CHALLENGE

The Atlantic Forests in Eastern Paraguay have been largely destroyed, with only 15% remaining in protected areas, farmland, indigenous communities’ communal land and private reserves.  This remaining forest is under increasing pressure from a variety of forces, including the expansion of intensive agriculture (soy plantations), use of forest biomass as a cheap energy source (by the agroindustry and rural communities) and subsistence agriculture. The current forces affecting the Paraguayan’s landscapes are likely to increase the rate of deforestation and forest degradation in the country, affecting biodiversity, food and energy sources, and likelihoods of local communities and indigenous peoples.

APPROACH

This project will allow to follow-up on the results and lessons learned from the GEF Project Conservation of Biodiversity and Sustainable Land Management in the Atlantic Forest of Eastern Paraguay (P0944335), which has successfully implemented a large number of restoration and reforestation projects with small farmers and indigenous communities from about 200 communities and 55 municipalities in the Atlantic Forest Corridor. This activity will also maintain the on-going policy dialogue on forest restoration and governance with the Government of Paraguay, ITAIPU, the National Forestry Institute (INFONA) and National Indigenous People Institute (INDI).

The main elements of this activity are as follows:

1. Paraguay Atlantic Forest Corridor Threat Assessment. Analyses and evaluation of current and projected trends causing the deforestation in two biodiversity rich areas of the Atlantic Forest Biodiversity Corridor. Such analysis will build on the latest technical studies and those prepared under the Paraguay Biodiversity Project, and information in land use change in forest target areas for biodiversity conservation and livelihoods of local communities (indigenous and rural farmers); analysis of the benefits of forest services and forest restoration to reduce poverty and conserve biodiversity, current forest governance issues and application of forest regulations in the area.

2. Corridor Dialogues.  With the results of the in-depth assessment, this activity will provide support to the Ministry of Environment, INFONA (Forestry National Agency) and ITAIPU to engage in a series of Corridor Dialogues with key indigenous communities’ leaders, forest sector authorities, policymakers and stakeholders across sectors, with the aim of reaching consensus on possible mechanisms to improve forest governance, increase conservation and sustain livelihoods of poor indigenous communities in two key biodiversity areas.

3. Plan for Conservation and Restoration of Two High Biodiversity Areas of the Atlantic Forest Corridor. This will include the development of the roadmap for improving coordination among the different institutions and stakeholders of the Corridor; a report on the possible options and mechanisms to promote restoration with native species of high biodiversity and economic values in target areas of the Atlantic Forest Corridor and for improving local likelihoods of rural and indigenous peoples; and identification of potential instruments for sustainable landscape restoration with the participation of the private sector (agribusiness).  In addition, an investment plan will be developed for reforestation of high biodiversity value areas in the Corridor and to support landscape restoration projects that can support income to local communities and their likelihoods. 

4. Workshops with the participation of indigenous communities, farmers, representatives of the environment and forest sectors, NGOs, national cross-sector policymakers, and others. To date, this activity has carried out three workshops on governance, one dialogue, and five meetings with local stakeholders. More than 100 people have been consulted, of which about one third are women.

RESULTS

This activity is ongoing. Preliminary findings of this activity show that San Rafael, despite the increasing threats and risks over forest land, is still home of biodiversity. The park is home to 427 bird species, which about half of the number for the whole country.  The main risks affecting forest conservation in San Rafael are linked to illegal cutting of precious woods (guatambú, lapacho, cedro y laurel) by farmers, external buyer, indigenous communities.  There is an urgent need to improve governance and presence of government officials as currently, legislation enforcement is limited. The use of Environmental Management Plans as part of EIA licenses are some of the instruments used to cut the forest in San Rafael. 

Implementation has been adjusted due to adverse weather as well political events in Paraguay. However, it is likely that this project had a positive influence on the government’s decision to create new legal categories for conservation areas, namely Biological Corridors and Indigenous Peoples’ Reserves.

CHALLENGE

The Atlantic Forests in Eastern Paraguay have been largely destroyed, with only 15% remaining in protected areas, farmland, indigenous communities’ communal land and private reserves.  This remaining forest is under increasing pressure from a variety of forces, including the expansion of intensive agriculture (soy plantations), use of forest biomass as a cheap energy source (by the agroindustry and rural communities) and subsistence agriculture. The current forces affecting the Paraguayan’s landscapes are likely to increase the rate of deforestation and forest degradation in the country, affecting biodiversity, food and energy sources, and likelihoods of local communities and indigenous peoples.

