Resource information
This paper explains the major issues and
lessons derived from the national forest management program
and REDD+ initiatives in Tanzania. It finds that addressing
the most important drivers of forest degradation and
deforestation, in particular the country energy needs and
landownership, is essential for success in reducing
emissions regardless of the type of program implemented. It
also finds that, through the national program, forest users
have learned to maximize profit from the sustainable use of
the forest; however, the program reports great variability
in the success of forest conservation. REDD+ may complement
the national program by adding funding and other resources
to start projects at the local level while giving additional
payments for the permanence of carbon stocks may help to
improve the social outcomes of those villages practicing
sustainable forest management. However, a careful
characterization of the national projects is necessary to
generalize how REDD+ can be effectively implemented so that
additional economic and environmental benefits are generated
over what the national program is already achieving.
Addressing this issue is key for identifying the conditions
under which REDD+ achieves environmental additionality in Tanzania.
