Japan Geoscience Union Meeting 2018

Presentation information

[JJ] Oral

H (Human Geosciences) » H-GG Geography

[H-GG01] Use, change, management of natural resources and environment: Interdisciplinary perspectives

Sun. May 20, 2018 9:00 AM - 10:30 AM 102 (1F International Conference Hall, Makuhari Messe)

convener:Takahisa Furuichi(Graduate School of Agriculture, Hokkaido University), Toru Sasaki(Miyagi University of Education), Gen Ueda(一橋大学・大学院社会学研究科, 共同), Yoshinori OTSUKI(Institute of Geography, Graduate School of Science, Tohoku University), Chairperson:Furuichi Takahisa(Hokkaido University), Sasaki Toru(Miyagi University of Education)

10:15 AM - 10:30 AM

[HGG01-06] Elucidating inconvenient realities and then pursuing better pathways: A shock treatment for current retrogressive REDD+ demonstration projects

★Invited Papers

*Takayuki Kurashima1, Toshiya Matsuura2, Mamoru Kanzaki3 (1.ASAFAS, Kyoto Univ., 2.FFPRI, Japan, 3.Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto Univ.)

Keywords:Natural Resource Management, REDD+, International Assistance Aid, Cambodia

An inconvenient event is increasingly hindering the progress of hard-going REDD plus projects. A report by a European environmental NGO discouraged an international airline from leveraging a carbon trading scheme that utilized the carbon credits of REDD plus demonstration site in Cambodia. The report was written by the NGO against REDD plus based on information gleaned from an Australian PhD student that deforestations were continuing in the area. According to the spokesperson of the airline, the company provided the scheme to their customers as they believed the explanations of carbon trading agent that REDD plus was an effective way to stop deforestation in the area.

This incident and the airline’s response suggest the inaction of both the airline and pro-REDD plus researchers. Since the difficulties in stopping deforestation in frontier areas have been clarified by some studies (eg., Kurashima et al. 2014, Kurashima et al. 2015, Kurashima 2007), pro-REDD plus researchers should have widely informed people about the difficult challenges faced by REDD plus in these areas and offered people opportunities for contemplation to let more stable supports form.

This study focuses on some inconvenient realities in the implementation of REDD plus projects in frontier areas, and shows possible ways to deal with such inconveniences under the REDD plus scheme. Ongoing deforestation around a planned Cambodian REDD plus site and the causes are elucidated in this study. Moreover, the directions for REDD plus supporters to address these realities are discussed.

References
Takayuki Kurashima. Deforestation in Thailand: Democratization in the 1990s and the Political Machanism. 2007. Akashi Syoten. 296 p. (in Japanese)
Takayuki Kurashima, Toshiya Matsuura, Asako Miyamoto, Makoto Sano, Bora Tith, Sophal Chann. “Changes in Income Structure in Frontier Villages and Implications for REDD+ Benefit Sharing” Forests. 2014, 5(11): 2865-2881. MDPI. 2014.11
Takayuki Kurashima, Toshiya Matsuura, Asako Miyamoto, Makoto Sano, Sophal Chann. “Considering the Practical Rationality of Experimental Operation in Developing Countries: Reality and Challenges under a Rigid Community Forestry System in Cambodia” Forests. 2015, 6(9): 3087-3108. MDPI. 2015.9