APPROACH

This project will allow to follow-up on the results and lessons learned from the GEF Project Conservation of Biodiversity and Sustainable Land Management in the Atlantic Forest of Eastern Paraguay (P0944335), which has successfully implemented a large number of restoration and reforestation projects with small farmers and indigenous communities from about 200 communities and 55 municipalities in the Atlantic Forest Corridor. This activity will also maintain the on-going policy dialogue on forest restoration and governance with the Government of Paraguay, ITAIPU, the National Forestry Institute (INFONA) and National Indigenous People Institute (INDI).

The main elements of this activity are as follows:

1. Paraguay Atlantic Forest Corridor Threat Assessment. Analyses and evaluation of current and projected trends causing the deforestation in two biodiversity rich areas of the Atlantic Forest Biodiversity Corridor. Such analysis will build on the latest technical studies and those prepared under the Paraguay Biodiversity Project, and information in land use change in forest target areas for biodiversity conservation and livelihoods of local communities (indigenous and rural farmers); analysis of the benefits of forest services and forest restoration to reduce poverty and conserve biodiversity, current forest governance issues and application of forest regulations in the area.

2. Corridor Dialogues.  With the results of the in-depth assessment, this activity will provide support to the Ministry of Environment, INFONA (Forestry National Agency) and ITAIPU to engage in a series of Corridor Dialogues with key indigenous communities’ leaders, forest sector authorities, policymakers and stakeholders across sectors, with the aim of reaching consensus on possible mechanisms to improve forest governance, increase conservation and sustain livelihoods of poor indigenous communities in two key biodiversity areas.

3. Plan for Conservation and Restoration of Two High Biodiversity Areas of the Atlantic Forest Corridor. This will include the development of the roadmap for improving coordination among the different institutions and stakeholders of the Corridor; a report on the possible options and mechanisms to promote restoration with native species of high biodiversity and economic values in target areas of the Atlantic Forest Corridor and for improving local likelihoods of rural and indigenous peoples; and identification of potential instruments for sustainable landscape restoration with the participation of the private sector (agribusiness).  In addition, an investment plan will be developed for reforestation of high biodiversity value areas in the Corridor and to support landscape restoration projects that can support income to local communities and their likelihoods. 

4. Workshops with the participation of indigenous communities, farmers, representatives of the environment and forest sectors, NGOs, national cross-sector policymakers, and others. To date, this activity has carried out three workshops on governance, one dialogue, and five meetings with local stakeholders. More than 100 people have been consulted, of which about one third are women.

RESULTS

This activity is ongoing. Preliminary findings of this activity show that San Rafael, despite the increasing threats and risks over forest land, is still home of biodiversity. The park is home to 427 bird species, which about half of the number for the whole country.  The main risks affecting forest conservation in San Rafael are linked to illegal cutting of precious woods (guatambú, lapacho, cedro y laurel) by farmers, external buyer, indigenous communities.  There is an urgent need to improve governance and presence of government officials as currently, legislation enforcement is limited. The use of Environmental Management Plans as part of EIA licenses are some of the instruments used to cut the forest in San Rafael. 

Implementation has been adjusted due to adverse weather as well political events in Paraguay. However, it is likely that this project had a positive influence on the government’s decision to create new legal categories for conservation areas, namely Biological Corridors and Indigenous Peoples’ Reserves.

CHALLENGE

The Atlantic Forests in Eastern Paraguay have been largely destroyed, with only 15% remaining in protected areas, farmland, indigenous communities’ communal land and private reserves.  This remaining forest is under increasing pressure from a variety of forces, including the expansion of intensive agriculture (soy plantations), use of forest biomass as a cheap energy source (by the agroindustry and rural communities) and subsistence agriculture. The current forces affecting the Paraguayan’s landscapes are likely to increase the rate of deforestation and forest degradation in the country, affecting biodiversity, food and energy sources, and likelihoods of local communities and indigenous peoples.

APPROACH

This project will allow to follow-up on the results and lessons learned from the GEF Project Conservation of Biodiversity and Sustainable Land Management in the Atlantic Forest of Eastern Paraguay (P0944335), which has successfully implemented a large number of restoration and reforestation projects with small farmers and indigenous communities from about 200 communities and 55 municipalities in the Atlantic Forest Corridor. This activity will also maintain the on-going policy dialogue on forest restoration and governance with the Government of Paraguay, ITAIPU, the National Forestry Institute (INFONA) and National Indigenous People Institute (INDI).

