Geographic overlaps between priority areas for forest carbon-storage efforts and those for delivering peacebuilding programs: Implications for policy design

TY - JOUR

T1 - Geographic overlaps between priority areas for forest carbon-storage efforts and those for delivering peacebuilding programs

T2 - Implications for policy design

AU - Nunez, Augusto Carlos Castro

AU - Mertz, Ole

AU - Sosa, Chrystian C.

PY - 2017

Y1 - 2017

N2 - Of the countries considering national-level policies for incentivizing reductions in forest-based greenhouse gas emissions (REDD+), some 25 are experiencing (or are emerging from) armed-conflicts. It has been hypothesized that the outcomes of the interactions between carbon-storage and peacebuilding efforts could result in either improved or worsened forest conservation and likewise increased or decreased conflict. Hence, for this study we explore potential interactions between forest carbon-storage and peacebuilding efforts, with Colombia as a case study. Spatial associations between biomass carbon and three conflict-related variables suggest that such interactions may exist. Nonetheless, while priority areas for carbon-focused conservation are presumably those at highest risks of deforestation, our research indicates that forests with lower risk of deforestation are typically those affected by armed-conflict. Our findings moreover highlight three possible roles played by Colombian forested municipalities in armed groups' military strategies: venues for battle, hideouts, and sources of natural resources to finance war.

AB - Of the countries considering national-level policies for incentivizing reductions in forest-based greenhouse gas emissions (REDD+), some 25 are experiencing (or are emerging from) armed-conflicts. It has been hypothesized that the outcomes of the interactions between carbon-storage and peacebuilding efforts could result in either improved or worsened forest conservation and likewise increased or decreased conflict. Hence, for this study we explore potential interactions between forest carbon-storage and peacebuilding efforts, with Colombia as a case study. Spatial associations between biomass carbon and three conflict-related variables suggest that such interactions may exist. Nonetheless, while priority areas for carbon-focused conservation are presumably those at highest risks of deforestation, our research indicates that forests with lower risk of deforestation are typically those affected by armed-conflict. Our findings moreover highlight three possible roles played by Colombian forested municipalities in armed groups' military strategies: venues for battle, hideouts, and sources of natural resources to finance war.

KW - armed-conflicts

KW - Climate change

KW - co-benefits

KW - forest-carbon storage

KW - peacebuilding

KW - REDD

KW - UNFCCC

U2 - 10.1088/1748-9326/aa6f20

DO - 10.1088/1748-9326/aa6f20

M3 - Letter

AN - SCOPUS:85019559256

SN - 1748-9326

VL - 12

JO - Environmental Research Letters

JF - Environmental Research Letters

IS - 5

M1 - 054014

ER -