Creating Social Safeguards for REDD+: Lessons Learned from Benefit Sharing Mechanisms in Vietnam
13/12/18 10:00AM
Mucahid Mustafa Bayrak, Tran Nam Tu and Lawal Mohammed Marafa. Land, 2014, volume 3, number 3, pp. 1037-1058.
Abstract: Currently, many studies on benefit sharing mechanisms (BSM)
and the Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation programme
(REDD+) focus on poverty alleviation and livelihood development. However,
relatively few studies incorporate an integrated livelihood framework. This
study employs the sustainable livelihoods framework to assess the impact of BSM
in Vietnam. The lessons learned could be used in creating social safeguards for
REDD+. The communities in Central Vietnam involved in BSM were impacted by the
programme on various dimensions. These dimensions, expressed in different types
of capital, are interconnected and contribute to a person’s well-being. While
the communities have restricted access to their natural forests, they benefited
in terms of income diversification, knowledge improvement and network
expansion. On the other hand, they faced food insecurity, they were more
vulnerable to natural hazards, and their human, social and cultural capital
faced risk of deterioration.