en
Scientific article
Open access
English

Carbon Sequestration in Community Forests: Trade-offs, Multiple Outcomes and Institutional Diversity in the Bolivian Amazon

Published inDevelopment and change, vol. 45, no. 1, p. 105-131
Publication date2014
Abstract

Carbon sequestration in community forests presents a major challenge for the Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) programme. This article uses a comparative analysis of the agricultural and forestry practices of indigenous peoples and settlers in the Bolivian Amazon to show how community-level institutions regulate the trade-offs between community livelihoods, forest species diversity, and carbon sequestration. The authors argue that REDD+ implementation in such areas runs the risk of: 1) reinforcing economic inequalities based on previous and potential land use impacts on ecosystems (baseline), depending on the socio-cultural groups targeted; 2) increasing pressure on land used for food production, possibly reducing food security and redirecting labour towards scarce off-farm income opportunities; 3) increasing dependence on external funding and carbon market fluctuations instead of local production strategies; and 4) further incentivising the privatization and commodification of land to avoid transaction costs associated with collective property rights. The article also advises against taking a strictly economic, market-based approach to carbon sequestration, arguing that such an approach could endanger fragile socio-ecological systems. REDD+ schemes should directly support existing efforts towards forest sustainability rather than simply compensating local land users for avoiding deforestation and forest degradation.

Citation (ISO format)
BOTTAZZI, Patrick et al. Carbon Sequestration in Community Forests: Trade-offs, Multiple Outcomes and Institutional Diversity in the Bolivian Amazon. In: Development and change, 2014, vol. 45, n° 1, p. 105–131. doi: 10.1111/dech.12076
Main files (1)
Article (Published version)
accessLevelPublic
Identifiers
ISSN of the journal0012-155X
493views
330downloads

Technical informations

Creation08/05/2015 5:36:00 PM
First validation08/05/2015 5:36:00 PM
Update time03/14/2023 11:35:02 PM
Status update03/14/2023 11:35:01 PM
Last indexation10/18/2023 11:35:33 PM
All rights reserved by Archive ouverte UNIGE and the University of GenevaunigeBlack