CIFOR's Vision We envision a world where: · Forests are high on the political agenda · People recognise the value of forests for maintaining livelihoods and ecosystems · Decisions that influence forests and the people that depend on them are based on solid science and principles of good governance, and reflect the perspectives of developing countries and forest peoples CIFOR
June 2009 www.cifor.cgiar.org
Photo courtesy of IISD
Can politicians provideCome to CO 2 the missing magic? Shaping the global agenda for ‘Protecting forests means fighting for the very survival of humanity,’ Yvo de Boer (above), Executive forests and climate change Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), told participants at Forest Day 2 on 6 December 2008 in Poznań, Poland. Shaping the global agenda Held in parallel with the UNFCCC 14th Conferencefor forests of andthe climate Parties change (COP-14), Forest Day 2 attracted more than 900 participants from around the world. The event built on the success of Forest Day 1 in Bali in December 2007, which focused the world’s attention on the important role forests can play in mitigating climate change. Negotiators hope to finalise the post-Kyoto agreement at COP-15 in Copenhagen in December 2009. Continued on page 7
Sunday, 13 December 2009 Come to Radisson SAS Falconer Hotel Copenhagen, Denmark Coinciding with the UNFCCC COP 15 www.cifor.cgiar.org
Shaping the global agenda for forests and climate change
Hosted by the Collaborative Partnership on Forests, the Government of Denmark and CIFOR Sunday, 13 December 2009 Radisson SAS Falconer Hotel Copenhagen, Denmark Coinciding with the UNFCCC COP 15 www.cifor.cgiar.org
Hosted by the Collaborative Partnership on Forests, the Government of Denmark and CIFOR June 2009 2
CIFOR 2009 is possibly the most important year for forests in living memory. We are in the final stretch of the road to Copenhagen, where negotiators hope to finalise a post-Kyoto global climate DG's agreement. In Denmark in December, world leaders will decide how and to what extent we will use forests to mitigate the message emissions that cause climate change, and how the costs and benefits will be distributed. The most recent data and analysis from a number of sources suggest the effects of climate change are proceeding more quickly than previously predicted. Further, there is an emerging consensus that it will be next to impossible to avoid catastrophic impacts unless reductions in forest-based emissions are added to dramatic cuts in fossil fuel-based emissions from industrial countries. In particular, the possibility that global warming will lead to a vicious circle of drought, forest fire, increased emissions and further warming puts the long-term carbon storage potential of forests at risk. We know that deforestation and land-use change account for one-fifth of annual global carbon emissions. But what has only just been revealed—in a study conducted by the University of Leeds, CIFOR and other partners—is just how effective old-growth tropical forests are in removing carbon from the atmosphere. The study, released in a recent edition of Nature, estimates that tropical forests absorb just under 5 billion of the 32 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide emitted through human activity each year. That is almost one sixth of our emissions. These new findings demonstrate how much we need to learn in order to respond effectively to the challenges of climate change, the significant returns we can gain from investing in forest research and how crucial forests are to achieving targets set for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. You may have noticed a new phrase on CIFOR publications: ‘Thinking beyond the canopy’. It refers to the need to address the underlying drivers of deforestation if we are to make real and lasting progress in conserving forests and improving the livelihoods of forest-dependent people. Many of these drivers lie outside the forest sector, for example, in transportation and infrastructure development, trade and investment policies and law enforcement practices. At CIFOR, we are thinking beyond the canopy as we address these drivers in our six priority research areas. To learn more about our new strategy and priority research domains, see www.cifor.cgiar.org/AboutCIFOR/Strategy2008/index.htm. Thinking beyond the canopy was also a key message that came out of Forest Day 2, held in parallel with the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change 14th Conference of the Parties (COP-14) in Poznań, Poland, last December. Many of the more than 900 participants in Forest Day 2 said we must reach out to and engage not only COP negotiators but others who work beyond the forest sector in areas that are driving deforestation and forest degradation. Along with our co-hosts from the Danish Government and the Collaborative Partnership on Forests, CIFOR is deeply involved in planning for Forest Day 3 in Copenhagen in December, and we are conscious of the unique opportunities 2009 affords for achieving better forest management. I encourage you to join CIFOR scientists this year as they work to equip COP-15 decision-makers and others working within and beyond the forest community with the knowledge and advice they need to make good decisions. Given the current economic downturn, it is imperative that the global community remain committed to the inter-related objectives of sustainable forest management, poverty reduction and climate security, and not use the financial crisis as a convenient excuse to lower aspirations. In light of the profound consequences of losing the economic, environmental and cultural services of forests, not to mention their carbon storage capacity, the risk of inaction is too great.
