“Building a Sustainable Future: How REDD+ and Climate Solutions Can Transform Our Ecosystems” – CIFOR-ICRAF Forests News

Since its start, the REDD+ program has stirred discussions about its effectiveness in fighting climate change and how it affects local communities. Launched to conserve forests, REDD+ aims to cut down emissions, but there are concerns about its real impact on people’s lives.

In response to these worries, the Cancun Agreements at a UN climate meeting set up safeguards. These rules are meant to ensure that REDD+ not only helps conserve forests but also benefits local people socially and environmentally. However, measuring these benefits, especially in diverse areas like the Amazon, is tricky.

To improve these safeguards, we need to understand how local communities view well-being. These views change depending on location and culture. Therefore, REDD+ needs to be customized to fit these local realities.

A recent study by CIFOR-ICRAF explored perceptions of REDD+ projects in Peru’s Amazon regions: Madre de Dios and Ucayali. Ana Cubas-Báez, the lead author, summarized the study’s findings in an interview.

A: During the study, we focused on capturing how communities define well-being. I found that well-being is multifaceted and varies greatly. The research included countries implementing REDD+, and in each, we looked at both REDD+ areas and those without. We conducted focus groups with community leaders and women, and individual surveys over several years.

This method allowed us to see how different communities relate to well-being. For instance, in Madre de Dios, Brazil nut harvesters valued access to markets and business opportunities. However, in Ucayali, Indigenous communities prioritized basic needs like food and clean water.

A: The study showed clear differences in priorities based on location, not gender. In Madre de Dios, people wanted better access to transport and housing, whereas Ucayali’s residents focused on fulfilling basic needs.

A: Interestingly, in Madre de Dios, some families felt worse off despite certain improvements, likely due to unmet expectations and lack of transparency in project management. In contrast, Ucayali saw positive effects from quicker benefits, like community projects funded by carbon credit sales.

A: Our study highlights that well-being isn’t universal; it varies across regions. Effective assessments should include local voices and priorities. Participation and transparency are crucial. If projects fail to improve lives, they can do more harm than good.

A: Ultimately, the central lesson is that no standard metric can replace the perspectives of the local communities involved. Sustainable climate initiatives like REDD+ must be built with the communities, not just for them.

In a fast-changing world, these insights remind us that understanding local contexts is key for meaningful engagement in climate initiatives. Ensuring everyone’s voice matters will help create fairer and better outcomes for all.

This research aligns with the Global Comparative Study on REDD+, aiming to inform future climate projects with community-focused insights.

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