Abstract
The Congo Basin forests are a prime location for implementing REDD+. National REDD+ policy processes are ongoing and many REDD+ pilot initiatives are being demonstrated. However, the level of national engagement, progress and distribution of REDD+ activities varies considerably in the different Congo Basin countries. This study therefore uses a set of criteria to assess national and international policy initiatives and approaches for advancing REDD+ implementation in Cameroon and the Democratic Republic Congo (DRC), two countries where more than two thirds of the Congo Basin forests are concentrated. Our findings show that (i) both countries have shown the highest political presence at the international climate negotiations but DRC has invested more in the size of its delegation and side events; (ii) REDD+ donors, initiatives, and funding are disproportionately skewed towards DRC making it technically more advanced; (iii) the high political interest and institutional reforms in DRC favors private sector investments in REDD+ programs; and (iv) the REDD+ policy process is internally-driven in Cameroon with a strong national ownership, while it is externally-driven in DRC with weak national ownership. To advance REDD+, the government of DRC should embark on capacity building programs that ensure the transfer of REDD+ technical know-how from international to national actors while Cameroon needs to speed-up governance reforms and be more flexible in order to attract influential international REDD+ actors. This paper further provides specific recommendations.
Highlights
Efforts by many countries to “reduce emissions from deforestation, forest degradation and to promote the conservation of forest carbon stocks, sustainable management of forests, and enhancement of carbon stocks (REDD+)” are critical to mitigating the effects of anthropogenic climate change
Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Cancun include [1] the voluntary participation of parties; achievable emissions reduction targets; and a performance-based reward system subjected to monitoring, reporting, and verification (MRV)
As one regional expert opined: “Both Cameroon and Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) are very active at the regional level and each has a comparative advantage
Summary
Efforts by many countries to “reduce emissions from deforestation, forest degradation and to promote the conservation of forest carbon stocks, sustainable management of forests, and enhancement of carbon stocks (REDD+)” are critical to mitigating the effects of anthropogenic climate change. Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Cancun include [1] the voluntary participation of parties; achievable emissions reduction targets; and a performance-based reward system subjected to monitoring, reporting, and verification (MRV). These countries are preparing and employing different initiatives, activities as well as policy approaches and strategies to move REDD+ forward. In many parts of the world, several studies have been conducted with the objective of evaluating and comparing existing REDD+ initiatives, projects, thematic issues, programs, policies and strategies at different spatial scales. Cronkleton et al [5] showed that community forest management in Mexico, Brazil, and Honduras has played a great role in advancing the REDD+
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