Frances Seymour Director General 3 June 2009
CIFOR
feature
Photo by Bruno Locatelli Average tree size increasing as trees absorb more carbon
An international team of scientists, including atmosphere each year from burning fossil fuels, CIFOR researchers, has discovered that the average substantially buffering the rate of climate change,’ size of rainforest trees is increasing as they says the report’s lead author, Dr Simon Lewis of the store more carbon from the atmosphere and University of Leeds. slow climate change. The reason why the trees are getting bigger and According to the report ‘Increasing Carbon mopping up carbon is unclear. A leading suspect is Storage in Intact African Tropical Forests’, published the extra carbon dioxide in the atmosphere itself, as a letter in Nature (19 February 2009), tropical trees which may be acting like a fertiliser and spurring tree in undisturbed forests around the world are absorbing growth. Lewis warns the world not to be complacent, nearly one-fifth of the carbon dioxide released by however. ‘Whatever the cause, we cannot rely on this burning fossil fuels. That amount is significantly sink forever. Even if we preserve all remaining tropical 'Tropical forest greater than the greenhouse gas emissions produced forest, these trees will not continue getting bigger trees are absorbing by the world’s transport sector. indefinitely.’ The researchers estimate that remaining tropical According to the Intergovernmental Panel on about 18 percent forests remove a massive 4.8 billion tonnes of carbon Climate Change, human activities are responsible for of the CO2 added dioxide emissions from the atmosphere each year. emitting 32 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide each year to the atmosphere A previously unknown carbon sink in Africa alone globally, but only 15 billion tonnes actually stays in each year from is soaking up 1.2 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide the atmosphere, adding to climate change. The new annually. research shows where some of the ‘missing’ 17 billion burning fossil The 40 year study of African tropical forests, tonnes per year is going. fuels, substantially which account for one-third of the world’s total ‘It’s well known that about half of the “missing” buffering the rate of tropical forest, shows that over decades each hectare carbon is being dissolved in the oceans, and that the climate change.' of intact African forest has trapped an extra 0.6 other half is going somewhere on land tonnes of carbon per year. in vegetation and soils, but we were not sure precisely Combined with data from South America and where,’ says Lewis. ‘According to our study, about half Dr Simon Lewis Asia, the study’s analysis of the records of 250,000 the total carbon “land sink” is in tropical forest trees.’ University of Leeds trees reveals that, on average, remaining undisturbed One of the report’s co-authors, Dr Douglas Sheil, forests are trapping carbon and thus constitute a who works with CIFOR and Uganda’s Institute of globally significant carbon sink. Tropical Forest Conservation, says he had previously ‘Tropical forest trees are absorbing about been unconvinced about the role forests play in 18 percent of the carbon dioxide added to the removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. June 2009 4
CIFOR ‘I was like many scientists who used to dismiss The report’s implications for future carbon the environmental campaigners’ slogan that forests payment schemes are echoed in the comments of are the lungs of the world,’ says Sheil. ‘Before I another of the report’s co-authors, Dr Lee White, worked on this study, I believed that forests were Gabon’s chief climate change scientist. basically in equilibrium with the atmosphere, ‘The removal of nearly 5 billion tonnes of carbon neither adding to nor subtracting from its gaseous dioxide from the atmosphere by intact tropical forests, composition. Our findings give the lungs metaphor based on realistic prices for a tonne of carbon, should a basis after all: Forests are drawing carbon dioxide be valued at around US $19.9 billion per year,’ says from the biosphere just as our lungs remove it from White. ‘This is a compelling argument for conserving our bodies—though, of course, trees absorb carbon tropical forests.’ dioxide while people expel it.’ According to Lewis, polluting rich countries can CIFOR colleague and co-author Dr Terry help conserve forests by transferring substantial Sunderland says that while there is no question resources to countries with tropical forests for use rainforest trees are getting bigger and storing more in reducing deforestation rates and promoting carbon dioxide, it is vital that carbon uptake studies alternative development pathways. like those done in Africa and South America be Sunderland cautions that any investment in carried out in Asia. REDD or similar carbon payment schemes must first ‘The data from Asia exist and they support the formalise and enforce land rights for forest dwellers. same conclusions arrived at in places like the Amazon ‘It’s essential that a significant proportion of any and the Congo Basin,’ says Sunderland. ‘But the Asian payments for environmental services, such as REDD data are not as long term as the data from Africa or payments, are made to those who rely on forests for South America.’ their well-being,’ says Sunderland. ‘After all, as the According to Sunderland, carbon uptake studies World Bank has noted, up to a billion of the world’s are particularly important for Indonesia as it looks poorest people rely on forests in one way or another at reducing emissions from deforestation and forest for their livelihoods.’ degradation (REDD). By Simon Lewis, University of Leeds, and ‘Indonesia is deeply interested in REDD carbon Greg Clough payment schemes, yet deforestation in Indonesia is contributing to the country’s status as the world’s ‘Increasing Carbon Storage in Intact African Tropical third largest emitter of greenhouse gases, according Forests’ is available at www.cifor.cgiar.org/ to some estimates. publications/pdf_files/media/Rsch_paper_ ‘If carbon payment schemes such as REDD are to AfricanForests_and_carbon_nature07771.pdf. succeed in Indonesia, they must be based on accurate assessments of the amount of carbon stored in the country’s forests. These calculations need to be based on local and realistic figures.’
Dr Markku Kanninen, CIFOR scientist and co-author of ‘Facing an Uncertain Future: How Forests and The impact People can Adapt to Climate Change’, explains how small changes in climate can harm forests and thereby of climate fuel climate change. Relatively minor changes in climate can increase forests’ vulnerability to droughts, insects and fires. Burning or dying forests emit large quantities of greenhouse gases. In this way, a small change in climate change on can devastate forests, fuelling an even greater change in climate. Mangrove forests in coastal parts of West Africa, which support fisheries and help mitigate the effects forests of storms, are highly vulnerable to rising sea levels and to drought. Droughts in Senegal and Gambia are already devastating mangrove ecosystems. Mountain forests could be the first to disappear. We know that cloud forests are extremely sensitive to climatic changes, as are other types of mountain forests, because when temperatures increase and rainfall decreases, the zone in which they can live shrinks. Essentially, mountain forests have nowhere to go. In the highland cloud forests of Costa Rica, the disappearance of 20 species of frogs is linked to rising ocean temperatures, which are in turn causing the clouds to move higher. Scientists say this is just the beginning of huge losses in forest biodiversity worldwide due to climate change. Several studies predict that decreasing rainfall in the biodiversity-rich Amazon will cause massive dieback of the forest and large- scale substitution by savannah. 5 June 2009
