Tenure Constraints and Carbon Forestry in Africa

Abstract

Our analysis shows that landowners with customary tenure in Africa can be efficient providers of carbon forestry if tree planting helps secure their permanent claims to the land. If the farmer's tree planting can reduce the threat of eviction, the amount of land allocated to carbon forestry may be greater or lesser than under private ownership, but it is always more than if tenure security is completely absent. Our results support the view that carbon forestry schemes should accommodate traditional African customary tenure systems, and if designed successfully, can both promote carbon forestry and benefit the poor.