Epsilon Archive for Student Projects

Abstract

Africa is one of the regions most affected by climate change. However its forests are important carbon sinks for the whole world, and if recognised as a global public good, could be conserved and contribute to green house gas emission reductions. A global mechanism, Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation(REDD+) aims to help developing countries in reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation, and enhancement of carbon stocks. REDD+ strategies may, however exclude local forest dependent communities from forests in order to conserve and maximise carbon stocks, thus having a severe impact on local livelihoods. Therefore, how local communities can participate and share benefits from REDD+ is a key concern.

This study investigates how three forest dependent communities in the Nazinon forest, in Southwest Burkina Faso could financially benefit from a REDD+ project. The aim of this study is to identify local governance structures for equitable distribution of benefits from avoided deforestation by investigating local-level experiences and practices in governance of forest resources, and trying to reveal structures that could be used for equitable benefit sharing and the implementation of an effective mechanism. This is a qualitative study which
has been conducted through semistructured interviews and focus group discussions with woodcutters, women and other stakeholders. Interviews with governmental officials and
representatives from the union of forest management cooperatives complement interviews conducted in the three villages. The empirical findings are supported by pervious research on deforestation, climate change and community forest management.

The field data demonstrates a strong dependency of the local populations on the Nazinon
forest, which provides products and services to various stakeholders, such as woodcutters, women, live-stock breeders, fuel wood transporters and traders and the state. Based on the empirical data, problems are observed in local forest governance and the existing land tenure regime, which can cause significant challenges when designing and implementing REDD+ in the Nazinon forest. Nevertheless numerous opportunities are identified in the existing
governance structure, well-known rules and regulations, level of awareness of deforestation of local communities and their willingness to find alternative income generating activities to conserve their forest and improve their livelihoods.

The government and the international community have high ambitions for REDD+ in Burkina Faso, requiring complex strategies and action plans before any actual carbon selling can take place. This study questions the need for overwhelming strategies when the existing forest
governance problems are fundamental, requiring simple, but overarching reform processes in order to obtain sustainable forest management and empower local communities in the management of their forests.