CIFOR
research Photo by Daniel Tiveau Adapting to uncertainty
A CIFOR report released to coincide with Forest Day of people with income, food, medicines and building 2 at the United Nations Framework Convention on materials. They deliver many vital ecosystem Climate Change 14th Conference of the Parties in services like flood or drought regulation and water Poland last December warns that climate change purification. might have a devastating effect on the world’s forests ‘Apart from hundreds of millions of the world’s and the nearly 1 billion people who depend on them poorest people depending on forests, the well- for their livelihoods. being of all of us on this planet—rich and poor The report ‘Facing an Uncertain Future: How alike—depends on the goods and services that forests Forests and People Can Adapt to Climate Change’ provide,’ Brockhaus says. looks at the steps necessary to help forests better The importance of forests for adaptation and survive climate change and enhance their role in the needs of forest dependent communities are 'We evolve with the helping people adapt to these changes. often overlooked. Managed properly to reduce changing climate Action is needed now, urges the report, as climate their susceptibility, forests can help vulnerable rather than resist it. change threatens forests and forest communities with communities adapt to the impacts of climate change. an unprecedented combination of disasters over the Managed badly, forests will suffer and exacerbate the Applying this option next 100 years, including flooding, drought, wildfire impact of climate change on humans. to plantations, for and other environmental challenges. According to Bruno Locatelli, lead author of example, we could These actions need to include technical solutions ‘Facing an Uncertain Future’, the report focuses select species better as well as address some highly complex institutional, on adapting and combining forest management suited to coping human and social challenges. These challenges, and conservation strategies to reduce the impact of according to the report, will require changes at all climate change on forests. with the predicted levels of the institutional landscape, from improving ‘One option is to try to safeguard ecosystems from climate changes.' local management of forests to ensuring global climate-related disturbances, for example, improving financial frameworks are informed, efficient and fire management to reduce the risk of uncontrolled Bruno Locatelli responsible. wildfires or developing better controls against CIFOR-CIRAD scientist Yet according to one of the report’s authors, invasive species,’ Locatelli says. CIFOR’s Maria Brockhaus, not enough is being done Another option highlighted in the report is to at the policy or government level when it comes to help forests evolve towards conditions that are the adaptation rather than mitigation side of the better suited to the altered climate. In this way, says forests and climate debate. Locatelli, ‘we evolve with the changing climate rather ‘The world has known for a long time about than resist it. Applying this option to plantations, the links between forests and climate change,’ says for example, we could select species better suited to Brockhaus. ‘We've seen this in the international coping with the predicted climate changes.’ attention given to mitigation approaches such as The second response examined in the report REDD (reducing emissions from deforestation and looks at measures for increasing the adaptive forest degradation). capacity of people who are managing, living in or ‘Mitigation is extremely important, but so is conserving forests. adaptation. They’re two sides of the same coin. And ‘The people living in forests are highly dependent there will be no contribution of forests to mitigation on forest goods and services and are often very without adaptation. Because forests sequester vulnerable socio-economically,’ Locatelli says. carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, managing ‘They usually have a much more intimate them properly and adapting them to climate change understanding of their forests than anyone else, but will assist in tackling the climate change problem,’ the unprecedented rate of climate change will almost Brockhaus says. certainly hit the most vulnerable. There is a need for ‘But if they are affected by climate change, the understanding how to facilitate the adaptation of carbon they release could accelerate climate changes. vulnerable people, for instance, with shifts in policy.’ The fact is, national policies and international By Greg Clough negotiations continue to disregard adaptation, and forests and forest communities’ adaptation to climate ‘Facing an Uncertain Future: How Forest and change get lost in the public debate.’ People Can Adapt to Climate Change’, Forest Quite clearly, supporting forests and communities Perspectives No. 5, is available at www.cifor.cgiar. in their effort to adapt is extremely important. After org/publications/pdf_files/media/CIFOR_ all, as the report points out, forests provide millions adaptation.pdf. June 2009 6
CIFOR
research
Photo by Agung Prasetyo Moving ahead with REDD to achieve the 3 Es: Efficiency, effectiveness and equity
A new report, released by CIFOR at the UNFCCC logging practices and conversion of forest land COP-14, addresses key questions negotiators need to other uses, such as cattle pasture and to consider as they determine how to reduce plantation crops. forest-related carbon emissions in the new climate The report suggests that integrating REDD agreement to be finalised at COP-15 in Copenhagen with tighter overall emissions targets will enable in December 2009. negotiators to deliver a more ambitious global climate Moving Ahead with REDD: Issues, Options strategy for little or no extra cost. But achieving this and Implications provides global decision-makers will require negotiators to reach consensus on what with analysis and recommendations on how to works to achieve the 3 Es, plus co-benefits. They are implement REDD in ways that enable us to achieve looking at a number of challenging questions: 'Our purpose is not efficiency, effectiveness and equity (the 3 Es) and • What is the right scale for implementing REDD to push one position co-benefits such as poverty reduction and biodiversity projects? over another. We set conservation. • How will the new climate change regime address ‘Our purpose is not to push one position over forest degradation, as distinct from deforestation? out to ensure that another,’ says Arild Angelsen, one of the report’s • How will we measure forest-based carbon? everyone is aware authors. ‘We set out to ensure that everyone is aware • How can we ensure that forests conserved for of all the options of all the options available and the implications carbon are not subsequently lost? available and the of various choices. Overall, people are beginning • How can we guarantee the rights of forest- implications of various to realise that when it comes to REDD, a ‘one size dwelling communities? fits all’ solution is unlikely. The best way to design ‘Our analysis shows that there is a clear set of choices.' and implement a global REDD regime may be a options available for resolving REDD issues,’ says flexible approach that allows countries to proceed Frances Seymour, CIFOR’s director general. ‘Each Arild Angelsen with several different models simultaneously, which option usually involves some trade-offs related to CIFOR evolve over time depending on what works best for a effectiveness, efficiency and equity. particular set of circumstances.’ ‘Many people are concerned that the global Negotiators are looking at ways to reduce financial crisis will undermine industrialised countries’ carbon emissions by providing financial incentives commitments to reduce emissions, which are for developing countries to reduce deforestation essential to achieving the overall objective, but also and forest degradation. The idea is that REDD will their willingness to pay for carbon offset initiatives enable forest conservation to compete financially in developing countries. The willingness to play on with the economic drivers of deforestation and forest the part of developing countries will depend on the degradation, which currently favour destructive perceived fairness and accessibility of these schemes.’ 7 June 2009
The report examines a wide range of issues according to the report. Negotiators will need to CIFOR related to the design of REDD, including geographical balance the need to achieve genuine reductions in scaling and leakage. emissions against the need to recognise and reward Many countries favour implementing REDD at a those countries that are already doing the right thing national level because this could reduce potential for and have reduced their emissions significantly. ‘carbon leakage’—lowering emissions in one forest The report says that if we want to encourage area by shifting deforestation or forest degradation more developing countries to participate in REDD elsewhere. schemes, then the inclusion of forest degradation A national approach could account for all will be necessary. This will better account for forest domestic leakage and encourage governments to use related carbon emissions than deforestation alone. a broad set of policies to reduce forest emissions. But Other issues addressed by the CIFOR report the report says this approach would be feasible for include monitoring carbon emissions from remote only a few middle-income countries with the right forested regions, paying for REDD and ensuring capacities and regulatory frameworks. It also says a emission reductions are permanent. national approach carries a high risk of governance Moving Ahead with REDD: Issues, Options and failures and ‘nationalisation’ of carbon rights, leaving Implications is available at www.cifor.cgiar.org/ fewer benefits for local communities. If negotiators Publications/Detail?pid=2601. want the benefits of both national and subnational involvement, the report suggests they consider a ‘nested approach’ that allows initiatives reducing carbon emissions at the subnational level to roll up their carbon savings for accounting at the national level within a certain time period. Clear and appropriate reference levels—or baselines—from which to measure emission reductions could be a major stumbling block to achieving international consensus on REDD,
Continued from page 1
‘What was important about Forest Day 2 was terrestrial biodiversity,’ said Seymour, reflecting the the remarkable consensus across a broad range of viewpoint of many participants that forests should be Can stakeholders about what needs to be done,’ said seen as more than just carbon storehouses. politicians Frances Seymour, CIFOR’s Director General. ‘The Forest Day 2 was cohosted by the Collaborative forestry community has a long history of contentious Partnership on Forests, CIFOR, the Government of provide and divisive debates, but we’ve come together to Poland and the Polish State Forests NFH. tackle this challenge.’ Forest Day 3 will be held on Sunday, 13 December the missing While participants did not agree on the specifics 2009, in Copenhagen, Denmark, during the UNFCCC of how negotiators should include forests in the new COP-15. For more information, go to www.cifor. magic? climate change agreement, particularly regarding cgiar.org/events/forestday3. the risks and uncertainty associated with introducing By Tim Cronin, CIFOR forest-based credits into the global carbon market, no one doubted that the risks and uncertainty of inaction were likely to be far greater. ‘Reducing deforestation is probably the largest win-win mitigation target we can make,’ said plenary speaker Martin Parry of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). ‘The magic that is missing is the collective political will.’ Seymour presented a summary statement to de Boer at the closing session. It said emissions targets will not be met unless forests are included in the next global climate agreement. De Boer called for the ‘sensitive and intelligent’ recommendations of Forest Day 2 to be effectively conveyed to the UNFCCC negotiating process. ‘Forests provide livelihoods to some of the world’s poorest people and harbour much of the Earth’s June 2009 8
CIFOR
africa
Photo by Patrick Nyemeck The way ahead for Cameroon’s forests
A recent study by CIFOR and the Australian National The research findings have been shared with University (ANU) challenges perceptions about forest Cameroon’s Ministry of Forests and with groups management plans in Cameroon. such as the German and Dutch development and cooperation agencies, World Wide Fund for Nature In many respects Cameroon has set the benchmark (WWF), World Conservation Union (IUCN), the for its neighbouring nations when it comes to European Union, and various local nongovernmental sustainably managing the forests of the Congo Basin, organisations. home to the world’s second largest area of tropical As a result, the government is intending to forest. And Cameroon’s innovative approaches have adjust the law to reflect some of the paper’s key not gone unnoticed by the broader international recommendations. It has already formed a working 'We found that community either. A case in point is a law requiring group and asked logging companies to participate in all logging companies to prepare forest management the legal overhaul. 85 percent of the plans (FMPs). In theory, these plans ensure that timber harvested companies pay sufficient attention to the social, Loophole consisted of species economic and ecological issues related to the forests Report co-author Paolo Cerutti says the existing FMP not included in the under their control. regulations give a company too much flexibility in But, as always, the devil is in the detail, as the choosing the tree species on its concession that it will company’s plan CIFOR–ANU research paper reveals. First published in include on the list of species it is legally obliged to for managing the Ecology and Society, ‘Sustainable Forest Management sustainably manage. forest concession in Cameroon Needs More than Approved Forest Under the current FMP guidelines, a company Management Plans’ finds that, while companies often must nominate 20 or more species for sustainable sustainably.' meet the technical requirements detailed in their management from a list of the 60 most harvested FMPs, the forests in question may not be managed in species nationally. The nominated species must Paulo Cerutti sustainable ways. account for 75 percent of the trees in the company’s CIFOR scientist The study found that due to a legal loophole forest concession. and poor oversight almost 70 percent of timber ‘This is a legal loophole and companies are production in 2006 was conducted as if no improved taking advantage of it,’ says Cerutti. ‘It allows them management rules were in place. to include species in their FMPs that they are not 9 June 2009
