Distributing REDD-Plus Benefits to Indigenous Peoples: Important Role of Distributive Justice in REDD-Plus Policy

Abstract

One of the debates circling around REDD is on who should benefit from the program. The REDD program involves a broad range of stakeholders from the private sector to local communities and indigenous peoples. It also involves decision makers and donors from developed countries that fund the program through bilateral and/or multilateral agreements. Each of these stakeholders has a claim to benefits from the REDD program for each of their roles. For example, private stakeholders may claim their contribution for conducting emission reduction related activities, while local communities and indigenous peoples may claim their role in protecting the forests for centuries. However, claims from local communities and indigenous peoples often are forgotten by national governments that are more interested in gaining economic profit from the carbon market under the REDD mechanism.

This research focuses on claims from indigenous peoples to enjoy REDD benefits and measures to identify their needs from REDD program. Principles of distributive justice will be used as a tool to analyze what implementing countries need to distribute REDD benefits equitably, particularly to indigenous peoples. Distributive justice will look into indigenous people’s contribution in conserving the forests and their subsistence needs from forest resources. This research will bring us to Indonesia and Nepal, where forest-dependent communities are struggling to get recognition from their respective governments. We will also take a brief look on both countries REDD programs and their efforts to address issues surrounding forest-dependent peoples through REDD programs. This research will be concluded with REDD policy recommendation that guarantees protection of indigenous peoples’ right to claim benefits from REDD program, pursuant to their contribution to forest conservation, services as forest stewards, and their subsistence needs from the forests.

Keywords: REDD, Indigenous Peoples, Benefit Sharing, Forest, Distributive Justice