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Deforestation! Seeing REDD+
In the last report from the IPCC scientists shared information to world leaders on the interactions between the climate and the land. In short, climate change can cause drought and land desertification, and the way we manage the land can also contribute to climate change. 30% of the global greenhouse gas emissions come from deforestation and changes in land use. For example, converting a forest into a cropland will emit large quantity of carbon.
Reducing deforestation is an opportunity to reduce greenhouse gas emission by 37% and slow down climate change; yet, only 3% of international funds to combat climate change go into protecting the forest. World leaders have yet realized the potential of reducing greenhouse gas emission through stopping deforestation.
A decade ago, countries decided to create a mechanism called REDD+. This mechanism aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from deforestation and forest degradation. REDD+ drives funding to protect the biodiversity and carbon stocks in tropical countries. Tropical countries must protect their forests and track the stored carbon to receive funding through REDD+.
However, the promise of international aid can make tropical countries to protect the forest even against the communities relying on them to live. Local communities can lose access and not be allowed to harvest resources from the…
