8 June 2011: The REDD ALERT Project at the World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF) has released three papers that explore issues related to stakeholder perceptions of REDD+ (reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation in developing countries, as well as conservation, sustainable management of forests and enhancement of carbon stocks) and economic gains.

In “Stakeholder Perspectives on ‘Fair and Efficient’ Benefit Distribution along the C-REDD Value Chain,” the authors present on the development of a tool, Fair and Efficient REDD Value Chain Allocation (FERVA), and its initial use in Indonesia and Peru. The tool evaluates the relationship between efficiency and fairness, and includes a simulation model that quantifies distributional effects with perceived fairness perspectives. On the Indonesia case study, it includes discussions with local stakeholders on perceived distributional issues and discusses the implications of bundling REDD+ payments with existing payment for watershed function interventions.

In “Local Perspectives on REDD+ in Comparison with Those at the International Negotiation Tables and their Representation in Quantitative Scenario Models,” the authors question whether local stakeholders can make use of REDD+ interests to further their livelihood strategies and development aspirations. The study demonstrates that, in the case of Central Kalimantan, Indonesia, conflicts over land are aggravated by a large REDD+ pilot project, but that new forms of engaging forest-edge villages through village forest agreements are resulting in positive solutions in Jambi. The report suggests that existing models of household decision making have not captured the complexity of decisions around REDD+.

In “Abatement Cost Curves Relating Past Greenhouse Gas Emissions to the Economic Gains they Allowed,” the authors describe four increasingly complex methodologies to approach abatement curves that summarize costs for greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reductions. The paper describes the adequacy of each of the approaches for various phases of contract negotiation in the development of a carbon project. ICRAF is a member of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR). [Publication: Stakeholder Perspectives on ‘Fair and Efficient’ Benefit Distribution along the C-REDD Value Chain][Publication: Local Perspectives on REDD+ in Comparison with Those at the International Negotiation Tables and their Representation in Quantitative Scenario Models] [Publication: Abatement Cost Curves Relating Past Greenhouse Gas Emissions to the Economic Gains they Allowed]