Abstract
SUMMARY The general reluctance of policy makers to include forests in discussions about global warming has changed with the development of measures to Reduce Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation (REDD). Mesoamerica presents a logical starting point to promote REDD due to the extent of its forest, and the relatively advanced state of its forest management institutions and policies. This paper reviews the prospects for REDD in Mesoamerica using PES and other instruments, with emphasis on the effectiveness of REDD measures at reducing emissions, and their efficiency and fairness. It concludes that in spite of reduced deforestation in the region, the growth of payments to avoid deforestation will be the most important policy change related to REDD in the region in the coming years. However, the magnitude and impact of any payments must not be exaggerated and should be set in context of the overall trends resulting from broader social and economic dynamics.
Highlights
Until recently, policy discussions about global warming paid scant attention to forests
This paper reviews the prospects for Reduce Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation (REDD) in Mesoamerica using Payment for Environmental Services (PES) and other instruments, with emphasis on the effectiveness of REDD measures at reducing emissions, and their efficiency and fairness
Attempts to target REDD initiatives on forests at greater risk would probably affect indigenous peoples and community forestry groups negatively, since they have conserved most of their forest reasonably well and could be expected to continue to do so
Summary
The general reluctance of policy makers to include forests in discussions about global warming has changed with the development of measures to Reduce Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation (REDD). This paper reviews the prospects for REDD in Mesoamerica using PES and other instruments, with emphasis on the effectiveness of REDD measures at reducing emissions, and their efficiency and fairness. It concludes that in spite of reduced deforestation in the region, the growth of payments to avoid deforestation will be the most important policy change related to REDD in the region in the coming years. Cet article examine les espoirs de la REDD en Méso-Amérique en utilisant le PES et d’autres instruments, tout en soulignant l’efficacité des mesures de la REDD pour réduire les émissions, ainsi que la justice avec laquelle ses actions sont opérées, et son succès général. La magnitud y el impacto de estos pagos no deben ser exagerados, y hay que considerarlos dentro del contexto de las tendencias globales que son el resultado de una dinámica social y económica más amplia
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