The main elements of this activity are as follows:

1. Paraguay Atlantic Forest Corridor Threat Assessment. Analyses and evaluation of current and projected trends causing the deforestation in two biodiversity rich areas of the Atlantic Forest Biodiversity Corridor. Such analysis will build on the latest technical studies and those prepared under the Paraguay Biodiversity Project, and information in land use change in forest target areas for biodiversity conservation and livelihoods of local communities (indigenous and rural farmers); analysis of the benefits of forest services and forest restoration to reduce poverty and conserve biodiversity, current forest governance issues and application of forest regulations in the area.

2. Corridor Dialogues.  With the results of the in-depth assessment, this activity will provide support to the Ministry of Environment, INFONA (Forestry National Agency) and ITAIPU to engage in a series of Corridor Dialogues with key indigenous communities’ leaders, forest sector authorities, policymakers and stakeholders across sectors, with the aim of reaching consensus on possible mechanisms to improve forest governance, increase conservation and sustain livelihoods of poor indigenous communities in two key biodiversity areas.

3. Plan for Conservation and Restoration of Two High Biodiversity Areas of the Atlantic Forest Corridor. This will include the development of the roadmap for improving coordination among the different institutions and stakeholders of the Corridor; a report on the possible options and mechanisms to promote restoration with native species of high biodiversity and economic values in target areas of the Atlantic Forest Corridor and for improving local likelihoods of rural and indigenous peoples; and identification of potential instruments for sustainable landscape restoration with the participation of the private sector (agribusiness).  In addition, an investment plan will be developed for reforestation of high biodiversity value areas in the Corridor and to support landscape restoration projects that can support income to local communities and their likelihoods. 

4. Workshops with the participation of indigenous communities, farmers, representatives of the environment and forest sectors, NGOs, national cross-sector policymakers, and others. To date, this activity has carried out three workshops on governance, one dialogue, and five meetings with local stakeholders. More than 100 people have been consulted, of which about one third are women.

RESULTS

This activity is ongoing. Preliminary findings of this activity show that San Rafael, despite the increasing threats and risks over forest land, is still home of biodiversity. The park is home to 427 bird species, which about half of the number for the whole country.  The main risks affecting forest conservation in San Rafael are linked to illegal cutting of precious woods (guatambú, lapacho, cedro y laurel) by farmers, external buyer, indigenous communities.  There is an urgent need to improve governance and presence of government officials as currently, legislation enforcement is limited. The use of Environmental Management Plans as part of EIA licenses are some of the instruments used to cut the forest in San Rafael. 

Implementation has been adjusted due to adverse weather as well political events in Paraguay. However, it is likely that this project had a positive influence on the government’s decision to create new legal categories for conservation areas, namely Biological Corridors and Indigenous Peoples’ Reserves.

CHALLENGE
Good forest governance has a central role in achieving sustainable forest management. It is also critical to ensure the effectiveness of plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from deforestation and forest degradation in developing countries (REDD), as well as to ensure the effectiveness of efforts to reduce illegal activities in the forest sector.

Assessment and monitoring of governance are essential tools in promoting reforms to achieve better forest governance. Since early efforts starting in the 1990s, quality assessments of forest governance have gradually relied less on international experts and more on national institutions and local expertise. Purely technical approaches are giving way to better integration of political and managerial issues. Meanwhile, quality assessments of forest governance are assuming greater significance in the context of discussions of global climate change.

A compendium of evidence-based approaches to forest governance data collection could help countries decide between different options as they respond to various requirements, for example arising from the Voluntary Partnership Agreement, a bilateral trade agreement between the EU and some timber-producing countries.

APPROACH
PROFOR has developed a common framework for assessing and monitoring forest governance, in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and other partners, including the World Resources Institute, Chatham House, the European Forest Institute, and the UN-REDD Programme. PROFOR also piloted an approach for collecting data, based on questionnaires answered by multiple stakeholders, which so far has been used in a range of countries: Uganda, Burkina Faso, Kenya, Russian Federation, Madagascar and Democratic Republic of Congo. However, this approach is only one of many indicator and data collection options available to practitioners.

To improve the process, PROFOR has a new project that aims to produce a compendium of approaches to forest governance data collection, to provide practitioners with a menu of options that is customizable to specific contexts. The guide on data collection approaches will be accompanied by a library of forest data collection initiatives that have been field-tested in one or more countries. To the extent possible, the guide and library will be updated as additional field experiences become available.

