The global mechanism to reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD) threatens to reverse positive forestry reforms in developing countries that were already tackling the problem, a new study finds.
The report - published in the journal Science by Edward Webb and Jacob Phelps - examines how the scheme could soon become too valuable and complex, increasing the likelihood of local communities being excluded.
On a national level, the rush to enter a competitive carbon market would undermine a pre-existing “decentralisation trend” in poorer countries, where cash-strapped governments have been giving local communities and administrations more rights and powers to manage their forests.
Decentralised forest management is seen to have improved forest carbon storage and resulted in better incomes in a number of developing nations. REDD, the report outlines, is performance-based mechanism that would dramatically increase the market value of forests. The risk of non-payment resulting from local failures in forest management would prompt central governments to increase control.
Webb and Phelps say a properly constituted REDD scheme is complex and risks poor outcomes if rushed.
The report appeared days after a joint statement of concern was released (http://bit.ly/dpE4sB) (http://bit.ly/9hAmqO) by 42 environmental organisations, which denounced the Paris-Oslo process for failing to properly consider the interests of local peoples.
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