Stakeholder Participation in REDD+ Readiness Activities for Three Collaborative Projects in Lao PDR

Abstract

Abstract:A key challenge for reducing emission from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD) in developing countries is to balance the power of various stakeholders in decision making. This study explores the forms of stakeholder participation in the implementation of three pilot projects in Laos, with a focus on who actually makes decisions on project activities. We found that stakeholder roles in making decisions were imbalanced. The central government and development partner organizations were the ones who actually fulfill the roles of decision-makers in most project activities. Although local communities were not the key stakeholders in decision making in most activities, their roles seem to have increased in the activities where participatory approaches were applied. Participation of the private sector, non-governmental organizations, academic and research institutes and mass organizations was limited. Opportunities to reach decision-makers regarding project activities came through service contract agreements. Our findings suggest that an understanding of who fulfills the key roles will support a decentralization of decision making by balancing power and redistributing the roles from dominant to weaker stakeholders. In addition, the private sector's participation may enhance opportunities to harmonize their investments for supporting REDD+ development and reduce the negative impacts on the forests and the environment.

Participatory injustice in Mexico’s Readiness process to Reduce Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation (REDD +)

“…Benefits such as jobs and income derived from REDD + activities have been, however, rather insignificant. These questions have also been investigated in one-party countries such as Laos, where participation tends to be more restricted, and researchers argue that REDD + might be leading to improvements in participation (Boutthavong et al, 2017;Mustalahti et al, 2017).…”

Model of sustainable private forest management in Yogyakarta Special Regency, Indonesia

“…Farmer participation has an effect on sustainable private forest management; this shows that farmers' awareness to behave sustainably is in line with the values needed in the management of private forests. Although local communities are not the main stakeholder in decision making in most activities, their role seems to have increased in activities where participatory approaches are implemented (Boutthavong et al, 2017).…”

“…The main challenge for Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD) in developing countries is to balance the strengths of various stakeholder in decision making. Research by Boutthavong et al, (2017) found that the role of stakeholder in decision making is not balanced. All stakeholders must have the same knowledge and understanding of existing issues and produce collective policies, so that they can develop the concept of "fair trade" and will give influence in taking part in the benefits.…”

“…This shows that stakeholder support has an interest in encouraging community activities in various ways. In addition, private sector participation can increase opportunities to harmonize their investment to support the development of REDD+ and reduce the negative impacts on forests and the environment (Boutthavong et al 2017).…”

Environmental justice and REDD+ safeguards in Laos: Lessons from an authoritarian political regime

“…For instance, scholars have studied REDD ? in terms of stakeholder participation(Boutthavong et al 2017;Mustalahti et al 2017), land and property formalization(Dwyer and Ingalls 2015), or role of donor agencies and capacity building(Vongvisouk et al, 2016;Broegaard et al 2017).…”