Sharing the Green Gold: Poverty, Forests and Climate ChangeThe emerging "REDD" mechanism could cut emissions by 20% - but what's in it for the poor?A new global mechanism for mitigating climate change through forest conservation will be one of the hot topics at the upcoming United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen. The mechanism - known as REDD - could lead to very significant emissions reductions, but also involves major risks for the poor in developing countries. Addressing these risks will be critical if we are to avoid that the new scheme works in direct opposition to the Millennium Development Goals. This was one of the key messages emerging from an international seminar at DIIS on “Forests, climate change and poverty”. The seminar was arranged by the Poverty & Environment Working Group, with funding from the Danish Development Research Network. SUMMARY OF THE SEMINAR The emerging “REDD” mechanism: Big opportunities and big risks Deforestation is estimated to account for some 15-20% of global emissions, and most of this takes place in developing countries. As part of the international climate change negotiations, it has been proposed that a global mechanism should be established for Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation (REDD). Through such a mechanism, developing countries would be financially rewarded for ensuring that their forests stay intact through market-based trading of carbon credits and/or establishment of a global fund. REDD could potentially direct very significant finances towards developing countries, thereby addressing economic development and climate change mitigation at the same time. However it could also have severe negative effects on the millions of forest users who rely heavily on forests in their everyday livelihoods. For instance, hard-line forest protection measures or other policies could deprive rural populations of both food, income and shelter – thereby acting counter to the Millennium Development Goals. Bringing poverty into the REDD mechanism Taking a pro-poor perspective, the seminar sought to explore these risks and opportunities by drawing on existing knowledge of land use and poverty dynamics, and on practical experiences from ongoing forest management in developing countries. The presentations and debate led to identification of a number of issues that require attention in REDD negotiations and in the various donor-funded efforts to prepare developing countries for such a mechanism. This included: 1. Consideration of how the rights of and benefits for local forest users (including Indigenous Peoples) can best be addressed in the negotiations towards and during COP 15 and beyond. This includes identifying what levels of agreements and governance (international, national, local) are the most appropriate focal points for ensuring local rights and benefits. 2. A more refined knowledge and perspective is needed on the drivers behind deforestation. These range from local dynamics involving small-scale forest users, to global processes driven by consumption patterns in eg the US, Europe and China. It will be crucial to ensure that drivers are addressed fairly in REDD, and do not end up punishing the poor while allowing ongoing deforestation driven by consumption patterns in the North. 3. Governance mechanisms will be crucial in ensuring a pro-poor REDD process. Without inclusive and transparent forest governance in the countries involved, the risk is very high that the poor will either not benefit or suffer negative impacts. This also involves governance of the REDD mechanism itself, which needs to represent the interests of poor forest users at all levels. 4. The potential negative and positive benefits of expanding current REDD proposals to also include forest carbon enhancing activities such as forest restoration and afforestation need to be better understood. Forest restoration measures through eg Participatory Forest Management hold good potential for a more pro-poor REDD process, while on the other hand large-scale forest plantations may have adverse social and environmental effects. 5. So far much attention has centered on wet forests in REDD. However the role of dry forests will need to be addressed. If not there is a risk that conservation in wet forests will only push deforestation into dry forests, on which a large number of poor forest users in eg Africa rely. More knowledge on the emissions reduction potential and poverty benefits of dry forest conservation is needed. PRESENTATIONS FOR DOWNLOAD Seminar programme Presentation by Camilla Toulmin, Director, IIED Presentation by Leif Fosse, Senior Adviser, Norwegian Climate and Forests Initiative Presentation by Stewart Maginnis, Head of Forest Conservation Programme, IUCN Presentation by Tom Blomley, Independent Consultant Presentation by Iben Nathan, Associate Professor, Forest & Landscape Presentation by Tove Marie Ryding, Chair of Danish 92 Group Presentation by David Brown, Head of Climate Change, Environment and Forests, ODI [to follow] |
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