Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation’ (REDD) systems could offer benefits to poor people, particularly in terms of increased, stable and long-term financial and non-financial benefit flows to rural areas. Considering such issues within the design and implementation of REDD systems is likely to increase their effectiveness as climate change mitigation instruments. But in practice, REDD systems could present new risks for the poor. These could include factors such as loss of access to land, the concentration of power by elites and distortion effects in local economic systems. This paper outlines how the design of REDD could influence its poverty implications and the key requirements for ensuring that REDD works for the poor.