Feature: Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation (REDD)
Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation (REDD) has been an emerging topic in discussions about forests and climate change. Poor forest-dependent communities figure significantly in various REDD proposals, which, as a recent Poverty Environment Partnership (PEP) paper explains, "are all based on the idea that developed countries would pay developing countries to reduce rates of deforestation or degradation by implementing a range of policies and projects.""
The PEP paper, "Making REDD work for the poor," (authored by ODI and IUCN) presents the links between REDD and poverty, and discusses the poverty implications. "The potential contribution to rural poverty reduction could be immense, but REDD mechanisms may also entail new risks."
"REDD and Poverty: The social implications of reducing emissions from deforestation in developing countries" contains more discussion on some of the possible new risks -- "...weak governance and poor institutional capacity could compromise the delivery of these benefits at the local level."
Also a main issue in REDD is the health of forests. WRI's "REDD Flags: What We Need to Know about the Options" talks of the different strategies that need to be considered in maintaining the world's forests. "If REDD is to achieve a large reduction of global greenhouse gas emissions, major industrial practices in the forestry, energy, and agricultural sectors, which are at the heart of many countries’ economic and political structures, need to be fully involved."
Once the investment has been made in reducing deforestation, what is the guarantee that forest health can be maintained? "Risk and responsibility in Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation" (ODI) "...looks at how REDD transaction mechanisms between buyers and sellers might be established and the implications that risk reduction mechanisms might have for different stakeholders in developing countries."
More REDD on PE Net:
Photos from the ADB Poverty and Environment Program
