Policy Options for Effective REDD+ Implementation in Indonesia: The Significance of Forest Tenure Reform

TY - JOUR

T1 - Policy Options for Effective REDD+ Implementation in Indonesia

T2 - The Significance of Forest Tenure Reform

AU - Saito-Jensen, Moeko

AU - Sikor, Thomas

AU - Kurniawan, Y.

AU - Eilenberg, Michael

AU - Setyawan, E. P.

AU - Kustini, S. J.

PY - 2015

Y1 - 2015

N2 - Indonesia, which contains the third-largest area of tropical forest in the world, is currently exploring policy options for the effective implementation of REDD+, the global initiative to reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation. This article analyses the major questions regarding the effective distribution of benefits on the basis of three village case studies in Kutai Barat district in the province of East Kalimantan. The case studies demonstrate that companies are unlikely to take up compensation payments for stopping large-scale activities that cause deforestation and forest degradation, due to high opportunity costs. REDD+ finance may be more effectively used to reward small-scale dispersed activities that enhance carbon stocks, such as those already happening under Indonesia's community nursery programme. The analysis indicates the necessity for forest tenure reform, and in particular recognition of customary forest tenure through communal titles, which is more advantageous than the transfer of individual titles to households.

AB - Indonesia, which contains the third-largest area of tropical forest in the world, is currently exploring policy options for the effective implementation of REDD+, the global initiative to reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation. This article analyses the major questions regarding the effective distribution of benefits on the basis of three village case studies in Kutai Barat district in the province of East Kalimantan. The case studies demonstrate that companies are unlikely to take up compensation payments for stopping large-scale activities that cause deforestation and forest degradation, due to high opportunity costs. REDD+ finance may be more effectively used to reward small-scale dispersed activities that enhance carbon stocks, such as those already happening under Indonesia's community nursery programme. The analysis indicates the necessity for forest tenure reform, and in particular recognition of customary forest tenure through communal titles, which is more advantageous than the transfer of individual titles to households.

M3 - Journal article

SN - 1465-5489

VL - 17

SP - 86

EP - 97

JO - International Forestry Review

JF - International Forestry Review

IS - 1

ER -