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This paper shows how a series of concepts and methodological tools, already existing in UNFCCC decisions and IPCC guidance documents, may greatly help to deal with the uncertainties of the estimates of reduced emissions from deforestation. In this context, this paper aims to address the question whether it is possible to reconcile the request of robust and credible estimates with the incompleteness and high uncertainty which will likely characterize the estimates of emissions from deforestation in many tropical countries. The article does this through using the IPCC methodologies and UNFCCC reporting and review principles as a framework, then applying them into the REDD context. Key considerations are on the conservativeness principle and different options for implementing it to REDD. It is furthermore suggested that most of the considerations expressed hereafter could also be useful in the context of the very uncertain emissions from forest degradation.