The creation of forest protected areas and reserves, often by use of law, to address the increasing loss of the world's biodiversity raises a number of problematic issues. This approach has placed local community members at the periphery, denying them access to resources they have used and depended on for generations. A strategy called 'Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation' (REDD) has been formulated to address this problem as well as the rapid loss of the world's biodiversity. The REDD scheme aims at compensating governments for putting in place systems for conserving and protecting their forests and reducing emissions of greenhouse pollutants, especially carbon dioxide. Developed countries seek to purchase carbon credits from developing countries which have put in place mechanisms to conserve and manage forests in a sustainable manner in their jurisdictions, in accordance with agreed standards. The author analyses selected legislative enactments whose provisions have a close bearing on the implementation of REDD in Tanzania. The laws which have been selected for analysis are the Environmental Management Act (EMA), 2004, the Land Acts, 1999, the Local Government Acts, 1982, and the Forest Act, 2002.These legislative enactments have more emphasis on provisions that address conservation and management of forests, the key ingredient of REDD, due to the relationship between forest degradation and climate change. In addition, the author analyses some of the provisions and regulations which address management and governance issues at a local community level which were implemented in an effort to reach out to local communities living in proximity to natural resources