Location
Room 108
Start Date
2-7-2012 3:00 PM
End Date
2-7-2012 4:40 PM
Description
This paper focuses on the possible role of the polluter pays principle, the provider gets principle and the Reduction of emissions from deforestation and forest degradation in developing countries and the role of conservation, sustainable management and enhancement of carbon stocks in developing countries (REDD+) in the reduction of deforestation. The paper concludes with suggestions on how to efficiently implement these tools in the Congo Basin in order to curb deforestation through reducing specific driver’s factors such as small-scale subsistence farming and over logging of timber.
The FAO (2010) defines deforestation as the conversion of forest to another land use or the long term reduction of three canopy cover below the minimum of 10% threshold. This definition also stipulates a minimum tree height of 5m and areas of 0.5ha and that agriculture must not be the dominant use. Reforestation and afforestation are known ways to curb deforestation. The Congo Basin countries- Cameroon, Gabon, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Congo , the Central African Republic and Equatorial Guinea (EG)–have small-scale subsistence farming, wood fuel, over logging of timber, transportation infrastructures, oil and mining extraction as driving factors of deforestation. Small-scale subsistence farming and over logging of timber are the main deforestation factors in Cameroon, the DRC, EG and Gabon. The Congo Basin countries are implementing the international REDD+ mechanism to avoid deforestation. Some REDD+ Projects have been launched and most of them are technically related to the measurement of the canopy cover and of the carbon stocks of the forest or of land-use influences in the forest. These projects are important for the implementation of -the REDD+ payment of ecosystem services (PES) scheme model in order to fund the projects on mitigating deforestation. This PES scheme will make payments at international/national levels (generated voluntary or compliance markets/national government or intermediaries) to the service providers (governments or sub national entities /sub national government or local landowners in developing countries) for an environmental service to deliver this service or measures likely to deliver this service. Two observations could be formulated. Projects on afforestation/reforestation are scarce even if the future REDD+ PES scheme will fund those projects. Projects on enforcement of the law or reducing logging are less concerned by the REDD+ mechanism in the Congo Basin. Two principles, the polluter pays principle and the provider gets principle, could be analyzed to reinforce the REDD+ mechanism at the regional and national levels. The polluter-pays principle is an environmental principle which makes the responsible of a polluting activity bears the costs of pollution. This principle could function through elimination of subsidies, pollution taxes, tradable pollution permits, products labeling, and performance and technology standards. Four Congo Basin Countries apply this principle in waste management and water pollution. Forest management is exempted. Environmental taxes could be efficient preventive measures to avoid deforestation by reducing over logging of timber. A constraint cost of pollution in a forestry legal framework and sustainable management planning could be an incentive for mitigating deforestation. Sustainable actions could be expressed through the provider gets principle. This principle functions as a PES scheme. The description of a desired environmental quality is needed in order to evaluate environmental objectives and pay the provider of these activities. This principle could play an important role by converting small-scale subsistence farming practices to activities of enhanced environmental quality and be implemented by subsidies.
The Congo Basin policy-makers, especially from countries concerned by small-scale subsistence farming and over logging of timber, could reduce their deforestation through the implementation of those principles in the forest sector. More REDD+ projects could be oriented to afforestation/reforestation and enforcement of measure or law on reducing farming and logging of timber. The Central Forest Commission Convergence Plan could facilitate this implementation at the regional scale.
Presentation
Included in
Curbing Deforestation in the Congo Basin with the Polluter Pays Principle, the Provider Gets Principle and the REDD+ Mechanism
Room 108
This paper focuses on the possible role of the polluter pays principle, the provider gets principle and the Reduction of emissions from deforestation and forest degradation in developing countries and the role of conservation, sustainable management and enhancement of carbon stocks in developing countries (REDD+) in the reduction of deforestation. The paper concludes with suggestions on how to efficiently implement these tools in the Congo Basin in order to curb deforestation through reducing specific driver’s factors such as small-scale subsistence farming and over logging of timber.
The FAO (2010) defines deforestation as the conversion of forest to another land use or the long term reduction of three canopy cover below the minimum of 10% threshold. This definition also stipulates a minimum tree height of 5m and areas of 0.5ha and that agriculture must not be the dominant use. Reforestation and afforestation are known ways to curb deforestation. The Congo Basin countries- Cameroon, Gabon, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Congo , the Central African Republic and Equatorial Guinea (EG)–have small-scale subsistence farming, wood fuel, over logging of timber, transportation infrastructures, oil and mining extraction as driving factors of deforestation. Small-scale subsistence farming and over logging of timber are the main deforestation factors in Cameroon, the DRC, EG and Gabon. The Congo Basin countries are implementing the international REDD+ mechanism to avoid deforestation. Some REDD+ Projects have been launched and most of them are technically related to the measurement of the canopy cover and of the carbon stocks of the forest or of land-use influences in the forest. These projects are important for the implementation of -the REDD+ payment of ecosystem services (PES) scheme model in order to fund the projects on mitigating deforestation. This PES scheme will make payments at international/national levels (generated voluntary or compliance markets/national government or intermediaries) to the service providers (governments or sub national entities /sub national government or local landowners in developing countries) for an environmental service to deliver this service or measures likely to deliver this service. Two observations could be formulated. Projects on afforestation/reforestation are scarce even if the future REDD+ PES scheme will fund those projects. Projects on enforcement of the law or reducing logging are less concerned by the REDD+ mechanism in the Congo Basin. Two principles, the polluter pays principle and the provider gets principle, could be analyzed to reinforce the REDD+ mechanism at the regional and national levels. The polluter-pays principle is an environmental principle which makes the responsible of a polluting activity bears the costs of pollution. This principle could function through elimination of subsidies, pollution taxes, tradable pollution permits, products labeling, and performance and technology standards. Four Congo Basin Countries apply this principle in waste management and water pollution. Forest management is exempted. Environmental taxes could be efficient preventive measures to avoid deforestation by reducing over logging of timber. A constraint cost of pollution in a forestry legal framework and sustainable management planning could be an incentive for mitigating deforestation. Sustainable actions could be expressed through the provider gets principle. This principle functions as a PES scheme. The description of a desired environmental quality is needed in order to evaluate environmental objectives and pay the provider of these activities. This principle could play an important role by converting small-scale subsistence farming practices to activities of enhanced environmental quality and be implemented by subsidies.
The Congo Basin policy-makers, especially from countries concerned by small-scale subsistence farming and over logging of timber, could reduce their deforestation through the implementation of those principles in the forest sector. More REDD+ projects could be oriented to afforestation/reforestation and enforcement of measure or law on reducing farming and logging of timber. The Central Forest Commission Convergence Plan could facilitate this implementation at the regional scale.