State of Indigenous Peoples', Local Communities', and Afro-descendant Peoples' Carbon Rights in Tropical and Subtropical Lands and Forests

Abstract

This brief summarizes findings from a study undertaken by the Rights and Resources Initiative and McGill University to systematically analyze the carbon rights held by Indigenous Peoples, local communities, and Afro-descendant Peoples in 33 countries in Africa (11), Asia (9), and Latin America (13) that cover over 35% of the world’s forest. We examine whether and how countries protect the rights necessary for communities to manage, control, and benefit from carbon on their lands and to access compensation and justice when they are affected by carbon trading initiatives. We collected data on 35 indicators from domestic laws and policies related to land, carbon, and resource rights across several sectors, including constitutional law; land tenure administration; and forest, climate, and environmental law. Across these 33 countries, our analysis refers to the legal rules that govern 96 community-based tenure regimes (CBTRs) identified by RRI in these countries.