Deforestation and climate change: acting on the causes

Deforestation is a problem that mainly concerns developing countries. Yet these countries are not committed to quantified emissions reduction targets under the Kyoto Protocol. The REDD programme–Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation–, which has long been left out of negotiations, is due to head the agenda at the Copenhagen Climate Conference from 7 to 18 December 2009. However, it raises several thorny issues that will be difficult to resolve. What baseline scenario should we choose, given that deforestation is not constant in time? Should we opt for a market-based mechanism or finance reductions by means of an international fund? How can we ensure that payment will recompense reductions that would not otherwise have happened without such a policy?

In the first issue of Perspective, a four-page synopsis published by CIRAD, Alain Karsenty offers an analysis of these questions, setting out different case scenarios. According to him, integrating forests into the carbon market is not the solution. However, the solution could lie in funding structural measures and policies (land reform, agricultural policy, governance, etc), combined with programmes allowing for large-scale payment for environmental services. The idea is to invest in more intensive and environmentally friendly agrarian practices that spare forests. "The option of an international fund for agricultural land transformation policies is the only one that tackles the structural causes of deforestation and finances reforms chose impact on deforestation cannot be directly and immediately measured; something the market cannot do ", the author points out.

Alain Karsenty is an economist at CIRAD. He focuses on reforms of public policy on forests, land and environment in developing countries, particularly central Africa.

Download the issue

Deforestation and climate change: acting on the causes.
What the (carbon) market cannot do…
Alain Karsenty
Perspective no. 1
CIRAD, 2009