CHAPTER 4
Bio-cultural Community Protocols and REDD
Peter Wood
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1. Introduction
An increasing amount of attention has been paid in recent
at the local level. While a great deal of attention has been paid
years to the relationship between forests and climate change,
to the international aspects of REDD, there has been much
with the most alarming revelation being that deforestation
less focus on how it will affect forest-dependent communities.
and forest degradation constitute nearly 20% of all
anthropogenic sources of greenhouse gases. This has given
Whilst ABS and REDD are distinct international mechanisms,
renewed impetus at the international level to save the world’s
there are numerous parallels in the way ILCs can engage
forests, particularly those in the tropics and sub-tropics, and
with them. With the right safeguards and local-level
the carbon stored within them. One proposal currently being
empowerment, both mechanisms could bring much-needed
considered as part of a post- Kyoto climate agreement is a
benefits to developing countries. Yet they also pose significant
programme on reducing emissions from deforestation and
challenges to ILCs and have the potential to lead to the further
forest degradation in developing countries that has come to
deterioration of the very bio-cultural foundations that underpin
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be known as “REDD”. In essence, the intention of REDD
their ways of life. A thorough consideration of communities’
is to channel payments from developed countries to
forest rights in the context of REDD is required, with emphasis
developing countries in exchange for reductions in forest-
on community-based approaches that empower ILCs to
related emissions.
ensure that they are not further marginalized by national-level
REDD activities.
However, forests ecosystems are diverse and dynamic, as are
the indigenous peoples and local communities (ILCs) that
In this chapter we briefly examine the promise that REDD
depend on them for their livelihoods and traditional ways of
holds for saving the world’s forests and the risks that it could
life. Although much remains to be determined regarding the
present if designed and administered inappropriately.
mechanics of REDD, a variety of stakeholders are raising
We also give an overview of how bio-cultural community
significant concerns about its potential to negatively affect
protocols (BCPs) can play a role in reducing these risks and
natural forest ecosystems and forest-dependent ILCs. Forest-
maintaining the local integrity of this international instrument.
dependent communities are some of the poorest on the
planet and have a long history of being marginalized within
governmental decision-making, and it is uncertain how their
interests will be protected throughout the implementation
of such a potentially powerful international mechanism
1.
2.
Peter Wood, PhD, Forest Policy Adviser, Global Witness, and Associate, Natural Justice: Lawyers for Communities and the Environment.
This is also referred to as “REDD-plus” by many in recognition of the expansion of the mechanism’s mandate to include the role of conservation, sustainable management
of forests and enhancement of forest carbon stocks.
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