The production of this menu of options is expected to strengthen collaboration and cooperation between the World Bank and its partners in the area of forest governance diagnostics, to foster agreement on common indicators for forest governance, and to reduce multiple reporting.

RESULTS
In June 2012 in Rome, thirty-five international and national experts gathered to discuss common issues in governance assessment and monitoring, and considered the value of producing resource materials for people measuring forest governance. The meeting resulted in the need for developing guidance for forest governance data collection and the creation of the Core Expert Group on Forest Data Collection. In November 2012, the first core group meeting took place in Brussels and produced an outline of the guidance—“a practical guide to measuring forest governance for assessments and monitoring”—and a plan for collecting tools and cases in the area.

On 20 and 21 June 2013, PROFOR, FAO, the UN-REDD Programme, WRI and others convened a second core group meeting. This meeting reviewed a draft guide based on the outline and discussed next steps.

This activity is ongoing. Findings will be shared on this page when they become available. Follow us on twitter (www.twitter.com/forestideas) or subscribe to our mailing list for regular updates.

CHALLENGE
Good forest governance has a central role in achieving sustainable forest management. It is also critical to ensure the effectiveness of plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from deforestation and forest degradation in developing countries (REDD), as well as to ensure the effectiveness of efforts to reduce illegal activities in the forest sector.

Assessment and monitoring of governance are essential tools in promoting reforms to achieve better forest governance. Since early efforts starting in the 1990s, quality assessments of forest governance have gradually relied less on international experts and more on national institutions and local expertise. Purely technical approaches are giving way to better integration of political and managerial issues. Meanwhile, quality assessments of forest governance are assuming greater significance in the context of discussions of global climate change.

A compendium of evidence-based approaches to forest governance data collection could help countries decide between different options as they respond to various requirements, for example arising from the Voluntary Partnership Agreement, a bilateral trade agreement between the EU and some timber-producing countries.

APPROACH
PROFOR has developed a common framework for assessing and monitoring forest governance, in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and other partners, including the World Resources Institute, Chatham House, the European Forest Institute, and the UN-REDD Programme. PROFOR also piloted an approach for collecting data, based on questionnaires answered by multiple stakeholders, which so far has been used in a range of countries: Uganda, Burkina Faso, Kenya, Russian Federation, Madagascar and Democratic Republic of Congo. However, this approach is only one of many indicator and data collection options available to practitioners.

To improve the process, PROFOR has a new project that aims to produce a compendium of approaches to forest governance data collection, to provide practitioners with a menu of options that is customizable to specific contexts. The guide on data collection approaches will be accompanied by a library of forest data collection initiatives that have been field-tested in one or more countries. To the extent possible, the guide and library will be updated as additional field experiences become available.

The production of this menu of options is expected to strengthen collaboration and cooperation between the World Bank and its partners in the area of forest governance diagnostics, to foster agreement on common indicators for forest governance, and to reduce multiple reporting.

RESULTS
In June 2012 in Rome, thirty-five international and national experts gathered to discuss common issues in governance assessment and monitoring, and considered the value of producing resource materials for people measuring forest governance. The meeting resulted in the need for developing guidance for forest governance data collection and the creation of the Core Expert Group on Forest Data Collection. In November 2012, the first core group meeting took place in Brussels and produced an outline of the guidance—“a practical guide to measuring forest governance for assessments and monitoring”—and a plan for collecting tools and cases in the area.

On 20 and 21 June 2013, PROFOR, FAO, the UN-REDD Programme, WRI and others convened a second core group meeting. This meeting reviewed a draft guide based on the outline and discussed next steps.

This activity is ongoing. Findings will be shared on this page when they become available. Follow us on twitter (www.twitter.com/forestideas) or subscribe to our mailing list for regular updates.

CHALLENGE
Good forest governance has a central role in achieving sustainable forest management. It is also critical to ensure the effectiveness of plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from deforestation and forest degradation in developing countries (REDD), as well as to ensure the effectiveness of efforts to reduce illegal activities in the forest sector.

Assessment and monitoring of governance are essential tools in promoting reforms to achieve better forest governance. Since early efforts starting in the 1990s, quality assessments of forest governance have gradually relied less on international experts and more on national institutions and local expertise. Purely technical approaches are giving way to better integration of political and managerial issues. Meanwhile, quality assessments of forest governance are assuming greater significance in the context of discussions of global climate change.

