The document discusses the complex relationship between climate change, forests, and local governance, emphasizing the need for localized responses to climate issues due to varying social and biophysical realities. It highlights the challenges faced by communities, such as power imbalances and potential land grabs, while advocating for the development of a governance assessment tool to enhance local participation and adapt strategies. The aim is to empower local groups with knowledge and capacity to address climate change effectively, leveraging social science insights.

1. Climate Change & Forests: Assessing Local GovernanceCarol J. Pierce ColferCenter for International Forestry Research, Bogor, IndonesiaCornell University, Ithaca, New York

2. Macro-Level Bias in International Climate Change Discussions (e.g.)International agreements (e.g.) - REDD+ for mitigating climate change - decision on National Adaptation Programs of Action (NAPAs) for least developed countries (from UNFCCC)Assumption that national level efforts are most feasibleEfforts to develop a national-level governance assessment tool (e.g. by World Resources Institute)

3. Addressing Climate Change in ForestsComplexity and diversity from place to placeDynamism of local systemsLikely transaction costs (if tailoring policies to local levels)National sovereignty issues

4. Locally, in Tropical Forests…Enormous power differences (between government and people)Widespread corruption (lack of legitimacy)potential for adverse effects on localsLocal realities differ (social, biophysical)Climate change will play out differently in different placesneed for local responsiveness (both for mitigation and adaptation)

5. Some Legitimate Fears, Possible Abuses…Value of swidden produce provided in [inadequate] recompense for loss of people’s subsistence baseChicanery that transfers broadly held land rights to outsiders without equitable distribution of benefitsLand grabs ‘in the interests of conservation or climate change’ that disenfranchise local folksPossible resettlement of folks from areas deemed useful for national carbon credits

6. Need for Anthropological InputIn addressing climate change, some of the effort should be focused on the local level.Local groups can: develop mitigation strategies appropriate to their activities and conditions enhance their ability to adapt to climate change.This potential can best be realised, if based on solid ethnographic and other social science knowledge and skills.

7. An early step should be the ability to assess local governance quality:Collaborative Governance of Tropical Landscapes (Colfer and Pfund eds. 2011, Earthscan, London)[featuring examples from Cameroon, Indonesia, Laos, Madagascar, and Tanzania]

8. Governance Assessment Tool [GAT]Building on:CIFOR participatory action researchwork in villages and districts in three projects (Adaptive Collaborative Management, Collective Action and Property Rights, Landscape Mosaics)Exposure to policy issues in long term, global decentralisation researchA 2009 trial in Jambi, Sumatra (by Feintrenie) Governance Assessment Tool

9. 1. Stakeholders and their relationships#1 Do mechanisms exist to obtain the input of marginalised groups in decision-making that affects them?#2 List the mechanisms and evaluate the functionality of each#3 Evaluate access for each stakeholder category to forest lands and products#4 Evaluate the voice of each stakeholder category in decision-making affecting them

10. 2. Formal access to resources #5 Do formal land-use categories in state law reflect the types of land use common in the field?#6 Are people's rights with regard to land and forests clearly defined? [+5, more specific Qs]#7 Are people's rights as outlined above secure (whether by law or by custom)?

11. 3. Structure and function of governance [1 of 2]#8 Are the different formal and customary governance structures functioning? [+ 3 Qs]#9 Are effective sanctions applied when natural resource rules and regulations are ignored? [+ 3 Qs]#10 Are conflicts effectively managed? [+6 Qs]

12. 3. Structure and function of governance [2 of 2]#11 Are there high levels of trust among people in the landscape? [+4 Qs]#12 Are there good links between communities and outside resources (information, funding)? [+ 2 Qs, 4 sub-Qs]

13. Intended and Possible Uses of GATAssessment by projects, governments, NGOs, local groups, to identify weaknesses and help communities improve governance.A system of scores that can be used by communities to measure their own progress.[Most controversial] As a tool to determine eligibility of a community for participation in a climate change initiative like REDD. [authors are ambivalent about this use….]

14. Thanks for your attention!Comments and suggestions welcomeContact: c.colfer@cgiar.orgFurther reading:Facing an uncertain future:how forests and people can adapt to climate changeReducing Climate Change in Alliance With Swidden Communities & Indigenous Peoples