This presentation by Andy White was given at a session titled "Securing rights as a climate change mitigation strategy" at the Global Landscapes Forum in Lima, Peru, on December 6, 2014. By discussing how securing rights can serve as proven and cost-effective climate change mitigation strategy, the session built bridges between policy-makers, practitioners, and scholars.

1. Securing Community Forest
Rights:
Progress, Slowdown, New Momentum
Andy White
December 6
Global Landscapes Forum

2. Sources
What Future for Reform? (RRI 2014)
Tracking the forest “tenure transition”

3. Forest tenure transition in LMICs
2002-2013
381.4 million ha
Lands
allocated to
IP/LC on a
conditional
basis, without
the full legal
means to
secure their
rights
Communities have the
legal right to exclude
outsiders, hold rights in
perpetuity, and have
the right to due process
and just compensation
Significant increase:
from 21% of forested
lands to more than 30%

4. Uneven progress across regions
2013

5. And recognition has slowed in REDD+
countries since 2008…
Decrease in area recognized by time period and tenure category, in Mha
19.3
• Less area
50.3
• Fewer laws
• Weaker laws
16.7
9.3
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
2002-2008 2008-2013
Designated for IPs and communities Owned by IPs and communities
No legal frameworks created since 2008 recognize ownership

6. Challenges and Mixed Reactions
Two constants in our future:
Growing global demand for:
1. Natural resources and infrastructure
2. Justice
Will the 3rd be Conflict?
Mixed government and corporate reactions:
1. Widespread rollback, weakened social and environmental
standards, acceleration of “land grabs”
2. Some positive court and policy decisions securing rights
3. Some major corporate commitments
4. Major commitments for new funding from some donors

7. Climate Priorities
1. Support Indigenous Peoples and local communities
to defend, demarcate, their territories
2. Support the government and corporate
commitments succeed (assistance and
accountability)
3. Scale-up the coordination/collaboration/investment
in securing community land rights

8. New initiatives
The Interlaken “Call to Action”
The International Land and Forest
Tenure Facility

9. Interlaken “Call to Action”
to scale up securing community land rights
CO-CONVENORS
WORKING GROUPS/COLLABORATIVE GROUPS
Global mapping platform
Next Global Workshop:
30 September –
1 October Conservation
2015
Private sector “Interlaken Group”

10. International Land and Forest
Tenure Facility
Primary Function: Funding and technical support for tenure reform projects
What Makes it Different:
1. Independent, strategic, responsive, mid-size ($.2 – 2 M)
2. Direct funding to IPs and local CSOs
3. Multi-stakeholder governance: rights-holders, governments, civil
society, and investors (public and private)
Currently Underway:
1. Designing pilot projects: Indonesia, Colombia, Peru, Cameroon,
Panama
2. Advisory Group: Tebtebba, GACF, IFC, FAO, CED UN-REDD, Oxfam
3. Consultation processes with key stakeholders
4. First funding from Government of Sweden (Sida)

11. www.rightsandresources.org
twitter: @rightsresources
facebook.com/rightsandresources