CIFOR
Photo by Marieke Sandker interested in harvesting and exclude commercially According to Cerutti, under the original law the valuable species from logging quotas.’ government was responsible for developing FMPs. The report cites an example from 2006 of a ‘But the government lacked the necessary company fulfilling its legal requirements with an financial and human resources,’ Cerutti says. ‘So it FMP that placed 29 species on its managed species delegated the task to logging companies. As a result, list, which represented 76 percent of the concession’s FMPs are prepared more from an economic than an inventoried volume. ecological perspective.’ Of the 29 species nominated for special care, only The report recommends that the Ministry of 11 were actually harvested. Forests become the leading actor in the improved These 11 species contributed less than 15 management of Cameroonian production forests. This percent of the total volume of timber logged on the will help ensure FMPs comply more fully with the concession. law and that companies voluntarily applying stricter ‘In other words,’ says Cerutti, ‘85 percent of the management remain competitive. timber harvested consisted of species not included ‘If the ministry remains a silent actor, sustainable in the company’s plan for managing the forest management will not be implemented on a large concession sustainably.’ scale in Cameroon,’ the report warns. According to the report, 66 percent of logging Cerutti says the government’s willingness to companies in 2006 did not include at least one of change the current legal framework is a positive sign. their three most, harvested species in their FMPs. ‘While a number of changes are needed, ensuring Particularly worrying is the fact that some of the non- companies include their most harvested species in managed species are classified as endangered by their list of managed species would be a good start,’ the IUCN. Cerutti says. ‘From there we can progressively move In addition to the loophole, the report also found on to other changes that will eventually benefit weaknesses in the government’s monitoring of FMPs. Cameroon’s economy, environment and people.’ By Greg Clough
Research recommendations The CIFOR–ANU analysis says making the right changes to current systems in Cameroon could generate several benefits. • Thirty-year concessions will remain attractive to future investors by ensuring that they retain sufficient volumes of commercially attractive species. • Concessions will continue to remain a long-term source of employment and government revenue. • Species identified by IUCN as endangered or vulnerable will have a greater chance of avoiding extinction. • Local and international agreements and certification processes will be stronger if uniform benchmarks are applied. ‘Sustainable Forest Management in Cameroon Needs More than Approved Forest Management Plans’ is available at www.ecologyandsociety.org/vol13/iss2/art36/. June 2009 10
CIFOR latin america
Photo by Christian Goenner Making tenure tenable
‘It is now widely recognized that clear tenure Conducted between 2006 and 2008, the research rights are central to achieving social and economic examines how changes in statutory rights have been development. Clarification of tenure rights will also implemented and whether they have resulted, in be a crucial component of forest-based approaches practice, in greater access to forest resources, new to mitigating climate change. We know that sources of income or other tangible benefits for forest uncertainty, contestation, and conflict over property communities. rights undermine progress on many fronts. Formal The study analysed three key aspects. recognition of the property rights of indigenous ‘First we examined the nature of the new peoples and forest communities has long been statutory right itself, including such things as its origin argued on moral grounds, but it is also a social, and objectives,’ says lead author Anne Larson. ‘Next 'Increased forest economic, and political imperative. The reasons for we looked at how this right was implemented and rights did not always giving serious attention to the issue of forest tenure whether it resulted in the changes expected. Finally are now more compelling than ever.’—Rights and we looked at how people actually go about getting mean increased Resources Initiative.1 benefits from forests and the problems they face in forest benefits.' doing so once they have tenure.’ A 2002 study by Forest Trends found that 22 percent The research sites included several types of of forests in developing countries were owned or conservation and settlement communities in the administered by communities. More recent data Brazilian Amazon, an indigenous territory and Peter Cronkleton suggest the trend continues. A recent CIFOR report agro-extractive communities in Bolivia, indigenous CIFOR scientist focused on Bolivia, Brazil, Guatemala and Nicaragua, territories in Nicaragua and community-forest ‘Tenure Rights and Beyond: Community Access to concessions and highland communal forests in Forest Resources in Latin America’, explores the Guatemala. transfer of rights in more detail. The study found that although the granting of Authors Anne M. Larson, Peter Cronkleton, tenure rights signifies an important achievement Deborah Barry and Pablo Pacheco, all of CIFOR, were for many communities, new statutory rights do not particularly interested in whether the increases in automatically transform into rights in practice. community ownership and administration of forests ‘In most of the cases, including those that has led to the outcomes CIFOR, Forest Trends and delivered important benefits, the process of handing many others have hoped for: good governance, over the new rights and responsibilities was fraught equitable distribution of benefits and sustainable with major difficulties,’ says Conkleton. ‘And resource management. increased forest rights did not always mean increased While the report does not claim to be forest benefits.’ representative of Latin America generally, it does provide an in-depth analysis of what is happening in some of the region’s key locations. 1 http://www.rightsandresources. org/documents/files/doc_736.pdf Continued on page 12 11 June 2009
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Photo by Charlie Pye-Smith Forest farmers offer hope in Amazonia
