Resource

Case Study

REDD-net case studies: Carbon rights

There is a diverse set of actors driving the development of REDD+ and they have strong interests, particularly in terms of the potential economic benefits. This has led to concerns about who has rights to the benefits and what effect new incentives will have on existing rights regimes. It is possible that perverse incentives could emerge that marginalise people who have weak rights or an inability to enforce their rights. In many countries, those that may be most affected are indigenous peoples and the forest dependent poor. Moves towards newly defined rights and legal frameworks (for example, linked to carbon credits) also add another layer of complexity to an already complex legal landscape in many countries, raising questions about the impacts on customary and statutory legal systems and existing reform processes.

The following case studies guide us through the issue of carbon rights in a set of countries:

• The evolution of Costa Rica's carbon rights: This study, written by Guillermo Navarro of CATIE and REDD-net, looks at Costa Rica's institutional and legal framework and how it supports land, forest and carbon rights.

• A review of tree tenure and land rights in Ghana and their implications for carbon rights in a national REDD+ scheme: The case study, written by Yaw Osafo, provides information about the legal framework as well as the provision of incentives for the enhancement of forest carbon stocks.

• Forest Carbon Rights in Brazil: This case study, written by Thiago Chiagas at Climate Focus, provides a full overview of current developments in Brazil in terms of legislation on REDD+ and looks at key issues of relevance to indigenous people.

• Commodifying carbon to reduce deforestation: Lessons from New Zealand: This Background Note, written by Gary Cox and Leo Peskett, examines the experience of New Zealand in establishing carbon rights linked to its emissions trading system (ETS), and highlights lessons for developing countries grappling with REDD+.

Authors:

Guillermo Navarro, Yaw Osafo, Thiago Chiagas, Gary Cox and Leo Peskett

Published:

2010

Publisher:

REDD-net