) |
| EIA | environmental impact assessment |
| FAO | Food and Agriculture Organization |
| FSC | Forestry Stewardship Council |
| IGO | intergovernmental organization |
| IIED | International Institute for Environment and Development |
| ITTO | International Tropical Timber Organization |
| IUCN | International Union for Conservation of Nature |
| JFM | joint forest management |
| MA | Millennium Ecosystem Assessment |
| MDG | Millennium Development Goal |
| NGO | nongovernmental organization |
| PDD | Project Design Document |
| PIC | prior informed consent |
| RBA | rights-based approach |
| REDD | reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation |
| SATIIM | Sarstoon Temash Institute for Indigenous Management |
| UNDP | United Nations Development Programme |
| UNFCCC | United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change |
| UNFF | United Nations Forum on Forests |
| WHO | World Health Organization |