THE REDD CONTROVERSY

Published: 3/01/2010 at 12:00 AM
Newspaper section: Spectrum

Over the past few years we have heard a lot about strategies to avert catastrophe from climate change that include forest conservation and restoration, since forests sequester carbon and contribute to a net reduction in greenhouse gases (GHG) in the atmosphere.

INDIGENOUS QUESTION: Environmentalists and activists are concerned about possible adverse impacts of REDD on forest dwellers like these Karen in Chiang Mai province. PHOTO: SUPARA JANCHITFAH
In 2005, the Coalition of Rainforest Nations initiated a request to consider ''reducing emissions from deforestation in developing countries'' and presented it at the 11th Conference of the Parties (COP-11) in Montreal.

At the UN climate change conference held two years ago in Bali (COP-13), a proposal known as REDD (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation) gained serious attention and was integrated into the formal discussions. Since then the buzz-word REDD-plus has emerged to denote more detailed schemes to integrate market mechanisms into saving forestlands.

At the recently concluded Copenhagen climate talks, the proposal was shaped in yet more detail, although still unfinished, and in the end was noted along with other measures in the controversial Copenhagen Accord _ the slim three-page document that holds vague promises from developed and developing countries to take action against climate change.

Despite the general frustration with developments in the global climate change strategy, REDD deserves serious attention, especially from tropical countries like Thailand where forests make up a major part of the landscape.

By helping prevent deforestation and preserve forests, developing countries may reap big rewards, but first some questions need to be cleared up. These include the definition of forest, how to measure carbon sequestration, how to finance the scheme and how to deal with forest dwellers.

From the point of view of Richard Betts, a member of the climate impacts research team in the United Kingdom's Met Office Hadley Centre, bringing forest conservation into the climate change battle is essential.

During a talk organised at the Copenhagen Conference by the Global Canopy Programme, an alliance of 37 scientific institutions in 19 countries, Dr Betts said deforestation contributes a significant amount of the carbon in the atmosphere _ one billion tonnes or more per year. This accounts for about 17% of global GHG emissions.

If deforestation worldwide remains unchecked, therefore, the increase in global temperature will be accelerated.

But more importantly, he said, forests also act as carbon sinks. So, if we lose forest, we also lose the capacity to store carbon.

The scientist agreed that there should be some measures in place to help reduce emissions from deforestation, but this very much depends on the incentives given, and this has been the crucial sticking point of the proposal.

Much of the debate has been centred around where the financing of forest preservation should come from: a market mechanism where carbon credits are bought and sold; public funding; or a mixture of both.

There was no conclusion to the financial framework at the Copenhagen conference.

Also at issue is who stands to gain from REDD, and in particular what will be the impacts on indigenous groups. The most updated draft text notes that the knowledge and rights of indigenous people must be respected, and their participation in the scheme must be guaranteed.

However, this has not allayed the fears of some indigenous groups and their advocates.

Srisuwan Khuankajorn, from the Thai Working Group on Climate Justice, has urged the Thai government to seriously consider the issue. The activist feels that the deforestation initiative may do more harm than good if it hinders forest dwellers' abilities to utilise forest.

The bigger issue of the rights of indigenous forest dwellers has long been a challenge to Thai authorities, and there have been frequent conflicts in the past, especially when the authorities have tried to exclude indigenous peoples from protected forest areas.

And despite efforts spanning many years, the country has yet to pass a community forest bill to help smooth the relationship.

According to a source involved in the Copenhagen negotiating process, Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) countries had different opinions regarding REDD during the negotiations. Some wish to see it in place very soon as they see the financial opportunities that may come with it, while some others are more concerned about the indigenous rights issue.

Thailand does not yet have an official policy on how to implement REDD. More consultation is needed, but presently authorities are exploring the possibility of cooperation with the World Bank's Forest Carbon Partnership Facility (FCPF), which became operational last year.

The negotiating source said Thailand has presented its ''readiness'' proposal to the FCPF and the proposal was approved in March this year. Thailand will join 36 other developing countries in exploring concepts to implement REDD.

FCPF requires countries to come up with a national plan to address the drivers of deforestation and how to tackle it, as well as a strategy to measure and report progress in halting deforestation.

''Above all, I think we need to get down to the question of what our priorities are regarding the issues of climate change mitigation and adaptation,'' said the source.

''And if we really have to go for mitigation, we need to consider our capacity first _ what we can and cannot do, and what assistance we need from others.''