ADDRESSING FOREST GOVERNANCE
THROUGH REDD+
WEST AFRICA FOREST GOVERNANCE FORUM
Ghana–India Kofi Annan Centre of Excellence in
ICT, Ridge, Accra, Ghana
7th and 8th June, 2011
Yaw Kwakye, Climate Change Unit, FC
OUTLINE
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Introduction
Governance Defined
The REDD+ Trajectory in Ghana
Pillars and Principles of Governance
The REDD+ Mechanism
Governance and REDD
Components of Governance Machinery
Governance in Practice
Progress Summary
Challenges and Prospects
Going Forward
Conclusion
INTRODUCTION
• Forest governance has remained one of the weakest links in
sustainable forest management efforts in most developing
countries and Ghana is no exception.
• Ghana has in recent times embarked on some forest and
natural resource governance initiatives to address some of
the challenges in this domain of resource management.
• Key among these are the Forest Law Enforcement,
Governance and Trade (FLEGT) Initiative of the EU being
implemented under the Voluntary Partnership Agreement,
the multi-donor sector budget support through the Natural
Resources and Environmental Governance Program (NREG)
and the Non-Legally Binding Instrument (NLBI).
What do we mean by
“GOVERNANCE”?
Governance may be defined as;
“the manner in which power is exercised in the
management of a country's economic and
social resources for development”.
World Bank 1992.
• There is consensus about key attributes and
processes that characterize “good
governance”, both in general and in specific
sectors, such as the forest sector
What do we mean by
“GOVERNANCE”?
• Good governance is a form of political
decision-making that emphasizes
legality (rules to resolve conflicts),
legitimacy (acceptance and trust by
the public that ensure accountability)
and participation (inclusiveness in
decision-making process)
PILLARS AND PRINCIPLES OF
GOVERNANCE
Accountability
Effectiveness
Efficiency
Equity/Fairness
Participation
Policy, Legal,
Institutional
and
Regulatory
Frameworks
Planning
and Policymaking
Processes
Implementation
Enforcement
and
Compliance
Transparency
CREDIT: FAO/WB, 2011
THE REDD+ MECHANISM
• Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and
Degradation (REDD+) is a global mechanism that seeks
to incentivize initiatives/actions in forest-rich
developing countries in the tropics that effectively
contribute to reductions in GHG (mainly CO2)
emissions from deforestation and forest degradation
• It includes co-benefits such as biodiversity
conservation, sustainable forest management and
carbon stocks enhancement.
• The REDD+ mechanism will take the form of payments
for measures that result in reduced emissions or
increased removal of CO2
GHANA’S REDD TRAJECTORY
• Ghana is one of the pioneer African nations to participate
actively in the REDD process and has engaged actively and
constructively with her international partners since Bali 2007
• A REDD Readiness Preparation Idea Note (R-PIN) submitted by
Ghana received approval from the FCPF in July 2008, paving the
way for the formulation of a REDD Readiness Preparation
Proposal (R-PP)
• The R-PP developed through a concerted effort by both state
and non-state actors (CSOs, Private Sector, land owners,
community reps, research and academia etc) was submitted in
2009 and received approval in March 2010, making it possible to
access US$3.6M for early REDD+ activities over a 4-year period
(2010-13)
• In broad terms, the R-PP entail three
steps which are;
– (a) Analysis, Preparation and Consultation
– (b) Piloting and Testing and
– (c) Becoming Ready.
• Currently activities are mainly focused on
(a) and (b).
FOREST GOVERNANCE AND REDD+
• Forest governance is among the issues identified
as critical to the success of REDD+ during the
early stages of stakeholder consultations leading
to the formulation of Ghana’s R-PP
• Two broad themes proposed for the formulation
of a National REDD+ Strategy;
i) forest policy, legislation and governance and
ii) carbon enhancement activities.
• The C&P component of the R-PP is designed to
drive governance issues of the REDD process in
Ghana
Components of Governance
Machinery
The achievement of
good governance is
hinged on mutually
supportive and
cooperative
relationships
among
government,
private sector and
civil society.
PRIVATE
SECTOR
CIVIL
SOCIETY
GOVERNMENT
GOVERNANCE IN PRACTICE –
THE REDD+ EXPERIENCE
• The afore-mentioned principles of governance are
being applied in the implementation of the R-PP,
particularly for the REDD+ demonstration phase
which is at the very initial stage.
• Procedures and terms for participation have been
clarified and measures instituted to ensure
transparency and fairness
• Governance efforts should be enhanced and
sustained
• This would require the active involvement of all
stakeholders
PROGRESS SUMMARY
The R-PP workplan has been organized under 6 components i.e.
1. Organization and Consultation
– National Readiness Management Arrangements
– Stakeholder Consultation and Participation
2. Preparation of REDD Strategy
–
–
–
–
3.
4.
5.
6.
Assessment of Land Use, Forest Policy and Governance
REDD Strategy Options
Arrangements for REDD Implementation
Social and Environmental Impacts
Develop a Reference Scenario
Develop a Monitoring System (MRV)
Schedule and Budget
Design of Program Monitoring and Evaluation
PROGRESS SUMMARY
COMPONENT
PROGRESS
Organization and Consultation
National Readiness Management
Arrangements
ENRAC, NRWG, Redd Sec’t established and functional, NCCC,
registration of REDD actors on-going
Stakeholder Consultation and
Participation
-C&P Plan completed and being implemented, Awareness creation ongoing, Communication strategy development underway
Preparation of REDD+ Strategy
Assessment of Land Use, Forest Policy
and Governance
Forest policy, legislation and governance reforms are on-going,
Updated land-use map to be acquired from CERSGIS
REDD+ Strategy Options
Sustainable agriculture and agro-forestry practices
Increasing of carbon stocks through forest plantations and enrichment
Arrangements for REDD+ Implementation
Capacity needs assessment initiated, REDD+ piloting initiated
Selection criteria for Redd+ projects developed
Key institutions needed for the management of REDD+ identified
Social and Environmental Impacts
TORs for SESA consultancy drafted and submitted to the WB; selection
of consultant to begin soon
PROGRESS SUMMARY (Cont.)
COMPONENT
PROGRESS
Develop a Reference Scenario
Capacity building on-going, Data for
estimating historic emissions and
projections in Ghana being analysed;
Carbon map of Ghana developed
Develop an MRV System
Roadmap for MRV being drafted
Training initiated
Schedule and Budget
Workplansand budgets completed and
submitted to the WB
Design a Program Monitoring
and Evaluation System
A harmonized M&E system developed
under NLBI to be adopted
CHALLENGES AND PROSPECTS
• Carbon rights clarification/codification
• Domestic wood supply
• Governance may be expensive in the short-term but the
dividends are immense and lasting in the long-term
• There are a suite of forest governance tools readily
available that can be, adapted, tested and adopted as
standard practice for governance e.g. the FAO/WB
Framework For Assessing and Monitoring Forest
Governance, 2011
• Strong political commitment and high level of
enthusiasm among key stakeholders
GOING FORWARD:
Learning-by-doing Approach
Evaluation
Knowledge
Performance
CONCLUSION
• Good governance practice engenders trust, acceptance
and sense of ownership among different stakeholders,
and reduces the risks of conflict or failure of REDD+
projects.
• It is a more inclusive, coherent and participatory
approach than ‘top-down’ governance, such as
legislation.
• Multi-level, multi-actor, participatory governance
allows stakeholders to negotiate, formulate and
implement policy based on shared goals.
• Good governance creates the conditions that allow
stakeholders with different degrees of political
influence and different interests to work together
toward achieving the 3Es