Risks and opportunities of REDD+ implementation for environmental integrity and socio-economic compatibility

Michael Huettner

doi:10.1016/j.envsci.2011.10.002

Abstract

REDD+ (Reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation and the enhancement of carbon stocks) emerges as promising incentive mechanism for tropical forest protection. While REDD+ is expected to yield poverty reduction and biodiversity co-benefits besides emission reductions, its international incentive design options pose several risks to socio-economic compatibility and environmental integrity. We use an expert survey – ranging from international policy makers to local REDD+ project stakeholders - to rate the perceived significance and likelihood of these risks for national REDD+ implementation. Additionally, the survey asks for the perceived effectiveness of different policy options to minimize these risks. We investigate the risk perception according to regional, topical or stakeholder groupings using cluster and regression analysis. The results shed light on the most importantly perceived risks to national REDD+ implementation among stakeholder groups and display their views on appropriate policy measures to mitigate these risks. Understanding their perceptions will not only help improving national REDD+ implementation, but also provide insights for the international policy process.

Highlights

Deforestation and forest degradation in the tropics contributes approx. 12-20 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions (DeFries et al, 2002; Houghton, 2002; Achard et al, 2004; Houghton, 2005; van der Werf et al, 2009) and acts as major driver of biodiversity loss (IGBP, 1996)
Why are certain risks perceived very important by certain stakeholders while others neglect their relevance? Are these different risk perceptions related to characteristics of REDD+ survey stakeholders? To answer these questions, we first stratified the survey data using cluster analysis
We draw from the experience of REDD+ stakeholders on the perceived risks as well as on the perceived effectiveness of policy solutions to assess these national implementation challenges

Summary

Introduction

Deforestation and forest degradation in the tropics contributes approx. 12-20 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions (DeFries et al, 2002; Houghton, 2002; Achard et al, 2004; Houghton, 2005; van der Werf et al, 2009) and acts as major driver of biodiversity loss (IGBP, 1996). Participants in the REDD+ mechanism would receive financial compensation for reducing greenhouse gas emissions from forest change in developing countries. The REDD+ mechanism is still in its planning phase with the aim to fully establish all relevant rules and regulations in the coming years to be functioning for the Post-2012 period of the international climate regime (UNFCCC, 2007a). Until now these discussions had relatively little focus on REDD+ implementation at the national level (Parker et al, 2009). Internationally designed rules on REDD+ incentive allocation can largely influence the national effectiveness of emission reductions as well as other desired project impacts

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