Efforts by rich countries to combat climate change by funding reductions in deforestation in developing countries need to be based on respect for the rights of indigenous peoples and forest communities, says on article in Biopact.

If this does not occur then it “could even unleash a devastating wave of forest loss, cultural destruction, corruption, land grabs and even civil conflict.”

The article is reporting on a conference on rights, forests and climate change being held in Oslo, Norway and attended by leading forestry and development experts. The conference was organized by Rainforest Foundation Norway and the US-based Rights and Resources Initiative (RRI) of which the World Agroforestry Centre is a partner organization.

Andy White, coordinator of RRI says well-devised moves to reduce deforestation and forest degradation can store carbon as well as help address the underlying causes of poverty and conflict in many developing countries.

Participants at the conference spoke of the need to ensure Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD) mechanisms consider the rights and access of people who depend on forests for their livelihoods. Research by RRI and Intercooperation, a Swiss development organization, has found that the costs of recognizing local rights and tenure systems are low relative to the projected costs of REDD.

Other research presented at the conference by Professor Arun Agrawal of the University of Michigan shows that community ownership of forests provides the best possibility for increasing carbon stocks and improving livelihood outcomes.

Read the full story: Forest peoples' rights key to reducing emissions from deforestation - high risk of backlash