Newly published book written by Michael I. Brown
Description (made by Routledge):
This book presents a major critique of the aims and policies of REDD as currently structured, particularly in terms of their social feasibility. It is shown how the claims to be able to reduce greenhouse gas emissions as well as enhance people's livelihoods and biodiversity conservation are unrealistic. There is a naive assumption that technical or economic fixes are sufficient for success. However, the social and governance aspects of REDD, and its enhanced version known as REDD+, are shown to be implausible. Instead to enhance REDD's prospects, the author provides a roadmap for developing a new social contract that puts people first.
Read more about the book here
Citation: Brown, M.I. (2013), Redeeming REDD: Policies, Incentives and Social Feasibility for Avoided Deforestation Routledge, London and New York.
Reviews:
"Michael Brown recognizes that there can be no environmentalism without representation – especially local representation. If there is salvation for REDD, this book may be looked upon as the benediction that brought it around. By presenting the case for social protections in accessible language, Brown gives REDD a redeeming chance."
/ Jesse Ribot, Professor of Geography, University of Illinois, USA
"Recent years have seen the emergence of REDD and its variants which have provided great hope in avoiding deforestation, coupled with combined livelihood and biodiversity benefits. It has become a pervasive and persuasive paradigm, beguiling policy-makers, academics and practitioners alike. Despite the international attention on REDD, it seems to have been accepted with very little critical analysis. In this book, Michael Brown challenges the very essence of REDD and REDD+, particularly from the social and institutional perspectives. His analysis is detailed, revealing, and timely; asking many questions of the REDD mechanism that have thus far been largely, and perhaps conveniently, ignored. This book should guide the real policies behind REDD and how local communities and indigenous people engage in its possible implementation. It is a welcome counter to the largely positive and unquestioning way in which REDD has entered our collective consciousness."
/ Terry Sunderland,Principal Scientist, Forests and Livelihoods Programme, Center for International Forestry Research, Bogor, Indonesia
