Abstract
The Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation program, or REDD+, has been the international community’s first real attempt to create a global forest governance system which would impact countries on national, regional and even local scales. This paper provides an in-depth analysis on the impact of REDD+ on forest-dependent communities. The dimensions which are included in this review are institutions and governance, livelihoods, socio-cultural aspects, and the environment. Many studies confirm that forest-dependent communities are not sufficiently involved in current REDD+ projects. Furthermore, current and potential impacts of REDD+ on communities often disrupt local peoples’ livelihoods and strategies, institutions and socio-cultural systems in various ways, such as unequal benefit sharing, food insecurity, introduction of new powerful stakeholders, illegal land acquisition, unfair free prior and informed consent, and the introduction of monoculture plantations. REDD+ is also perceived as a neoliberal mechanism which renegotiates peoples’ relationship with the natural environment by monetizing nature. The paper concludes with a framework which addresses the potential drivers and threats of REDD+ concerning forest-dependent communities based on the literature review. This framework suggests a holistic approach to REDD+ implementation, which incorporates forest-dependent communities’ often complex relationship with the natural environment, such as incorporation of traditional forest management systems and provision of viable alternatives to loss of agricultural land.
Highlights
Forest-dependent communities, consisting of approximately 300 million people in 2000 [1], occupy around 80% of the planet’s biodiversity and ecosystems and legally own at least 11% of the world’s forestland [2]
Each subsequent section of this paper explores the impact of REDD+ on institutions and governance systems, livelihoods, socio-cultural systems, and the environment respectively
A study of Ravikumar et al [28] focused on 23 subnational REDD+ initiatives in six countries and they conclude that multilevel governance challenges relate to vertical coordination and information sharing as well as horizontal and inter-sectoral tensions
Summary
Forest-dependent communities, consisting of approximately 300 million people in 2000 [1], occupy around 80% of the planet’s biodiversity and ecosystems and legally own at least 11% of the world’s forestland [2]. AAfftteerr tthhee CCOOPP1166 iinn CCaannccuunn iinn DDeecceemmbbeerr 22001100,, tthhee ddeecciissiioonn wwaass mmaaddee nnoott oonnllyy ttoo mmiittiiggaattee cclliimmaattee cchhaannggee bbyy rreedduucciinngg eemmiissssiioonnss ffrroomm ddeeffoorreessttaattiioonn aanndd ffoorreesstt ddeeggrraaddaattiioonn,, bbuutt aallssoo tthhrroouugghh tthhee ccoonnsseerrvvaattiioonn ooff ccaarrbboonn ssttoocckkss,, ssuussttaaiinnaabbllee mmaannaaggeemmeenntt ooff ffoorreessttss,, aanndd eennhhaanncceemmeenntt ooff ccaarrbboonn stocks—e.g., through reforestation or afforestation These REDD+ activities should be: country driven, consistent with the objective of environmental integrity and take the multiple functions of forests and ecosystems into account, implemented in the context of sustainable development and poverty reduction, consistent with the adaptation needs of the country, results based and, lastly, promote the sustainable management of forests [12]. The World Bank requires a participating country to properly address relevant issues in their R-Plans which include: Equitable benefit sharing; promotion of future large-scale positive incentives for REDD+; enhancement of livelihoods of local communities; carbon ownership; involvement of forest-dependent and indigenous communities; and conservation of biodiversity. The sections of this review explore in what way there are discrepancies between policy and actual implementation
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