A compendium of evidence-based approaches to forest governance data collection could help countries decide between different options as they respond to various requirements, for example arising from the Voluntary Partnership Agreement, a bilateral trade agreement between the EU and some timber-producing countries.

APPROACH
PROFOR has developed a common framework for assessing and monitoring forest governance, in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and other partners, including the World Resources Institute, Chatham House, the European Forest Institute, and the UN-REDD Programme. PROFOR also piloted an approach for collecting data, based on questionnaires answered by multiple stakeholders, which so far has been used in a range of countries: Uganda, Burkina Faso, Kenya, Russian Federation, Madagascar and Democratic Republic of Congo. However, this approach is only one of many indicator and data collection options available to practitioners.

To improve the process, PROFOR has a new project that aims to produce a compendium of approaches to forest governance data collection, to provide practitioners with a menu of options that is customizable to specific contexts. The guide on data collection approaches will be accompanied by a library of forest data collection initiatives that have been field-tested in one or more countries. To the extent possible, the guide and library will be updated as additional field experiences become available.

The production of this menu of options is expected to strengthen collaboration and cooperation between the World Bank and its partners in the area of forest governance diagnostics, to foster agreement on common indicators for forest governance, and to reduce multiple reporting.

RESULTS
In June 2012 in Rome, thirty-five international and national experts gathered to discuss common issues in governance assessment and monitoring, and considered the value of producing resource materials for people measuring forest governance. The meeting resulted in the need for developing guidance for forest governance data collection and the creation of the Core Expert Group on Forest Data Collection. In November 2012, the first core group meeting took place in Brussels and produced an outline of the guidance—“a practical guide to measuring forest governance for assessments and monitoring”—and a plan for collecting tools and cases in the area.

On 20 and 21 June 2013, PROFOR, FAO, the UN-REDD Programme, WRI and others convened a second core group meeting. This meeting reviewed a draft guide based on the outline and discussed next steps.

This activity is ongoing. Findings will be shared on this page when they become available. Follow us on twitter (www.twitter.com/forestideas) or subscribe to our mailing list for regular updates.

CHALLENGE

Approximately 100 million people live in the miombo region which covers 11 countries of eastern and southern Africa. About 75 million of them are poor and rely on woodlands, characterized by poor soils, as a resource and a safety net in times of stress.

Although exploitation of the woodlands for agriculture, timber and energy (fuelwood) has not contributed to widespread poverty alleviation, conservation of the woodlands would have  opportunity costs for land managers and users that need to be taken into account.  To change the behavior of farmers, payments for avoided deforestation and degradation (REDD+) will have to match or exceed the benefits from other land uses.

APPROACH

Drawing on lessons from two decades of successful community-based natural resource management in the miombo region, as well as cases studies in Namibia, Mozambique and Zambia,  the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) explored the opportunities for pro-poor REDD+ payments.

PROFOR supported this research, in-country consultations and related workshops led by country experts, to facilitate stakeholders’ awareness of the application of REDD+ payments in the national and regional context and different options for maximizing pro-poor returns and to contribute to to a better understanding of REDD+ in the run-up and aftermath of the UNFCC meeting in Copenhagen in December 2009.

RESULTS

Efforts to reduce deforestation in the miombo region will only be successful if:
1. Rights to land, resources and carbon are clarified and reside with farmers and communities.
2. There are legal and policy frameworks in place that value and reward land uses other than agriculture.
3. Payments made exceed the benefits that would accrue to farmers from
alternative land uses including agriculture; timber and energy (charcoal).
4. Implementation allows communities, local government and supporting
organizations to adapt activities to meet local conditions.
5. Implementation recognizes the potentially severe impacts of climate change on ecosystems agriculture and livelihoods in the region.
6. Underlying governance challenges that exist at all levels are addressed.

CHALLENGE

Approximately 100 million people live in the miombo region which covers 11 countries of eastern and southern Africa. About 75 million of them are poor and rely on woodlands, characterized by poor soils, as a resource and a safety net in times of stress.

Although exploitation of the woodlands for agriculture, timber and energy (fuelwood) has not contributed to widespread poverty alleviation, conservation of the woodlands would have  opportunity costs for land managers and users that need to be taken into account.  To change the behavior of farmers, payments for avoided deforestation and degradation (REDD+) will have to match or exceed the benefits from other land uses.

APPROACH

Drawing on lessons from two decades of successful community-based natural resource management in the miombo region, as well as cases studies in Namibia, Mozambique and Zambia,  the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) explored the opportunities for pro-poor REDD+ payments.

