"Moving beyond carbon" : a case-study of the move towards non-carbon objectives in the design and implementation of REDD+ in Indonesia and the Indonesian REDD+ pilot province of Central Kalimantan
Abstract
REDD+ (Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation) has been launched by its proponents as a transformative forest management mechanism with the potential to shift the rationalities of forestry actors towards conservation and non- timber production through financial incentives and carbon trade. A number of recent studies have demonstrated a turn towards non-carbon related objectives and benefits in international discourses on REDD+. There has, however, been a lack of studies examining the logic and articulation of this shift in national and local REDD+ programmes. This study contributes to address this gap in knowledge through a qualitative study of the design and implementation of REDD+ in Indonesia and the Indonesian REDD+ pilot province of Central Kalimantan. The main findings in the study is that the content of the Indonesian and Central Kalimantan have shifted towards non-carbon objectives by introducing socioeconomic development and governance reform as prerequisites for successful programme implementation. This aligns the content of projects and activities with the interests of local stakeholder groups and increase local support for the project. Due to the lack of financial incentives available trough REDD+, a continued emphasis on non-carbon objectives is necessary for maintaining local support and participation. This restricts the potential for effectively reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and raises questions
about the future prospects of the international REDD+ mechanism.