A study of how REDD+ can be used to improve the adaptation of local communities to climate change – a case study of Central Kalimantan Indonesia

Abstract

Little attention has been paid in the scientific literature to the practicalities of how REDD+(the climate policy of ‘Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation’) cancontribute to the adaptation of local communities, particularly in regards to how specificelements of REDD+ can be implemented at the local-scale to best support positivecommunity adaptation outcomes. This thesis explores this gap in the literature byanalysing experiences of REDD+ in Central Kalimantan, Indonesia. It provides a localperspective on how REDD+ safeguards could be implemented in a multi-scalar policycontext (local to national). These experiences in-turn provide insights into the way othermulti-scalar policy initiatives (especially in regard to community adaptation toenvironmental change) can be applied more effectively.Experiences from REDD+ demonstration projects have highlighted the challenges inensuring adequate, positive outcomes for local communities. The premise of this thesis isthat by providing climate change adaptation benefits, REDD+ initiatives are more likely tobenefit local communities in developing countries and are therefore more likely to besuccessfully implemented. This thesis explores whether REDD+ can improve theadaptation of local communities to climate change, and provides policy recommendationsto increase the likelihood of achieving this outcome in multi-scalar contexts.This thesis uses a qualitative case study methodology. Central Kalimantan in Indonesia isused as a case study because it has been a pilot province for Indonesia’s REDD+ effortssince 2010. Actions have been taken in Central Kalimantan that have led to regionalcapacity building and the establishment of several REDD+ pilot projects within the region.Interviews were performed with actors and stakeholders involved with REDD+ at the localand regional levels in Central Kalimantan. In addition, a study of three villages thatexperienced a REDD+ demonstration activity (under the so called ‘Kalimantan ForestCarbon Partnership’) is also included in this thesis.This thesis begins by reviewing the potential benefits and challenges associated withREDD+, especially in regards to local communities. The adaptation literature is thenreviewed with emphasis on how assessments of the adaptive capacity of localcommunities can be performed. Based on this review a framework is proposed to assessthe adaptive capacity of local communities. That framework includes special reference tothe need to recognise multi-scalar influences. The framework derived from the review is then applied to the case study and severalelements of local community adaptive capacity are identified. Based on this assessment, Ipropose some strategies that would most likely lead to improvements in the capacity ofcommunities to adapt to climate change. A key conclusion drawn from the analysis is thatmulti-scalar influences do not only affect local adaptive capacity elements but also providekey insights into how adaptation strategies should be designed.The thesis then investigates the potential impacts of REDD+ on local communities inCentral Kalimantan. Results reveal that local communities would generally benefiteconomically and institutionally from REDD+, but that there could be substantial risks ifREDD+ is not applied appropriately in multi-scalar contexts. Experiences within the studyvillages illustrated how conflict arose between local communities and REDD+ operativesdue to the unsatisfactory implementation of safeguards. Based on these experiences, Imake several recommendations for how international REDD+ safeguards can be betterimplemented on national, regional and local scales.Finally, this thesis integrates these results to analyse the potential for REDD+ to improvethe adaptation of local communities. Results show REDD+ benefits will most likely lead toadaptation improvements implicitly. However, to maximize adaptation benefits, REDD+should incorporate key elements into its design, which include adding an adaptationcomponent in its key objectives, enabling appropriate safeguard mechanisms and securinglocal support for adaptation outcomes. A key additional finding is that interviewees were inagreement that adaptation goals often provide more useful benefits to local communitiescompared to short-term development initiatives. These findings provide insight into multiscalaradaptation policy in-general. The findings highlight the role supervisory bodies canhave in developing strong linkages across different levels of decision-making and actionand, presenting clear roles at each level, and acknowledging local interests and needs.At the national and regional levels, this thesis contributes useful information to help theIndonesian Government achieve its dual goal of implementing REDD+ effectively andproviding benefits to its local communities. At a more local level, the research offers somekey insights into the adaptation strategies that can be implemented that would lead to theimproved adaptive capacity of local communities in the case study villages.