​Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) have set ambitious targets (Aichi targets) to prevent dramatic biodiversity loss by 2020. Keeping forests road free, and preventing fragmentation of natural habitats, RoadFree contributes to achieving several of these Aichi targets:

• Target 3 to eliminate, phase out or reform harmful subsidies.
• Target 5 to halve and where feasible bring close to zero, the loss, degradation and fragmentation of natural habitats.
• Target 11 to conserve at least 17 per cent of terrestrial areas.

The UN programme aimed at Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation (REDD+) is often presented as a relatively cost-effective climate change mitigation strategy.

If done with the correct level of enforceable environmental and social safeguards, controls and regulations, this programme has the potential to protect biodiversity, people, and the climate.

The future of REDD+ is negotiated under various UNFCCC bodies and its future depends on the following points:

• Addressing drivers of deforestation and forest degradation in developing countries,
• Improving and enforcing safeguard measures related to forest governance and the respect of indigenous peoples rights,
• Establishing national modalities to forecast, measure, report, verify and compare (FMRVC) deforestation and forest degradation.

In tropical areas, satellite and land based data indicate that the opening of a new road through a forest is generally followed by the building of secondary roads (paved or unpaved) that will then trigger more degradation and deforestation (conversion to agriculture or ranching). Scientific reports agree on the fact that the majority of deforestation, fragmentation and forest degradation occurs in a “risk-zone” around infrastructure and access networks.

By promoting a global protection of roadless areas, RoadFree addresses roadbuilding as one of the major drivers of deforestation and forest degradation. The initiative also proposes to use existing roads and road development, as a negative performance indicator for the five activities encompassed by REDD+: deforestation, forest degradation, conservation, management, enhancement of forest carbon stock.