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Will funding to Reduce Emissions from Deforestation and (forest) Degradation (REDD+) stop conversion of peat swamps to oil palm in orangutan habitat in Tripa in Aceh, Indonesia?

Author

Listed:
  • Hesti Tata
  • Meine Noordwijk
  • Denis Ruysschaert
  • Rachmat Mulia
  • Subekti Rahayu
  • Elok Mulyoutami
  • Atiek Widayati
  • Andree Ekadinata
  • Riswan Zen
  • Adji Darsoyo
  • Rahayu Oktaviani
  • Sonya Dewi

Abstract

Tripa is the last remaining peat-swamp forest that harbours a potentially viable Sumatran orangutan (Pongo abelii) sub-population in a formally but not effectively protected area. It appears to be a simple showcase where current efforts to financially support reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD+) converge with biodiversity and social co-benefits. In practice, however, situation is more complex. REDD+ efforts interact with global palm oil trade and regulatory approaches (the moratorium) to achieve national goals for emissions reduction under umbrella of nationally appropriate mitigation actions (NAMA). To contextualize this debate, we assessed (i) land-use history and formal basis of palm-oil companies’ rights; (ii) carbon (C) stocks, historical emission levels and potential emissions that can be avoided; (iii) economic benefits of land-use options and opportunity costs of avoiding emissions; (iv) biodiversity and environmental services; and (v) alternative options for “high C stock development” and employment generation. Natural forest cover declined (54 % in 1995, 18 % in 2009) while oil palm increased 4–39 %. Aboveground C stocks decreased from 148 Mg ha −1 in 1990 to 61 Mg ha −1 in 2009, leading to average annual emissions of 14.5 Mg (carbon dioxide) CO 2 e ha −1 year −1 . While 41 % of these emissions yield less than American Dollar (USD) 5 of current economic benefits per Mg CO 2 e emitted and might be compensated by REDD+, nearly all new emissions derive from a breach of existing laws, regulations and voluntary palm-oil standards. Substantial investment in alternative employment is needed, rather than carbon payments per se, to support livelihoods in a low carbon emissions economy. Copyright The Author(s) 2014

Suggested Citation

  • Hesti Tata & Meine Noordwijk & Denis Ruysschaert & Rachmat Mulia & Subekti Rahayu & Elok Mulyoutami & Atiek Widayati & Andree Ekadinata & Riswan Zen & Adji Darsoyo & Rahayu Oktaviani & Sonya Dewi, 2014. "Will funding to Reduce Emissions from Deforestation and (forest) Degradation (REDD+) stop conversion of peat swamps to oil palm in orangutan habitat in Tripa in Aceh, Indonesia?," Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change, Springer, vol. 19(6), pages 693-713, August.
  • Handle: RePEc:spr:masfgc:v:19:y:2014:i:6:p:693-713
    DOI: 10.1007/s11027-013-9524-5
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Lian Pin Koh & David S. Wilcove, 2007. "Cashing in palm oil for conservation," Nature, Nature, vol. 448(7157), pages 993-994, August.
    2. Stern,Nicholas, 2007. "The Economics of Climate Change," Cambridge Books, Cambridge University Press, number 9780521700801, October.
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    Cited by:

    1. Ruysschaert, Denis & Hufty, Marc, 2020. "Building an effective coalition to improve forest policy: Lessons from the coastal Tripa peat swamp rainforest, Sumatra, Indonesia," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 99(C).
    2. Ni’matul Khasanah & Meine Noordwijk, 2019. "Subsidence and carbon dioxide emissions in a smallholder peatland mosaic in Sumatra, Indonesia," Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change, Springer, vol. 24(1), pages 147-163, January.
    3. Sloan, Sean & Campbell, Mason J. & Alamgir, Mohammed & Collier-Baker, Emma & Nowak, Matthew G. & Usher, Graham & Laurance, William F., 2018. "Infrastructure development and contested forest governance threaten the Leuser Ecosystem, Indonesia," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 77(C), pages 298-309.
    4. Alam, Md Jahangir & Rengasamy, Nagarajan & bin Dahalan, Mohd Puat & Halim, Sharina Abdul & Nath, Tapan Kumar, 2022. "Socio-economic and ecological outcomes of a community-based restoration of peatland swamp forests in Peninsular Malaysia: A 5Rs approach," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 122(C).
    5. Ruysschaert, Denis & Salles, Denis, 2014. "Towards global voluntary standards: Questioning the effectiveness in attaining conservation goals," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 107(C), pages 438-446.
    6. de Man, Reinier & German, Laura, 2017. "Certifying the sustainability of biofuels: Promise and reality," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 109(C), pages 871-883.
    7. Meine van Noordwijk & Robin Matthews & Fahmuddin Agus & Jenny Farmer & Louis Verchot & Kristell Hergoualc’h & Sebastian Persch & Hesti Tata & Betha Lusiana & Atiek Widayati & Sonya Dewi, 2014. "Mud, muddle and models in the knowledge value-chain to action on tropical peatland conservation," Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change, Springer, vol. 19(6), pages 887-905, August.
    8. Boer, Henry James, 2018. "The role of government in operationalising markets for REDD+ in Indonesia," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 86(C), pages 4-12.

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