Analyzing Multilevel Governance In Peru Lessons For Redd From The Study Of Land Use Change And Benefit Sharing In Madre De Dios Ucayali And San Martin

Who makes land use decisions, how are decisions made, and who influences whom, how and why? This working paper is part of a series based on research studying multilevel decision-making institutions and processes. The series is aimed at providing insight into why efforts to keep forests standing, such as initiatives like Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+), are still so far from altering development trajectories. It underlines the importance of understanding the politics of multilevel governance in forest, land and climate policy and practice, and identifies potential ways forward.

Key points Local governments, indigenous organizations, producer groups and government agriculture offices are noticeably absent from broad regional REDD+ discussions about benefit sharing.The legitimacy of project-level benefit-sharing arrangements may be compromised if existing locally recognized institutions and actors are not integrated into both the design and implementation of benefit-sharing schemes.Non-monetary benefits are currently more important than direct cash payments in existing benefit-sharing arrangements in Peru, especially because of the absence or delay of carbon payments.

Constructive critique. This book provides a critical, evidence-based analysis of REDD+ implementation so far, without losing sight of the urgent need to reduce forest-based emissions to prevent catastrophic climate change. REDD+ as envisioned

Key findings There is very little clarity even among experts on the broader implications of the different carbon accounting methods, or of the design of the MRV system as a whole, particularly for the social, political and economic outcomes (e.g. outcomes related to benefit sharing). Greater understanding of the needs and interests of different actors through improved communication, dialogue, and trust between national and regional governments, and between scientists and policy makers, could lead to a more useful and effective institutional architecture for MRV. The development of the MRV system in Peru demonstrates the challenges inherent in vertical and horizontal (multilevel) coordination, including between the national government and regional governments, and across sectors, particularly the environment and agriculture sectors. Better intra- and inter-institutional coordination could help mitigate the costs associated with investment in overlapping activities, such as unhealthy competition, inefficient use of resources and the need to adapt or abandon work in progress. The technical complexities of MRV, particularly methods of monitoring and verifying carbon emissions analysis and changes in forest cover through high resolution spatial images, influence which actors are involved in the design process and the nature of their involvement. In Peru, this process has excluded those without this expertise, such as subnational governments that have limited technical capacity and funding and, in many cases, suffer from institutional instability.

Key messages REDD+ is an inherently multilevel process that requires attention across diverse levels and sectors of governance to bring about change on the ground.REDD+ strategies often focus on direct drivers of deforestatio

REDD+ is one of the leading near-term options for global climate change mitigation. More than 300 subnational REDD+ initiatives have been launched across the tropics, responding to both the call for demonstration activities in the Bali Action Plan and the market for voluntary carbon offset credits.

In this study, we assessed the media coverage of the REDD+ mechanism in Peru’s national and subnational newspapers to better understand the messages reaching Peruvian readers. At the national level, we found only 33 articles on REDD+ in eight national newspapers: El Comercio, Perú 21, Gestión, Expreso, La República, La Razón, El Peruano and Trome. Expanding the search to include climate change and forests, we found 203 articles. Upon finding this low coverage in the national press, we chose two of the country’s departments where most of the REDD+ projects are located and which have shown the greatest progress in the readiness stages: San Martín (Voces and Ahora) and Madre de Dios (Don Jaque and El Observador). But again we only found 10 articles on REDD+ and 10 more when we expanded the search to include climate change and forests.