The Forestry Act (1988) and its implementing instrument the Forestry Regulations (1989), together with the Wildlife Conservation Act (1972) are the main legal texts which come into play for REDD+ implementation. These are currently under review (June 2013) and the updated versions are expected to reflect new national interests such as conservation of, and payment for environmental services and carbon trading. The Mines and Minerals Act (2009) is of relevance to REDD+ implementation as mineral extraction takes precedence over all other forms of land use, which may or may not affect areas set aside for REDD+. The Environmental Protection Agency Act (2008) provides for the implementation of environmental safeguards, such as Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA), in concession areas that affect forests. Land in the Provinces, which is where most forestland is located, is governed by customary laws and the Provinces Land Act Cap. 122 (1960). However, this Act is likely to be reformed along with the new national Land Policy, under review in 2013.

Sierra Leone is a signatory to a number of international conventions and treaties. These include the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and its Kyoto Protocol, the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar), the Convention Covering the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage, and the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (CCD). The Government of Sierra Leone has also endorsed the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP).