Abstract
70) Pasgaard, M.a and Nathan, I.
Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) is a proposed mechanism to mitigate global climate change without compromising biodiversity and local livelihoods. REDD+ initiatives are being introduced at a fast pace across the Global South. Many of these initiatives are local REDD+ projects, which have in common that they aim at combining the objectives of effective and efficient reduction of greenhouse gases, and equitable distribution of benefits to local communities. However, it remains a question whether this is realistic. In this paper, we address this question in the particular context of a REDD+ demonstration project in Oddar Meanchey district in Northern Cambodia. Based on a study of the actual drivers of deforestation in the locality and of the mechanisms presently determining how the participating communities share costs and benefits from forest governance, we conclude that the studied approach to reducing emissions from large scale deforestation is not effective in its present form, and is even likely to increase rather than decrease inequalities among rural people in the area. Factors such as high pressure on land, weak land- and forest tenure, weak governance, and local power structures work against the prospects for the REDD+ project to reach its objective. Finally, we discuss what the project can do to overcome these challenges, and whether other similar projects can draw on the lessons learnt from the demonstration project in Oddar Meanchey.
Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) is a proposed mechanism to mitigate global climate change without compromising biodiversity and local livelihoods. REDD+ initiatives are being introduced at a fast pace across the Global South. Many of these initiatives are local REDD+ projects, which have in common that they aim at combining the objectives of effective and efficient reduction of greenhouse gases, and equitable distribution of benefits to local communities. However, it remains a question whether this is realistic. In this paper, we address this question in the particular context of a REDD+ demonstration project in Oddar Meanchey district in Northern Cambodia. Based on a study of the actual drivers of deforestation in the locality and of the mechanisms presently determining how the participating communities share costs and benefits from forest governance, we conclude that the studied approach to reducing emissions from large scale deforestation is not effective in its present form, and is even likely to increase rather than decrease inequalities among rural people in the area. Factors such as high pressure on land, weak land- and forest tenure, weak governance, and local power structures work against the prospects for the REDD+ project to reach its objective. Finally, we discuss what the project can do to overcome these challenges, and whether other similar projects can draw on the lessons learnt from the demonstration project in Oddar Meanchey.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Publication date | 2014 |
| Number of pages | 1 |
| Publication status | Published - 2014 |