Forest carbon projects in the Ukrainian Carpathians: an assessment of potential community impacts and benefits

Forest carbon projects in the Ukrainian Carpathians: an assessment of potential community impacts and benefits

Reducing emissions from deforestation and degradation (REDD+) is a frequently promoted climate change mitigation strategy. As forest carbon projects proceed, we are learning how they affect local sovereignty and resource access, particularly in developing economies. Central and Eastern Europe’s temp...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Annals of forest research Vol. 60; no. 1; pp. 3 - 17
Main Authors: Egan, Amanda R., Keeton, William S., Danks, Cecilia M., Zia, Asim, Soloviy, Ihor
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: Voluntari Forest Research and Management Institute (ICAS) - editor of Annals of Forest Research, owner of Silvica Publishing House 01-01-2017
‘Marin Drăcea’ National Research-Development Institute in Forestry
Subjects:
Carbon
Climate change
Climate change mitigation
Community
Community involvement
community participation, conservation, equity, livelihoods, markets, policy, redd+, ukraine
Deforestation
Degradation
Ecological effects
Economic development
Emissions control
Forest management
Forest products
Forests
Local communities
Non-timber forest resources
Project development
Qualitative analysis
Sovereignty
Temperate forests
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Summary:Reducing emissions from deforestation and degradation (REDD+) is a frequently promoted climate change mitigation strategy. As forest carbon projects proceed, we are learning how they affect local sovereignty and resource access, particularly in developing economies. Central and Eastern Europe’s temperate forests offer potential for projects, yet little is known about how the sociopolitical context of these transitional economies may influence project success. In this article, we enhance understanding of potential community impacts and explore opportunities for fair benefit distribution in Ukraine’s Carpathian Mountain region. Through a thematic qualitative and interpretive analysis of interviews and observational data, we: (1) describe what community-level forest uses and tenure rights may be affected by forest carbon projects; and (2) explore the opportunities and obstacles of fair benefit distribution and community engagement in projects in the region. Our data show that local communities in the region are important forest-dependent stakeholders, relying on the forest for fuelwood, non-timber forest products, recreation, and other intangible benefits. This indicates the need for strong social safeguards in developing forest carbon projects. While no mechanisms exist for direct revenue sharing, communities could derive other benefits that improve the local social, economic, and ecological situation. Our results further suggest that lessons from projects in developing economies can be informative to project development in post-socialist, transitioning economies.
ISSN:1844-8135
2065-2445
DOI:10.15287/afr.2016.718