PROFOR supported this research, in-country consultations and related workshops led by country experts, to facilitate stakeholders’ awareness of the application of REDD+ payments in the national and regional context and different options for maximizing pro-poor returns and to contribute to to a better understanding of REDD+ in the run-up and aftermath of the UNFCC meeting in Copenhagen in December 2009.

RESULTS

Efforts to reduce deforestation in the miombo region will only be successful if:
1. Rights to land, resources and carbon are clarified and reside with farmers and communities.
2. There are legal and policy frameworks in place that value and reward land uses other than agriculture.
3. Payments made exceed the benefits that would accrue to farmers from
alternative land uses including agriculture; timber and energy (charcoal).
4. Implementation allows communities, local government and supporting
organizations to adapt activities to meet local conditions.
5. Implementation recognizes the potentially severe impacts of climate change on ecosystems agriculture and livelihoods in the region.
6. Underlying governance challenges that exist at all levels are addressed.

CHALLENGE

Approximately 100 million people live in the miombo region which covers 11 countries of eastern and southern Africa. About 75 million of them are poor and rely on woodlands, characterized by poor soils, as a resource and a safety net in times of stress.

Although exploitation of the woodlands for agriculture, timber and energy (fuelwood) has not contributed to widespread poverty alleviation, conservation of the woodlands would have  opportunity costs for land managers and users that need to be taken into account.  To change the behavior of farmers, payments for avoided deforestation and degradation (REDD+) will have to match or exceed the benefits from other land uses.

APPROACH

Drawing on lessons from two decades of successful community-based natural resource management in the miombo region, as well as cases studies in Namibia, Mozambique and Zambia,  the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) explored the opportunities for pro-poor REDD+ payments.

PROFOR supported this research, in-country consultations and related workshops led by country experts, to facilitate stakeholders’ awareness of the application of REDD+ payments in the national and regional context and different options for maximizing pro-poor returns and to contribute to to a better understanding of REDD+ in the run-up and aftermath of the UNFCC meeting in Copenhagen in December 2009.

RESULTS

Efforts to reduce deforestation in the miombo region will only be successful if:
1. Rights to land, resources and carbon are clarified and reside with farmers and communities.
2. There are legal and policy frameworks in place that value and reward land uses other than agriculture.
3. Payments made exceed the benefits that would accrue to farmers from
alternative land uses including agriculture; timber and energy (charcoal).
4. Implementation allows communities, local government and supporting
organizations to adapt activities to meet local conditions.
5. Implementation recognizes the potentially severe impacts of climate change on ecosystems agriculture and livelihoods in the region.
6. Underlying governance challenges that exist at all levels are addressed.

CHALLENGE

Approximately 100 million people live in the miombo region which covers 11 countries of eastern and southern Africa. About 75 million of them are poor and rely on woodlands, characterized by poor soils, as a resource and a safety net in times of stress.

Although exploitation of the woodlands for agriculture, timber and energy (fuelwood) has not contributed to widespread poverty alleviation, conservation of the woodlands would have  opportunity costs for land managers and users that need to be taken into account.  To change the behavior of farmers, payments for avoided deforestation and degradation (REDD+) will have to match or exceed the benefits from other land uses.

APPROACH

Drawing on lessons from two decades of successful community-based natural resource management in the miombo region, as well as cases studies in Namibia, Mozambique and Zambia,  the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) explored the opportunities for pro-poor REDD+ payments.

PROFOR supported this research, in-country consultations and related workshops led by country experts, to facilitate stakeholders’ awareness of the application of REDD+ payments in the national and regional context and different options for maximizing pro-poor returns and to contribute to to a better understanding of REDD+ in the run-up and aftermath of the UNFCC meeting in Copenhagen in December 2009.

RESULTS

Efforts to reduce deforestation in the miombo region will only be successful if:
1. Rights to land, resources and carbon are clarified and reside with farmers and communities.
2. There are legal and policy frameworks in place that value and reward land uses other than agriculture.
3. Payments made exceed the benefits that would accrue to farmers from
alternative land uses including agriculture; timber and energy (charcoal).
4. Implementation allows communities, local government and supporting
organizations to adapt activities to meet local conditions.
5. Implementation recognizes the potentially severe impacts of climate change on ecosystems agriculture and livelihoods in the region.
6. Underlying governance challenges that exist at all levels are addressed.