REDD+ and tenure: a case study of Thailand

Type Journal Article - International Forestry Review
Title REDD+ and tenure: a case study of Thailand
Author(s)
Volume 17
Issue 4
Publication (Day/Month/Year) 2015
Page numbers 414-426
URL http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/cfa/ifr/2015/00000017/00000004/art00003
Abstract
Against a backdrop of growing concerns over REDD+ implications for tenure of forest-dependent communities, very few scientific studies
have attempted to assess the linkages between the two. This paper offers empirical evidences for impacts of REDD+ intervention based on
a case study of Thailand, where de jure state property and de facto tenure apparently co-exist. In contrast to the existing literature proposing
positive tenure impacts, the findings suggest that REDD+ would not be sufficient to incentivize the government to embark on tenure reforms or
any improvement of customary tenure and challenge REDD+ about its incentives for countries to accelerate tenure reforms. The findings also
reveal that risks associated with tenure insecurity discouraged REDD+ investment leading to the withdrawal of the fund altogether. The findings
enrich the on-going debates on the tenure impacts, tenure reform and competing agendas and provide insights to support the development
of future national strategies and frameworks. The paper moreover proposes measures to create enabling conditions for REDD+.

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