Forest Benefit Sharing Mechanism Under REDD+ In DR.Congo

This thesis is an analysis of the requirements of benefit sharing mechanisms(BSMs)of the Deforestation and Forest Degradation Plus(REDD+).BS approaches in community forestry(CF)are differentiated into: rights allocation-based,input-based and performance-based,from initiation to implementation and each approach has specific and complementary roles in ensuring effectiveness,efficiency and equity of BSMs.Rights allocation-based BSMs provide a more sustainable incentive than payment-based incentives for maintaining involvement in CF under conditions of inadequate financing.It focuses on the legal examination through the policies and legislation in DRC related to BSMs of REDD+.The most challenging issue is to comply with BSMs of the REDD+ in the DRC.Several national funds such as conservation funds,funds for payments for environmental services,and national reforestation funds are all poised to present a channel for sharing benefits and distributing payments from REDD.Some fund transfer mechanisms have suffered from prominent problems such as corruption,neglecting the right and interest of forest stakeholders,marginalization of the indigenous people and local communities,unequal distributions of the benefits,ineffective implementation of REDD+ etc.The main reasons for the above-mentioned problems are as follows.Insecurity of land tenure had involved processes of dispossession and elite capture and left the majority of local people with little or no land entitlement.As the distributive policy of the project maps onto the existing unequal land distribution and increased risk of conflict,it reinforces inequality.The lack of effective land use policy in the DRC,coupled with inconsistency in the institutional structures of weak forest governance(lack of resources and technical capacity)and law enforcement that prevents a clear and uncompromising implementation of the Forest Code and environmental legislation.In concluding,the argument here is that,a participatory governance structure for the National REDD+ Fund shall empower civil society and the private sector to participate in the process of allocating REDD+ resources.To clarify the rights over carbon will be a prerequisite for implementing a benefit sharing system.The DRC Government’s objective shall design mechanisms that can distribute the benefits in a fair manner.The reduction of conflict between companies and citizens.To avoid corruption in the process of implementation of REDD+ to ensure the transparency and accountability in the public participation.Effectiveness,efficiency and equity of BSMs can be enhanced by structuring benefits as incentives to change behavior.For a more pragmatic approach to property rights and the land tenure over resources may be more effective than pursuing radical land reforms.