Eleventh International Conference on Climate Change: Impacts & Responses

Abstract

REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation) is currently a main element in the international climate change agenda which recognizes the importance of multi-level (international, national, sub-national) and multi-sectoral actors (government, NGOs, private sector, academia, local communities) in reducing greenhouse gas emissions from the forest sector and achieving socio-economic benefits for local communities. This research intends to assess the effectiveness of REDD+ implementation in Mexico using the theory of polycentric governance as an analytical framework. Polycentric governance is a form of decision making that involves multiple levels of authority and multiple sectors representatives under a shared system of rules to regulate their relationships. In the early 2000s, Elinor Ostrom proposed polycentric governance as an effective approach to address global environmental problems such as climate change. This study focuses on the analysis of the various dimensions of polycentric governance that can be found in Mexico’s REDD+ institutional arrangements: the characteristics of actors’ participation in decision-making; the quality or degree of information sharing, technical coordination, financial coordination, conflict resolution, trustworthiness and learning; and the impact on the achievement of two of REDD+ main goals: deforestation reduction and socio-economic benefits for local people. For the purpose of the analysis, qualitative data was gathered through key informant interviews in QuintanaRoo: federal, state and municipal government officers, NGOs, academia, farmers, ranchers, beekeepers and foresters representatives. Community leaders and member from three ejidos were also interviewed. Quantitative data regarding deforestation rates and socio-economic indicators from academic and official sources is also included in the analysis.