Agriculture and deforestation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Agriculture and deforestation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo PDF Author: Amy Ickowitz
Publisher: CIFOR
ISBN: 6021504674
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 28

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Book Description
Deforestation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is significantly lower than in other heavily forested tropical countries. However, there is increasing concern that this rate is likely to accelerate. Many of those concerned about future deforestation argue that shifting cultivation is the primary driver and that if nothing is done to change the practice, it will cause even more forest loss. This study reviews the evidence in support of these claims. In the first section, we compare the results of the most recent remote sensing-based studies on the rate of change in forest cover and try to explain why and how they differ. We then review the literature on the relationship between agriculture and deforestation in the DRC, with particular attention to the role of shifting cultivation. Finally, we integrate the insights from both the remote sensing studies and the broader literature to arrive at a general picture of the current state of the forest in the DRC and the risks for its future. Overall, we find that while there is substantial variation in the recent deforestation estimates for the DRC depending on definitions, methods and approaches, some deforestation is taking place — albeit at a slower rate than in the rest of the tropics. This deforestation is concentrated in Kinshasa and Bas-Congo provinces, in the eastern DRC and around medium-sized cities along the Congo River. Agriculture appears to be the main driver of deforestation and its impact will likely increase as the country’s population grows. While some researchers argue that this presents a real threat to the future of the DRC’s forests, there is a lack of strong evidence to show the magnitude of this threat. If the impact continues to be felt mainly in the areas where it is currently taking place, the overall ensuing deforestation may not be very extensive. While the local impacts may be real, given the vast size of the DRC and the location of its large tracts of forests, there is a strong possibility that the overall biodiversity and carbon impacts of such deforestation will be limited.

Agriculture and deforestation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Agriculture and deforestation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo PDF Author: Amy Ickowitz
Publisher: CIFOR
ISBN: 6021504674
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 28

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Book Description
Deforestation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is significantly lower than in other heavily forested tropical countries. However, there is increasing concern that this rate is likely to accelerate. Many of those concerned about future deforestation argue that shifting cultivation is the primary driver and that if nothing is done to change the practice, it will cause even more forest loss. This study reviews the evidence in support of these claims. In the first section, we compare the results of the most recent remote sensing-based studies on the rate of change in forest cover and try to explain why and how they differ. We then review the literature on the relationship between agriculture and deforestation in the DRC, with particular attention to the role of shifting cultivation. Finally, we integrate the insights from both the remote sensing studies and the broader literature to arrive at a general picture of the current state of the forest in the DRC and the risks for its future. Overall, we find that while there is substantial variation in the recent deforestation estimates for the DRC depending on definitions, methods and approaches, some deforestation is taking place — albeit at a slower rate than in the rest of the tropics. This deforestation is concentrated in Kinshasa and Bas-Congo provinces, in the eastern DRC and around medium-sized cities along the Congo River. Agriculture appears to be the main driver of deforestation and its impact will likely increase as the country’s population grows. While some researchers argue that this presents a real threat to the future of the DRC’s forests, there is a lack of strong evidence to show the magnitude of this threat. If the impact continues to be felt mainly in the areas where it is currently taking place, the overall ensuing deforestation may not be very extensive. While the local impacts may be real, given the vast size of the DRC and the location of its large tracts of forests, there is a strong possibility that the overall biodiversity and carbon impacts of such deforestation will be limited.

Deforestation and forest degradation in the Congo Basin: State of knowledge, current causes and perspectives

Deforestation and forest degradation in the Congo Basin: State of knowledge, current causes and perspectives PDF Author: Bérenger Tchatchou
Publisher: CIFOR
ISBN: 602387021X
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 59

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Book Description
The Congo Basin comprises Cameroon, Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea and Gabon. It covers close to 70% of the forestlands of Africa. Of the 530 million hectares in the Congo Basin, 300 million are composed of forests: 99% of these are primary or naturally regenerated forests, as opposed to plantations.

Deforestation Trends in the Congo Basin

Deforestation Trends in the Congo Basin PDF Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Electronic book
Languages : en
Pages :

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Book Description


Deforestation Trends in the Congo Basin

Deforestation Trends in the Congo Basin PDF Author: Carole Megevand
Publisher: World Bank Publications
ISBN: 0821397427
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 180

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Book Description
"This volume is a product of the staff of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development / The World Bank."

The context of REDD+ in the Democratic Republic of Congo

The context of REDD+ in the Democratic Republic of Congo PDF Author: Kengoum, F.
Publisher: CIFOR
ISBN: 6023871372
Category :
Languages : en
Pages :

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Book Description
DRC has committed to reduce its emissions effectively, efficiently, and equitably from deforestation and degradation (REDD+). The country experiences complex relationships between drivers, agents, and institutions of deforestation nationally. The REDD+ policy arena is influenced by both governmental and non-governmental actors whose number have increased in the policy arena over the years; however, weak coordination among these actors remains an issue. Since 2009, the DRC has announced several reforms relating to land tenure, land-use planning and agricultural policy, to create an institutional environment that motivates the implementation of REDD+ in the DRC. By 2019, none of these reforms had materialized, due to both political changes and a lack of finance, capacity, and political will. Between 2013 and 2019, little progress has been made on REDD+ in the DRC, as a result of conflicting interests among actors both at national and decentralized levels; information asymmetry; elite capture and corruption; and the pre- and post-election situation. To date, the effectiveness of REDD+ activities in the DRC remain unclear, due to the absence of rigorous impact assessment. However, efforts can be observed on the field where there is increased number of participants to forest policy process compared to REDD+ early years; and several ongoing projects are testing policy options within and across levels. If these efforts are sustained, they can contribute in putting in place conditions to achieve REDD+ objectives.

