Photo over Doha: Photograph courtesy of IISD/Earth Negotiations Bulletin
Susanne von Walter share her reflections about the discussions at COP18 in Doha
Focali brief 2012:07 by Susanne von Walter
In Focali brief 2012:07 Susanne von Walter, a Focali member, share her reflections about how REDD+ and other land related issues were discussed at COP18 in Doha.
The brief raises many questions; Is the honey moon period for REDD+ over? How can underlying causes to deforestation be addressed, what is really a “natural forest” and is it only carbon that counts? This brief is written in Swedish however Susanne von Walter summarizes her view on the importance of multiple benefits (besides carbon benefits) in the following way by citing one of her colleagues:
”Stand strong on multiple benefits, not as a direct side-effect of carbon benefits (there can be trade-offs), nor as something that should be paid for, but as a critical way to increase the likelihood of reaching mitigation (and adaptation) objectives in forests and forests’ margins. Pursuing social benefits (such as governance, tenure, extension services, better livelihoods and benefit sharing, including food security), is not a gadget, it is the key to securing acceptance, engagement and transformational changes by forest users, leading to lasting climate benefits. We are on track for a +4°C world in which these risks cannot be neglected. I would like to convey this notion and to enable due consideration of incentivizing multiple benefits as a mean to secure lasting mitigation through buffer and reversals, pertaining to safeguards.”
Download the brief here
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