CIFOR scientist Patricia Shanley profiles three farmers cacao and timber. These crops sustain the family, who have inspired her work. Shanley has produced along with the fruits he gathers and the fish and award-winning research materials in a format and game he captures. style suited for local forest users. Mangueira credits his forest with saving his life. To treat diabetes, Mangueira daily drinks a deep red, Mangueira Brito: How to save a forest bitter tea made from the bark of uxi amarello. To “When I arrived 20 years ago, I owned the shirt on heal his broken arm, he fashioned a cast out of the my back, a machete and a rifle. I traded my rifle white latex of the manilkara tree. When he and his for 50 hectares of forest. I am the only one with dog were struck by a snake, the dog died instantly. forest now.” Hallucinating, Mangueira crawled home. For a Mangueira, his wife Maria and their five children month, as he lay limply in his hammock, his 'João reached wife Maria administered teas and poultices. The (above) live on the Capim River, a tributary of the into the branches Amazon. They own a few tools, a canoe, pots and wound left his leg crippled, but he still farms and hammocks. When they arrived, the area was dense enjoys bacuri. and passed to my forest. Except for Mangueira’s 50 hectares, much of daughter a football- the region is now logged and burnt. Mangueira’s João Paulo: How to create a forest sized cupuaçu fruit family is the only one to have resisted the logger’s João lives three kilometers from Mangueira. Twenty quick cash. Unlike his neighbours, Mangueira and years ago, he lived in another place, among towering to take home.' his family calculated the trade-off when loggers Brazil nut and fruit trees along the banks of the approached with cash in hand and offers of a couple Capim River. Some time in the late 1980s, a cattle Patricia Shanley of dollars for bacuri and other fruit-bearing trees. rancher had offered him a trivial sum of money, and CIFOR scientist They counted and weighed the fruit, game and fibres pressured João to vacate his land. He moved to a they had collected. In one decade, they consumed barren plot of charred earth. No trees. No water. His over 14,248 fruits from three species of trees. Then former house had overlooked a flowing river, but now they said “no deal” to the loggers. Instead, Mangueira his doorstep opens upon a logging road. today sells bacuri juice, with one fruit producing five João was around 60 years old when he lost glassfuls, each selling for 25 centavos. his land, but did not give up. He collected a wide To spare his forest, he places his swidden field diversity of seeds from logged areas and intact forests. in secondary growth, planting manioc, corn, beans, Some of them included seeds of prized timber trees bananas and rice. He plants whatever seeds or like macaranduba and mahogany and fruit trees seedlings he can scrounge: acerola cupuaçu, coffee, such as piquia and uxi. He collected seeds from June 2009 12
CIFOR medicinal trees, such as amapa, whose sticky, white base of other villagers so they would not lose their latex heals respiratory disease, and andiroba, whose forests for meagre sums. Although the “invisible seeds yield medicinal oil for arthritis. In João’s hands income” from fruit, game and fibres is substantial, these seeds were a treasure-in-waiting. He treated the quick cash offered by loggers often seduces village them like precious jewels. Under the hot equatorial leaders to sell their timber instead. sun, he hauled water from a distant well to keep With cataract-ridden eyes, no health plan and roots wet. Despite scepticism from his neighbours, a pair of broken glasses, Glória had to struggle to João’s commitment prevailed. Working in the region read, her difficulty mirroring that of many other in 1991, I documented the species he had planted, rural people. So, Glória joined forces with a small yet wondered if he would ever enjoy the fruits of his team of CIFOR researchers to publish an illustrated labour. He proved me wrong. manual of the ecology, economics and management Seventeen years later in 2008, travelling along of local forest species. Their aim was to help farmers a dusty logging road after visiting Mangueira, my better understand the relative cultural, financial husband Chris, my eight-year-old daughter Grayson and nutritional value of the game, fibres and fruits and I came upon an oasis of green. A thin, strong, available in the forest, compared to the value of the weathered figure emerged out of a resplendent forest. forest as a source of timber. Close to 80 years old, João showed us his trees which In rural villages forests do not merely signify had become a forest. He humbly told us that his ecology and economics, but also song, story, culture, story had been aired on Brazilian television. He then and healing. Thus, the book was written not only by reached into the branches of one tree and proudly Amazonian scientists but also by swidden farmers passed my daughter a prized, football-sized cupuaçu and hunters like Joao and Mangueira. It includes fruit for our journey home. logging tales, forest legends, cake recipes, and tips for planting fruit trees and extracting tree oil. Glória Gaia: How to spread the forest To spread the word about forest conservation and to empower rural villagers with knowledge that message would have otherwise remained beyond their reach, Born and raised in the woods near the town of Glória left her family farm and forest in the hands of Cameta, Brazil, Glória Gaia and her nine siblings were her children. Her current work brings her into contact schooled in fishing, hunting, rubber tapping, and tree with isolated forest villagers. Through illustrated oil extraction. Her mother also instilled in her a deep publications and workshops, she builds a knowledge knowledge of medicinal oils and plants. network, linking forest-rich but information-poor Glória told me she had defended her family communities throughout the Amazon basin. homestead against loggers in the late 1980s. She then became committed to strengthening the information By Patricia Shanley, CIFOR
Continued from page 10
The report found several difficulties in transferring authorities, some of which have been created or given Making statutory rights: substantial new powers in the reform process but lack • conflicts with other resource claimants experience and clearly accountable relations. tenure • failure of the state to define the tenure right The report, says Cronkleton, could make life easier tenable appropriately or defend it effectively for policymakers grappling with complex forest and • problems with local authorities and governance community tenure issues. institutions ‘The issues and difficulties that governments need • superposition of new models over existing to address in recognising community rights to forests institutions are complex and sometimes politically thorny. But • obstacles to community engagement with communities are likely to continue to demand greater markets control over, and benefits from, the forests in which • lack of systems to support forest resource they live. Yes, the issues are complex, but dealing management. with them cannot be avoided. Hopefully this report The researchers found that rights are often will make it easier for policymakers to understand accompanied by overwhelming responsibilities for these complexities.’ which communities are ill equipped, or are limited by By Greg Clough restrictions on forest use. In almost all the cases, some new rights were handed to the community, but the ‘Tenure Rights and Beyond: Community Access to formal authority to make certain important decisions, Forest Resources in Latin America’ is available at particularly around forest management, remained www.cifor.cgiar.org/Publications/Papers/ with the state. This was true even in communities ocpapers/. that had previously made some of the decisions in question through their customary institutions. The study also concluded that institutional arrangements are shaped by a variety of local 13 June 2009
