Reform or reversal: the impact of REDD+ readiness on forest governance in Indonesia

Abstract

Indonesia has turned its alleged role as global leader of land-based carbon emissions into a role as a global trailblazer exploring modalities for Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+ ). REDD+ readiness is largely about improving forest governance, but this itself is a multilayered concept. This article analyses how the processes and practices of REDD+ readiness are leading to various forest governance reforms in Indonesia. We analysed six dimensions of REDD+ readiness progress over the past six years and the way these interact with land tenure reform and land-use planning. We found evidence that (1) tenure issues are taken more seriously, as evidenced by the development of social safeguard mechanisms and efforts to accelerate the gazettement of forest boundaries, although a constitutional court recognition in 2013 for customary forest management is, however, yet to be operationalized; (2) spatial planning relates forests more clearly to other parts of the landscape in terms of compliance with Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Actions (NAMAs) commitments; and (3) the forest and peatland conversion moratorium initiative led to a revamping of forest management. Despite progress, there are still major obstacles to full REDD+ implementation in Indonesia. The discussion focuses on the weaker part of readiness and possible ways forward. Policy relevanceReducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation plus (REDD+) was introduced at the 13th Conference of the Parties (COP 13) 2007 in Bali designed to support the efforts of the parties to reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation and enhance the forest carbon stock, by means of forest conservation and the sustainable management of forests. This article aims to examine the impact of REDD+ readiness process in Indonesia on transforming existing forest governance. This paper focus the analysis on the two most contentious forest governance issues in Indonesia: land tenure and land-use planning. Such analysis and lessons are relevant for policy-makers in Indonesia in an effort to have a forest governance reform and also the future challenges of forest governance in national and sub-national level in the world of sustainable forest management as well as REDD+ implementation.

Business as usual in Indonesia: governance factors effecting the acceleration of the deforestation rate after the introduction of REDD+

“…Regardless of the doubts and challenges, there have arguably been some benefits resulting from REDD?-since its introduction in Indonesia in 2008, the discourse about improving forest governance has at least initially increased (Cronin and Santoso 2010), demonstration activities have been implemented, and Indonesia's government has made reforms to forest policy (Agung et al 2014). Yet, despite significant commitments from both the Government of Indonesia (GOI) and the international community, toward REDD?…”

Evaluation of Appropriate Identification of Deforestation Agents and Drivers for Designing REDD+ Readiness Activities through an Examination of the Area around Gunung Palung National Park, Indonesia

“…To explore measures for drivers as well as underlying causes, it will be important to appropriately understand specific local characteristics by integrating several methods, including socioeconomic surveys (Minang & Noordwijk, 2013;Pasgaard, 2013;Epule et al, 2014). Based on this information and understanding, multiple readiness activities with appropriate target scales or levels can be programmed for effective REDD+ implementation (Angelsen et al, 2009;Akiefnawati et al, 2010;Caplow et al, 2011;Agung et al, 2014;Sunderlin et al, 2014).…”

Exploring Potential of REDD+ Readiness with Social Safeguard through Diverse Forest Use Practices in Gunung Palung National Park in West Kalimantan, Indonesia

“…Implementation of REDD+ can be a justification for forcing those people with ambiguous rights to leave forests and not to access to REDD+ benefit (Abram et al, 2017;Levang et al, 2016). In order to address those potential negative impact of REDD+, it is Open Journal of Forestry essential to consider REDD+ Safeguard and take appropriate measures as a readiness effort for areas of which has risk of conflict on forest use rights such as in Indonesia, majority of forest area is under the state control (Kusters et al, 2007;Mulyani & Jepson, 2013;Agung et al, 2014).…”