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By Neil Marksin ArgentinaProposals to pay developing countries to conserve billions of tons of carbon stored in tropical forests could help secure land rights for some of Latin America’s poorest people, a leading forestry research institute said yesterday.“Our research into land tenure in Latin America has clearly demonstrated the potential for local communities to organise and manage their own natural resources,” said Frances Seymour, Director General of the Center for International Forest Research, or CIFOR. “Strengthening tenure can improve forest conditions and raise incomes of local communities.”The notion that carbon payments can be used to conserve forests is at the centre of ongoing negotiations leading to the United Nations Climate Change Conference scheduled for December in Copenhagen.Negotiators are discussing the creation of a global framework to Reduce Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation (REDD). Under a REDD scheme,Teemu Pulkkinen Red Wings Jersey, developing countries that reduce their deforestation rates would be compensated by developed countries, either by selling credits on an international carbon market or through an international fund.Advocates of this approach say that forest dependent communities can benefit from these payments if the red mechanism is designed correctly. Ensuring effective and equitable distribution of funds – which could potentially reach US$15 billion toUS$25 billion per year – will depend on clear property and tenure rights to the forests.For many Latin American countries, REDD could be a counter force leading to the conversion of forests into agricultural land. “Deforestation happens in part because of market failures,” said Seymour.“We need a new model where the many environmental services offered by forests, such as climate stabilisation, are given a tangible cash value. In that way the conservation efforts by communities and local land stewards can be adequately compensated.”Evidence that payments to communities for environmental services can be an effective conservation tool comes from recently completed CIFOR research in Bolivia, Ecuador, and Colombia.For instance,Justin Peters Capitals Jersey, in Chaina (Colombia), about 90km from Bogota,Henri Richard Canadiens Jersey, water users have joined together to create an association that pays small holders upstream to maintain and regenerate their forests to ensure regular water supplies. Upstream landowners,Phil Kessel Penguins Jersey, often working on small plots, can receive an average of $250 per hectare per year.  CIFOR scientist Sven Wunder says the success of Chaina is due in part to secure land tenure.“As is the case in much of the region, there are overlapping claims of tenure in the Chaina watershed,” says Wunder, “But the water payment system has forced people to think hard about who owns natural resources and rights to use the land. The hope is that payments for environmental services (PES) schemes like REDD can make conservation more equitable and therefore more attractive.”The prospect of substantial cash transfers under REDD,Dominic Moore Canadiens Jersey, as well as fears of losing out under land grabs,Alexander Semin Canadiens Jersey, is also influencing the mobilisation of community groups.In Guatemala, for instance CIFOR’s work has contributed to the recent formation of the country’s first nationwide community forestry organisation, Alianza Nacional de Forestería Comunitaria.“Communities need to organise themselves to prepare for REDD,Pavel Datsyuk Red Wings Jersey,” says Seymour. “They will need to secure recognition of land rights and ability to negotiate with outside interests and gain access to markets.”“Failure to meet the challenges of implementing REDD now may mean that we lose the opportunity to use forests to combat climate change forever,Olli Maatta Penguins Jersey,’ says Seymour. ‘Deforestation and forest degradation currently account for between 17 per cent and 20 per cent of all global carbon emissions – more that the entire global transport sector. As the climate changes, the capacity of forests to store carbon may be reduced.”“By securing the rights of local communities we have an opportunity to link local interests to international efforts to stabilize the global climate,Dan Boyle Rangers Jersey,” concludes Seymour. “We can not afford to miss this window of opportunity.”CIFOR has highlighted several that will need to be addressed to ensure that any future REDD mechanisms are efficient, effective and equitable:·         REDD must include secure land tenure rights and use of forests for indigenous and local communities for it to succeed in an equitable fashion.·REDD should focus on more than carbon, and generate multiple benefits. REDD could provide significant co-benefits for poor people who depend on forests, as well preserve forest-based plant and animal biodiversity.·  CIFOR’s research shows that many of the important drivers of deforestation and degradation originate from outside the forest sector; REDD efforts will thus require unprecedented collaboration across government sectors.For REDD to be different from previous international efforts to slow deforestation, any payment mechanism should be performance-based. Funds should only be distributed when forest preservation efforts are verified.The implementation of REDD will require a flexible three-phase approach over ten years.  This approach involves a readiness phase of capacity building, a transition phase where policies and measures are introduced and a full implementation phase.