A decade of REDD+ in a changing political environment in the Democratic Republic of Congo

A decade of REDD+ in a changing political environment in the Democratic Republic of Congo PDF Author: Kengoum Djiegni, F.
Publisher: CIFOR
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 8

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Book Description
Key messages The REDD+ policy process in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) over the past decade has diverged from the initial government planning due to political changes at the international and national levels. While participation is perceived by government and international actors as one of the biggest achievements of REDD+ in the DRC, non-state actors – particularly civil society organizations and Indigenous groups – are skeptical about inclusiveness within the decision-making process. Social inequalities and local power relations may hinder the implementation of participation instruments and the involvement of local and Indigenous communities, impeding their ability to achieve reduced deforestation and poverty alleviation. The political economy and the lack of data on deforestation and forest degradation – and on the recently discovered large swamp in the DRC – make it challenging to monitor, report and verify a reduction in forest emissions within a multilevel setting. The experience of REDD+ tested at scale in the DRC through the Mai-Ndombe jurisdictional project highlights the cost challenges of generating timely and accurate data. Supporting REDD+ finance in the DRC is difficult since the country relies entirely on international funding to fight climate change. A benefits-sharing mechanism remains unclear. Consequently, there is a lack of flexibility in addressing unanticipated costs that may result from the implementation of the process. This jeopardizes the success of the process and raises uncertainty about the expected results. Emerging issues, such as community forestry and the discovery of large swamp areas, make the DRC more attractive for the REDD+ program. The first issue offers a workaround to the problem of securing communal rights, while the second issue provides additional opportunities for REDD+ activities.

How existing legal frameworks shape forest conversion to agriculture

How existing legal frameworks shape forest conversion to agriculture PDF Author: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Publisher: Food & Agriculture Org.
ISBN: 9251099731
Category : Technology & Engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 26

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Book Description
Forest conversion into agricultural land is currently the main cause of deforestation in the Congo Basin. This publication looks at three countries in the Congo Basin (Gabon, Cameroon and the Democratic Republic of Congo), analysing to what extent their legal frameworks are effective in managing forest conversion within and outside of permitted areas. It highlights the importance of national land use plans for the prevention of uncontrolled forest conversion and analyses existing rules and regul ations governing land use change and forest clearing permits, showing how and why these rules and regulations are either too complex or incoherent to ensure good governance and sustainable management of forests in this area.

Woodfuel for urban centres in the Democratic Republic of Congo

Woodfuel for urban centres in the Democratic Republic of Congo PDF Author: Jolien Schure
Publisher: CIFOR
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 4

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Book Description
Policymakers should recognise the size and value of the woodfuel sector and its importance to many people. Harvesters and producers need better access to trees and land to promote better management and reduce conflicts. The tax system for woodfuel should be revised to be transparent and pragmatic. Woodfuel from plantation forests and agroforestry should be favoured over woodfuel from valuable or threatened tree species. More attention should be paid to energy-efficient charcoal kilns and cooking stoves, as well as activities to promote their use. Management options that combine agroforestry, plantations and improving energy efficiency need collaboration from different sectors: energy, forest, land-use planning and agriculture.

The context of REDD+ in the Democratic Republic of Congo: Drivers, agents and institutions

The context of REDD+ in the Democratic Republic of Congo: Drivers, agents and institutions PDF Author: Augustin M. Mpoyi
Publisher: CIFOR
ISBN: 6021504135
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 73

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Book Description
Reviewing the conditions in which the Reduction of Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) mechanism is being established in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is part of Component 1 of the Global Comparative Study on REDD+ (GCS-REDD) being conducted by the Center for International Forestry Research. The overall aim of this global study is to provide decision-makers, practitioners, donors and the scientific community with reliable information on the dynamics of national actions related to the REDD+ mechanism. Discussions on REDD originally seemed to focus on the construction of a global structure and the establishment of a multilateral instrument to replace the Kyoto Protocol. But at the 14th Conference of Parties (CoP 14), held in Poznan in 2008, discussions on the reliability of REDD+ focused more on the dynamics of national- and local-level actions and brought out the need to better understand, analyze and explain the national institutional context of REDD+ development. Subsequently, this review used the extractive approaches. The first inputs were reports, articles, books and documents on the DRC that were directly related to forest management, socioeconomic and political institutions, etc., whether published or not. Because of the diversity of sources, the quantitative data sometimes seem contradictory and conflictual. In the next step, semi-structured interviews were held with experts working in the forestry sector and data were obtained from the participants’ observations. Since this analysis covers the period between May 2011 and June 2012 actions in the field and the institutions after those dates were not included.

Deforestation Trends in the Congo Basin

Deforestation Trends in the Congo Basin PDF Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Electronic book
Languages : en
Pages :

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Book Description