CIFOR
asia
Photo by Terry Sunderland Sustaining Bangladesh’s remaining forests
Bangladesh’s forests are declining at an alarming ‘CIFOR and the PEN project provided me rate, spelling hard times for this country where only with funding, scientific literature, expertise and a 6 percent of the land’s surface is forested and where network of like-minded students,’ says Rahman. ‘We 70 percent of the population depends on natural are working together on a global scale towards a resources such as forests for their livelihoods. With 850 common goal.’ inhabitants per square kilometre and with 40 percent Rahman selected 50 households in two villages in of its 153 million people living in extreme poverty, the Khagrachhari for interviews. He also interviewed 40 pressure on the country’s remaining forests is extreme. agroforestry cultivators, who helped him identify the In eastern Bangladesh, most poor people practice actual and envisaged costs and benefits of alternative shifting cultivation, which contributes to deforestation. agroforestry systems. Moreover, because rural communities increasingly ‘My research is risky because there is some ethnic 'CIFOR and the PEN lack forest resources, they are turning to fuelwood conflict,’ he says. ‘I also had some problems with alternatives like cow dung and crop residues. This, in language and collecting appropriate information. project provided turn, leads to a loss of soil nutrients, lower yields and Just finding people was difficult because the shifting me with funding, escalating poverty. cultivators are out during the day time, so I had to scientific literature, Through the Poverty Environment Network (PEN), visit at night.’ CIFOR is helping to strengthen agroforestry and Rahman’s data include household income, forest expertise and a enhance sustainable forest management resource use, agroforestry practices, methods for network of like- in Bangladesh. PEN researchers are compiling marketing forest products and ways of engaging with minded students.' data from 6,000 households in more than 20 countries government and nongovernmental organisations. to build a global database on the role of forests in ‘I am looking at the socio-economic variables alleviating poverty. PEN researcher Syed Ajijur Rahman that influence behaviour,’ says Rahman, ‘and Syed Ajijur Rahman of Bangladesh is exploring how people in the eastern developing a model for agroforestry in Bangladesh PEN researcher uplands are using local forest resources and how which will enhance village income and be socially, agroforestry might contribute to sustainable forest environmentally and economically responsible.’ management. He sees agroforestry as a way to protect By Alex Angel, ACICIS forests and help communities overcome poverty. ‘Much of the area is already depleted,’ says For more information about Rahman’s research Rahman. ‘But deforested land can be reforested, visit www.cifor.cgiar.org/pen/_ref/news/ and agroforestry can provide an alternative penews/2007/penews-3-2007.htm. livelihood strategy that is more sustainable, more For more information about ACICIS environmentally friendly and more economically visit www.acicis.murdoch.edu.au/. advantageous than shifting cultivation. I see it as the best option for helping farmers get out of the poverty trap and manage forest resources by themselves.’ Agroforestry studies in the region are at present confined to relatively isolated government and nongovernment projects, however. Rahman says Bangladesh lacks the necessary skills and resources to conduct adequate research. June 2009 14
CIFOR
africa
Photo by Fiona Paumgarten Zambian beekeepers to sweeten their profits The decision of the Zambian Ministry of Tourism, This kind of encouragement is crucial because Environment and Natural Resources to draft policy on until now monitoring and control of the beekeeping beekeeping signals the importance it places on forest industry fell under Zambia’s National Forest Policy. products for economic and environmental prosperity. This policy did not sufficiently reflect the nuances of The policy, drafted with support from CIFOR the industry and the needs of the stakeholders. researchers, governs the production, packaging and CIFOR’s researchers in Zambia are confident that marketing of honey and beeswax products. an official policy, tailored to the context and the needs ‘The new policy assists those working in the of beekeepers, will help forest communities. beekeeping industry to better manage the trade and Honey and beeswax are among Zambia’s major to better capitalise on opportunities,’ says Davison nontraditional exports. Zambia supplies international 'The new policy Gumbo, a CIFOR scientist. ‘Currently, the export markets in Canada, Germany, Japan, Libya, South assists those price for honey averages US $4,500 per tonne in Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States of working in the international markets.’ America. Honey and beeswax have multiple uses. For beekeeping industry In addition to generating income, the policy will example, honey is a sweetener and an ingredient in also provide the incentives and the framework for herbal medicines, while beeswax is used in cosmetics. to better manage people to manage forests more sustainably. the trade and to By Tim Cronin, CIFOR better capitalise on opportunities.'
Davison Gumbo CIFOR scientist 15 June 2009
CIFOR
Photo by Koen Kusters Getting a whiff of CIFOR’s NTFP research The smell of the durian fruit—‘the king of the fruits’— For example, as international rattan prices has been compared unfavourably with everything increased in the 1980s and ’90s, commercial from vomit, rotten onions, pig faeces, gym socks and companies in Asia hired local people to harvest these turpentine to a used surgical swab. resources. The result was widespread overexploitation The durian’s olfactory reputation has ensured its and in many places the rattan was destroyed. prohibition from various public transport systems Biodiversity was diminished, and local communities and hotels across the tropics, including CIFOR’s lost an important source of income over the headquarters in Bogor. Such treatment belies the long term. fact that the fruit is ubiquitous in Southeast Asia: It’s NTFPs are used and managed in complex socio- taste is considerably more popular than its smell. The economic and ecological contexts. While commercial durian can therefore offer considerable economic NTFPs can be of considerable value to poor people, importance to local communities as a non-timber many people remain poor because they have limited forest product, or NTFP. access to markets, insufficient capital and generally In communities in North Sumatra, Borneo and weak bargaining power. West Java, for example, the durian contributes Realising this potential value therefore requires significantly to nutrition and income. Moreover, given looking beyond the forest sector and investing in that harvesting, at least at the small scale, can take other areas, such as microfinance mechanisms, place with little disturbance to the forest ecosystem, transport and education. CIFOR researchers have durian harvesting can provide a means through looked at NTFPs in their specific contexts and shared which forest conservation can take place in unison their findings with stakeholders to develop policy and with local