A Methodological Framework for Assessing Agents, Proximate Drivers and Underlying Causes of Deforestation: Field Test Results from Southern Cameroon

Forests

Sophia Carodenuto¹  Eduard Merger¹  Eric Essomba³  Metodi Panev¹  Till Pistorius¹  Joseph Amougou⁴  Andrew Vayda² 

[1] Unique Forestry and Land Use, Schnewlinstr.10, 79098 Freiburg, Germany; E-Mails:Unique Forestry and Land Use, Schnewlinstr.10, 79098 Freiburg, Germany;;Department of Geography, University of Sheffield, Winter Street, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK; E-Mail:;Ecological and Monitoring Unit, Ministry of Environment and Nature Protection, P.O. Box 1106 Yaoundé, Cameroon; E-Mail:

关键词: REDD+;    proximate drivers;    agents of deforestation;    land use change;    opportunity costs;   

DOI  :  10.3390/f6010203

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

The international debates on REDD+ and the expectations to receive results-based payments through international climate finance have triggered considerable political efforts to address deforestation and forest degradation in many potential beneficiary countries. Whether a country will receive such REDD+ payments is largely contingent on its ability to effectively address the relevant drivers, and to govern the context-dependent agents and forces responsible for forest loss or degradation. Currently, many REDD+ countries are embarking on the necessary analytical steps for their national REDD+ strategies. In this context, a comprehensive understanding of drivers and their underlying causes is a fundamental prerequisite for developing effective policy responses. We developed a methodological framework for assessing the drivers and underlying causes of deforestation and use the Fako Division in Southern Cameroon as a case study to test this approach. The steps described in this paper can be adapted to other geographical contexts, and the results of such assessments can be used to inform policy makers and other stakeholders.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2015 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.