Thispaperpresentsresultsoftheassessmentonbenefitsharingandpaymentmechanismstestedbysixnon-governmentalorganizations(NGOs)-pilotedReducingEmissionsfromDeforestationandForestDegradation(REDD+)initiativesinTanzania.ResultsfromtheassessmentindicatethatmodelsappliedbymostoftheREDD+pilotprojectshaveprovidedmostofdecisionsforthedistributionofbenefitstothecommunitiesthroughvillagegeneralassemblies.Basedonrequirementsofthetestedmodels,nationalbenefit-sharingmechanismmodelsareproposed.Majorattributestobeconsideredinthedevelopmentofnationalbenefit-sharingmodelsshouldinclude:(i)ensuringthattheexistinggovernmentstructureisnotexcludedtoensuresustainability;(ii)villagegeneralassemblyisinvolvedindeterminingthedistributionofthebenefitsaccrued;and(iii)transparencyinhandlingthecarbonfinanceisensured.ModelsthatareproposedforthenationalREDD+benefitsharingapplytotwoforestmanagementsystems,namelyJointForestManagement(JFM)andCommunityBasedForestManagement(CBFM).ThepaperrecommendstestingofthetwoproposedmodelstodeterminewhethertheycouldbeusefulinsharingbenefitsresultingfromREDD+inTanzania.
