Protecting and Restoring Forests for Sustainable Development
Forests play a crucial role in mitigating carbon emissions and addressing climate change. They are also essential for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). However, previous efforts to reduce deforestation and restore degraded forests have had limited success. In order to improve these outcomes, it is important to understand the rights and governance structures that enable communities to sustainably manage forest resources. This article explores the work of Nobel laureate Elinor Ostrom and highlights the need for secure tenure and management rights for forest communities.
Previous Mechanisms and Challenges
Since the Kyoto Protocol in 1997, various mechanisms have been implemented to raise funds and support countries in reducing deforestation. However, these schemes have often interfered with the rights and access of local communities who have traditionally managed forests. At the same time, deforestation has continued due to global market demands for commodities such as beef and palm oil.
The world is currently off track to achieve the goal of zero deforestation by 2030 and restoring over 350 million hectares of forests. To address this challenge, Brazil has proposed a “tropical forests forever fund” at the COP28 climate talks in Dubai. However, there is a need for confidence that this new approach will yield different results.
Bundles of Rights for Sustainable Forest Management
Nearly 295 million people in developing countries live on land suitable for forest restoration. However, the right to extract timber or plant trees lies with the state, often disregarding the needs and interests of local communities. Elinor Ostrom’s research on commons governance shows that communities can effectively manage resources when they have secure tenure and the ability to make decisions about resource use.
A recent study on forest commons in tropical countries found that allowing local communities informal or customary rights of use and management resulted in diverse tree species and sustainable livelihoods. These findings suggest that forests managed by Indigenous and rural communities can contribute to global objectives for carbon storage and biodiversity conservation.
Ostrom identified five important bundles of rights for sustainable land management: access, withdrawal, management, exclusion, and alienation. Of these, management rights are crucial for forest restoration as they enable communities to decide where and what type of trees to plant.
Empowering Forest Communities for Restoration
To restore forests and mitigate climate change, it is essential to devolve management rights to communities and grant them secure tenure. Ostrom’s principles for commons governance provide a useful guide for governing these forest commons. This includes defining clear boundaries, involving all community members in decision-making, and implementing effective monitoring and conflict resolution mechanisms.
However, Indigenous and forest-dependent communities face limitations in accessing finance for restoration work. It is important for funds like Brazil’s proposed “tropical forests forever fund” and existing climate finance mechanisms to be accessible to these communities. This can be facilitated by ensuring secure rights and tenure with clear management rules.
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SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
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SDGs Addressed or Connected to the Issues
- SDG 13: Climate Action
- SDG 15: Life on Land
The article discusses the importance of protecting and restoring forests as a means of mitigating carbon emissions and addressing climate change (SDG 13). It also highlights the need to empower forest communities and ensure sustainable use of land resources (SDG 15).
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Specific Targets Based on the Article’s Content
- SDG 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning
- SDG 15.2: Promote the implementation of sustainable management of all types of forests
- SDG 15.3: Combat desertification, restore degraded land, and strive to achieve a land degradation-neutral world
The article emphasizes the need for countries to set targets for increasing tree coverage and carbon storage in forests (related to SDG 13.2 and SDG 15.2). It also highlights the challenge of reducing deforestation and restoring degraded land, which aligns with SDG 15.3.
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Indicators Mentioned or Implied in the Article
- Forest coverage and tree species diversity
- Biomass in forests as an indicator of carbon storage
- Secure tenure and management rights for local communities
- Increased sales of bamboo and tendu as indicators of improved livelihoods
The article mentions that forest commons managed by Indigenous and rural communities have a high variety of tree species and offer sufficient biomass for carbon storage. These can serve as indicators of progress towards the targets mentioned above. Additionally, the article emphasizes the importance of secure tenure and management rights for local communities, which can be measured through legal frameworks and policies. The increased sales of bamboo and tendu are mentioned as examples of improved livelihoods resulting from secure rights and tenure.
Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 13: Climate Action | 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning | – Forest coverage and tree species diversity – Biomass in forests as an indicator of carbon storage |
| SDG 15: Life on Land | 15.2: Promote the implementation of sustainable management of all types of forests | – Forest coverage and tree species diversity – Biomass in forests as an indicator of carbon storage – Secure tenure and management rights for local communities |
| 15.3: Combat desertification, restore degraded land, and strive to achieve a land degradation-neutral world | – Forest coverage and tree species diversity – Biomass in forests as an indicator of carbon storage – Increased sales of bamboo and tendu as indicators of improved livelihoods |
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Source: theconversation.com
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