economic development. practice recommendations. The analysis examines NTFPs are goods or services other than timber how NTFP supply chains operate—from the collection that are produced in forests and used by local people and processing of raw materials to wholesale for their own direct benefit or for selling to others. and retail markets—in order to identify potential NTFPs include fruits and nuts, vegetables, fish and bottlenecks and other challenges. game, medicinal plants, resins, essences and a range CIFOR’s research is then made available to of barks and fibres such as bamboo, rattans, palms governments and donor agencies which are trying to and grasses. improve trade, policy and management issues related CIFOR’s research into NTFPs benefits communities to this supply chain. by increasing local understanding of sustainable Though some forest stakeholders may regard harvesting techniques, marketing opportunities the full range of forest products as a marginal issue and the role good policies can play. In these ways, within the larger concerns of forest conservation, communities can achieve economic benefits while improvements in sustainable management practices minimising damage to the forest. The important thing and profitable marketing systems can deliver is to understand the trade-offs and synergies between significant benefits to forest-dwelling communities, environmental conservation and the livelihoods of which can reduce their dependence upon more poor, rural people. destructive activities. As long as more than 1 billion The real value of NTFPs is not always monetary. people worldwide depend upon forests for their Some NTFPs have significant cultural value as, say, livelihood, NTFPs will continue to be the focal point totems and other ritual items, while others have of community and commercial activities which can important medicinal value and contribute to a improve subsistence, sustainability and security. community’s overall health and well-being. By Alex Angel, ACICIS But as forests disappear, human populations grow, markets globalise and traditional management institutions are restructured, the sustainable use of For more information about ACICIS visit many NTFPs faces both opportunities and challenges. www.acicis.murdoch.edu.au/. June 2009
CIFOR Welcome
James Clarke joined CIFOR in January George Schoneveld has a master’s CIFOR Offices 2009 as media liaison and outreach degree in International Development
Headquarters manager with the Information Services Studies from the University of Utrecht, the P.O. Box 0113 BOCBD, Group. Before joining CIFOR he was the Netherlands (2008). Before joining CIFOR, Bogor 16000, Indonesia Tel: +62 251 8622622 country director for BBC World Service he was a research intern with the Centre Fax: +62 251 8622100 Trust in Ethiopia. for Economic and Social Studies in Hyderabad, General inquiries: [email protected] Publication inquiries: India. He is attached to the Forests and Governance [email protected] Ramses Iwan was appointed research programme. Cameroon – Central Africa assistant with the Forests and Governance c/o IITA Humid Forest Ecoregional Center Jolien Schure B.P. 2008, Yaounde, Cameroon programme. He is based in Malinau, has a master’s degree in Tel: +237 2222 7449 / 2222 7451 Kalimantan, Indonesia. Ramses has a Development Studies from University of Fax: +237 2222 7450 Regional coordinator: Cyrie Sendashonga bachelor’s degree from Mulawarman Nijmegen, the Netherlands (2002). Before Email: [email protected] University. joining CIFOR, she was a researcher
Burkina Faso - West Africa in natural resources, governance and 06 B.P. 9478 Ouagadougou 06, Dr Elena Petkova joined CIFOR in conflict with the Bonn International Centre for Burkina Faso Tel: +226 5030 4741 / 5030 4742 March 2009 as interim director of the Conversion. She is attached to the Forests and Fax: +226 5030 2930 Forests and Governance programme. Livelihoods programme. Regional coordinator: Daniel Tiveau Email: [email protected] Prior to joining CIFOR, she was director of the Institutions and Governance Program Olufunso Somorin has a master’s Zimbabwe Hosted by SAFIRE at World Resources Institute, and continued as senior degree in Forest and Nature Conservation No. 9 Lezard Road, Milton Park, fellow with The Access Initiative and the Partnership Policy from Wageningen University, the Harare, Zimbabwe Tel/Fax: +263 4 708882 for Principle 10 responsible for European partners Netherlands (2008). He is attached to the Email: [email protected] and donors. She has a PhD in Political Science and Environmental Services and Sustainable Guinea Modern History from the Bulgarian Academy of Use of Forests programme. B.P. 5841, Conakry, Guinea Tel: +224 30 012699 Sciences (1989). Contact person: Michael Balinga George Schoneveld, Jolien Schure and Olufunso Email: [email protected] Dr Sheila Wertz-Kanounnikoff joined Somorin joined CIFOR in December 2008 as Ethiopia CIFOR in February 2009 as a scientist associate experts with support from the government c/o ILRI P.O. Box 5689, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia dealing with climate change issues. She is of The Netherlands. Olufunso and Jolien are based Tel: +251 1 463215 / +1 650 833 6697 attached to the Forests and Governance in Yaoundé, Cameroon, and George is based in (USA direct) Fax: +251 1 461252 programme. Sheila obtained her PhD in Bogor, Indonesia. Contact person: Habtemariam Kassa Economics at the University of Heidelberg, Germany Email: [email protected] (2005). Sheila is based in Bogor, Indonesia. Zambia c/o Forestry Nursery Site, Elm Road Woodlands, Lusaka, Zambia Tel: +211 266762 / 266854 Fax: +211 265885 Farewell Contact person: Davison Gumbo Email: [email protected] Umar Djohan retired in December 2008 Agus Mulyana completed his assignment Brazil with CIFOR in November 2008. He was Rua do Russel, 450 / sala 601 after 11 years of service. Umar was a motor Bairro: Gória pool driver at headquarters. a research officer with the Forests and CEP: 22.210-010 Governance programme. Rio de Janeiro (RJ), Brazil Tel: +55 21 2285 3341 / 2285 0447 Contact person: Sven Wunder Email: [email protected] Ismed Mahmud left CIFOR in December Yulia Siagian completed her assignment 2008 after 14 years of service. His last in December 2008 after six years of service. Bolivia c/o Centro de Estudios para el Desarrollo position was procurement officer. She was a research assistant with the Laboral y Agrario (CEDLA) Forests and Governance programme. Av. Jaimes Freyre No. 2940. Esquina Muñoz Cornejo Casilla 8630, La Paz, Bolivia Yuliardi Yuzar left CIFOR in January Tel: +591 2 2413175 / 2412429 Didi Marudin left CIFOR in November Fax: +591 2 2414625 2008 after 15 years of service. He was the 2009 after 11 years of service as the Contact person: Peter Cronkleton computer services and IT manager with the E-mail: [email protected] motor pool dispatcher at headquarters. Information Services Group. Laos IRD-CIFOR P.O. Box 5992 Vientiane, Lao PDR Tel: +856 020 777 3934 Fax: +856 021 41 2993 Contact person: Jean-Christophe Castella Email: [email protected]
Vietnam c/o Forest Science Institute of Vietnam (FSIV) Chem, Tu Liem, Hanoi, Vietnam Tel/Fax: +84 4 752 2144 Contact person: Minh Ha Fagerstrom Need the latest on research at CIFOR? Mobile: +84 (0) 904800835 Sign up for CIFOR’s e-newsletter by sending your request to Email: [email protected] [email protected].
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