This overview paper positions thequestion of benefit sharing in the context of REDD plus. Itshares findings from a cursory review of a sample ofReadiness Preparation Proposals (RPP) for REDD plussubmitted to the Forest Carbon Partnership Facility (FCPF).It deconstructs the concept of benefit sharing. It alsoprovides a summary of the main findings from three recentstudies on benefit sharing that were financed by the Programon Forests (PROFOR). The PROFOR studies build on existingresearch. They also use primary and secondary data collectedfrom a literature review, key informant interviews,structured surveys, and case studies. The studies: a)explore the substantive legal issues and procedural optionsfor identifying legitimate and intended beneficiaries insituations where rights are unclear; b) provide informationand tools to assist policy makers and development partnersto design and develop nationally appropriate arrangementsfor transferring REDD plus benefits; and c) provide thelocal partners' perspective on benefit sharing and theprocess involved in determining benefits and establishingarrangements for sharing the benefits.