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Governance for REDD+, forest management and biodiversity: existing approaches and future options

McDermott, Constance L. ; van Asselt, Harro ; Streck, Charlotte ; Assembe-Mvondo, Samuel ; Duchelle, Amy E ; Haug, Constanze ; Humphreys, David ; Mulyani, Mari ; Shekhar Silori, Chandra and Suzuki, Regan , et al. (2012) p.115-115
Abstract
This chapter examines the evolution of REDD+ governance and identifies policy options to increase synergies among REDD+, the sustainable management of forests and biodiversity conservation. REDD+ emerged at the international level as a point of convergemnce acorss the 'institutional complexes' of forests, climate and biodiversity. This convergence attracted the engagement of a wide range of institutions in REDD+ activities, which together have drawn on three primary sources of authority to influence REDD+ rule-making: government sovereignty, contingent finance and voluntary carbon markets.

Intergovernmental processes, which represent the primary articulation of governmental authority at the global level, have generated few... (More)
This chapter examines the evolution of REDD+ governance and identifies policy options to increase synergies among REDD+, the sustainable management of forests and biodiversity conservation. REDD+ emerged at the international level as a point of convergemnce acorss the 'institutional complexes' of forests, climate and biodiversity. This convergence attracted the engagement of a wide range of institutions in REDD+ activities, which together have drawn on three primary sources of authority to influence REDD+ rule-making: government sovereignty, contingent finance and voluntary carbon markets.

Intergovernmental processes, which represent the primary articulation of governmental authority at the global level, have generated few binding commitments to the sustainable management of forests or biodiversity due to conflicting country interests. These efforts instead have favoured normative guidance, monitoring and reporting, and legality verification initiatives that reinforce sovereign authority. Bilateral and multi-lateral finance initiatives have exerted ‘fund-based’ authority through the application of operational safeguards protecting indigenous and local communities and biodiversity, but limited funding and low capacity of REDD+ countries to absorb those funds have constrained their influence. Finally, non-state actors have developed voluntary certification schemes for forest and carbon as a ’fast track’ approach to elaborating more substantive international standards for environmentally- and socially-responsible forest practices. While the small size and voluntary nature of markets for forest carbon have greatly constrained the impact of these approaches, this could change if a significant regulatory market for REDD+ develops.

Furthermore, the governance of REDD+, forest management and biodiversity is pluralistic, involving multiple institutions and actors. Efforts to promote REDD+ safeguarding at the international level exist in tension with national sovereignty and local autonomy. This complexity is taken into consideration in the suite of policy options provided in this chapter, which suggest the need to draw on a range of institutions and approaches and to consider how together they influence the balance of power and incentives across actors and scales. (Less)
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organization
publishing date
type
Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding
publication status
published
subject
keywords
REDD+, REDD, Forest governance, Biodiversity, global governance, CBD, climate governance, UNFCCC, Kyoto Protocol, Mitigation, equity, Ecosystem services, Payments for ecosystem services, Payments for environmental services, Sustainable development
host publication
Understanding Relationships between Biodiversity, Carbon, Forests and People: The Key to Achieving REDD+ Objectives. A Global Assessment Report.
editor
Parrotta, John A. ; Wildburger, Christoph and Mansourian, Stephanie
pages
137 pages
publisher
International Union of Forest Research Organisations (IUFRO)
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
469406e8-44ee-4e91-bbb8-a6a0a9a9b46c
date added to LUP
2017-12-30 18:34:01
date last changed
2018-11-21 21:36:54
@inbook{469406e8-44ee-4e91-bbb8-a6a0a9a9b46c,
  abstract     = {{This chapter examines the evolution of REDD+ governance and identifies policy options to increase synergies among REDD+, the sustainable management of forests and biodiversity conservation. REDD+ emerged at the international level as a point of convergemnce acorss the 'institutional complexes' of forests, climate and biodiversity. This convergence attracted the engagement of a wide range of institutions in REDD+ activities, which together have drawn on three primary sources of authority to influence REDD+ rule-making: government sovereignty, contingent finance and voluntary carbon markets. <br/> <br/>Intergovernmental processes, which represent the primary articulation of governmental authority at the global level, have generated few binding commitments to the sustainable management of forests or biodiversity due to conflicting country interests. These efforts instead have favoured normative guidance, monitoring and reporting, and legality verification initiatives that reinforce sovereign authority. Bilateral and multi-lateral finance initiatives have exerted ‘fund-based’ authority through the application of operational safeguards protecting indigenous and local communities and biodiversity, but limited funding and low capacity of REDD+ countries to absorb those funds have constrained their influence. Finally, non-state actors have developed voluntary certification schemes for forest and carbon as a ’fast track’ approach to elaborating more substantive international standards for environmentally- and socially-responsible forest practices. While the small size and voluntary nature of markets for forest carbon have greatly constrained the impact of these approaches, this could change if a significant regulatory market for REDD+ develops.<br/><br/>Furthermore, the governance of REDD+, forest management and biodiversity is pluralistic, involving multiple institutions and actors. Efforts to promote REDD+ safeguarding at the international level exist in tension with national sovereignty and local autonomy. This complexity is taken into consideration in the suite of policy options provided in this chapter, which suggest the need to draw on a range of institutions and approaches and to consider how together they influence the balance of power and incentives across actors and scales.}},
  author       = {{McDermott, Constance L. and van Asselt, Harro and Streck, Charlotte and Assembe-Mvondo, Samuel and Duchelle, Amy E and Haug, Constanze and Humphreys, David and Mulyani, Mari and Shekhar Silori, Chandra and Suzuki, Regan and Zelli, Fariborz and Frick, Simone and Lentini, Marco and Luintel, Harisharan and Salimon, Cleber}},
  booktitle    = {{Understanding Relationships between Biodiversity, Carbon, Forests and People: The Key to Achieving REDD+ Objectives. A Global Assessment Report.}},
  editor       = {{Parrotta, John A. and Wildburger, Christoph and Mansourian, Stephanie}},
  keywords     = {{REDD+; REDD; Forest governance; Biodiversity; global governance; CBD; climate governance; UNFCCC; Kyoto Protocol; Mitigation; equity; Ecosystem services; Payments for ecosystem services; Payments for environmental services; Sustainable development}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  pages        = {{115--115}},
  publisher    = {{International Union of Forest Research Organisations (IUFRO)}},
  title        = {{Governance for REDD+, forest management and biodiversity: existing approaches and future options}},
  url          = {{https://lup.lub.lu.se/search/files/36043808/Chapter_5_McDermott_et_al_ws31_ch05.pdf}},
  year         = {{2012}},
}