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Title: The challenge of assessing social dimensions of avoided deforestation: Examples from Cambodia

Abstract

Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation in developing countries (REDD +) has moved to the central stage of the climate change debate by being promoted as a significant, cheap, and quick win-win strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and thereby mitigate climate change. In order to be successful in reducing emissions while providing the projected social and environmental co-benefits, REDD + needs to overcome key challenges of insecure forest tenure and inequity in the distribution of benefits. Such challenges threaten to affect the livelihoods and well-being in the local communities and in turn the effectiveness of REDD+. While REDD + programs will affect the participating communities, there is limited knowledge as to what social impacts these projects may bring to the local population. Similarly, assessment of these social dimensions has received little attention until recently, and is consequently out of sync with the realities of REDD + projects. The present paper aims to shed light on the methodological and contextual challenges in the assessment of the social dimensions of REDD+. Some of the main social concerns of REDD + are outlined with an emphasis on the uniqueness and complexity of REDD + interventions. Recently proposed approaches to assess socialmore » impacts in REDD + are critically assessed in terms of the diversity of frameworks proposed, choice of social indicators, and data collection requirements. Specifically, these methodological implications are further discussed in the light of the social dimensions and the prescribed regulations of REDD + in a Cambodian context. - Highlights: Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Insecure tenure and inequitable benefit sharing are main social concerns in REDD +. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Two guides to social assessments in REDD + are critically reviewed. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Mismatch between social assessment requirements and the reality of REDD + is analyzed. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Concrete, topical examples from Cambodian REDD + are used. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Support the claim to add qualitative assessment of social dimensions in REDD +.« less

Authors:
Publication Date:
OSTI Identifier:
22131076
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Environmental Impact Assessment Review
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 38; Other Information: Copyright (c) 2012 Elsevier Science B.V., Amsterdam, The Netherlands, All rights reserved.; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); Journal ID: ISSN 0195-9255
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES; CLIMATIC CHANGE; COMMUNITIES; DEFORESTATION; DEVELOPING COUNTRIES; ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS; ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY; FORESTS; GREENHOUSE GASES; LEGAL ASPECTS; POLLUTION REGULATIONS; SOCIAL IMPACT

Citation Formats

Pasgaard, M., E-mail: mase@life.ku.dk. The challenge of assessing social dimensions of avoided deforestation: Examples from Cambodia. United States: N. p., 2013. Web. doi:10.1016/J.EIAR.2012.06.002.
Pasgaard, M., E-mail: mase@life.ku.dk. The challenge of assessing social dimensions of avoided deforestation: Examples from Cambodia. United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.EIAR.2012.06.002
Pasgaard, M., E-mail: mase@life.ku.dk. 2013. "The challenge of assessing social dimensions of avoided deforestation: Examples from Cambodia". United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.EIAR.2012.06.002.
@article{osti_22131076,
title = {The challenge of assessing social dimensions of avoided deforestation: Examples from Cambodia},
author = {Pasgaard, M., E-mail: mase@life.ku.dk},
abstractNote = {Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation in developing countries (REDD +) has moved to the central stage of the climate change debate by being promoted as a significant, cheap, and quick win-win strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and thereby mitigate climate change. In order to be successful in reducing emissions while providing the projected social and environmental co-benefits, REDD + needs to overcome key challenges of insecure forest tenure and inequity in the distribution of benefits. Such challenges threaten to affect the livelihoods and well-being in the local communities and in turn the effectiveness of REDD+. While REDD + programs will affect the participating communities, there is limited knowledge as to what social impacts these projects may bring to the local population. Similarly, assessment of these social dimensions has received little attention until recently, and is consequently out of sync with the realities of REDD + projects. The present paper aims to shed light on the methodological and contextual challenges in the assessment of the social dimensions of REDD+. Some of the main social concerns of REDD + are outlined with an emphasis on the uniqueness and complexity of REDD + interventions. Recently proposed approaches to assess social impacts in REDD + are critically assessed in terms of the diversity of frameworks proposed, choice of social indicators, and data collection requirements. Specifically, these methodological implications are further discussed in the light of the social dimensions and the prescribed regulations of REDD + in a Cambodian context. - Highlights: Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Insecure tenure and inequitable benefit sharing are main social concerns in REDD +. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Two guides to social assessments in REDD + are critically reviewed. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Mismatch between social assessment requirements and the reality of REDD + is analyzed. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Concrete, topical examples from Cambodian REDD + are used. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Support the claim to add qualitative assessment of social dimensions in REDD +.},
doi = {10.1016/J.EIAR.2012.06.002},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/22131076}, journal = {Environmental Impact Assessment Review},
issn = {0195-9255},
number = ,
volume = 38,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Jan 15 00:00:00 EST 2013},
month = {Tue Jan 15 00:00:00 EST 2013}
}