TIZ tips Zambia on REDD+ funding management

VIOLET MENGO

Lusaka

THE first time one hears about REDD+, one gets bemused as to what the little-known United Nations instrument is all about. 

The acronym stands for Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation. 

It is a mechanism under United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) with the objective of mitigating climate change through reducing net emissions of greenhouse gases through enhanced forest management.

REDD+ is a proposed mechanism aimed at slowing climate change which would involve a massive transfer of money from developed countries as part of their commitment to decrease the impact of their own carbon emissions.

It also provides benefits to the forests dwelling communities in developing countries by measuring countries’ contribution to stabilising the atmosphere and to pay for it.

REDD+ has generally been lauded as a beautiful idea in efforts towards decelerating climate change.

indiscriminate cutting down of trees for charcoal.

In Zambia, the Lower Zambezi REDD+ Project is the first pilot project, which encompasses approximately 40 000 hectares of primary Miombo forests.

The area strategically protects 60 kilometers of the national parks boundary by providing a buffer zone between the park and communal areas which have a growing human population and a thriving charcoal business along the Great East Road.

In the Nationally Determined Contribution which Zambia presented to Conference of Parties in Paris in 2015, the country has pledged to ensure sustainable forestry management as part of its effort to fight climate change.

These and many more initiatives are being addressed to ensure sustainability of trees.

This is against the background that despite the world having three trillion trees on earth, practices such as cutting down trees, draining swamps and burning bushes to make way for agriculture, produce between 10 and 20 percent of greenhouse gas emission.

In an era of climate change, destroying forests is one of the most harmful activities. Forests are well known for their ability to absorb carbon dioxide, but when they are burned, they release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

Climate change is probably the most significant challenge facing the world today. It is estimated that the forest sector and other sectors that impact land use through deforestation, forest degradation and other changes in forests contribute approximately 17 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions.

Considering the colossal amount of money in the REDD+  funding, Transparency International Zambia (TIZ)  has taken a proactive measure, urging Zambia to ensure that the funds, once made available, are put to good use. The organization is  not only creating awareness on the REDD+  initiative, but has come up with initiatives that could prevent any form of corruption that comes with big money.

 “Where there is money exchange, there is always some form of corruption that come through”,” TIZ president Lee Habasonda said.

As such TIZ launched an assessment report on corruption vulnerability for REDD+ in Zambia.

The report entitled “A corruption vulnerability assessment for REDD in Zambia highlights the link between REDD+ and corruption. 

The report has pointed out that a vast number of forests where REDD+ is being promoted and funded are located within developing countries, which may be vulnerable to corruption and weak governance.

It also points out that many REDD+ pilot projects are in remote rural areas which making it difficult to monitor.

“Forests carbon remains an intangible commodity to be traded so it can be manipulated and also large influxes of funds from international development community and technical complexity of terminologies used which creates and maintains a situation of information asymmetry,” Habasonda said.

“Forests are a vital part of the carbon cycle both storing and releasing this essential element in a dynamic process of growth, decay, disturbance and renewal. It is an important commodity to be traded and therefore be manipulated, especially when it involve huge amounts of money from the international community,” Mr Habasonda said.

He said technical complexity of terminologies used creates and maintains a situation of information irregularity that opens doors for manipulation.

The various manifestations of corruption in the forestry sectors of countries receiving REDD+ funds are challenges that pose an obstacle to achieving the economic, environmental and social objectives of REDD+.

Mr Habasonda said the challenges suggest significant threats to the success of REDD+ if effective anti- corruption safeguards are not built from the start.

According to him, the launch of the assessment report is the beginning of getting people appreciate and take measures to ensure that there are able to survive and work within the framework that is available. 

Mr Habasonda said the challenges suggest significant safeguards are not built in from the start.

grow the forests

The report aims at bringing out the potential or existing corruption risks in REDD+ and forestry sector in the country so that they might be proactively addressed.

At the end of the report, are recommendations aimed at strengthening systems and processes to protect REDD+ from corruption.

Some of the recommendations include a call to ensure the full and effective participation of stakeholders in decision making and strengthening of forestry management.

The report also recommends security of land tenure especially on customary land, fair allocation and disbursement of funds and enforcement of laws and regulations as well as access to justice. 

Climate change has assumed a level of critical importance and Mr Habasonda says it is important that communities in Zambia understand some initiatives taking place in the country such as the REDD+ to monitor related activities.

The involvement of all people remains key, especially the political leadership.

President Edgar Lungu participated actively in the conference of parties which was held in Morocco.

And he is concerned that climate change can reverse the gains that the country has made and has called for concerted effort from all stakeholders in the fight against climate change.

His action and timely advice has been welcomed by TIZ who say President Lungu has shown exemplary leadership in the fight against climate change and should be commended.

“President Edgar Lungu has shown exemplary leadership in the fight against climate change to which both state and non-state should wakeup to the occasion and address climate change effectively,” he said.

Mr Habasonda called on Government to ensure that ministries provide funding to the relevant sections that are managing forestry and natural resources.