Offset schemes failing to benefit forest communities, report finds

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🗞️ Driving the news: A new report by the International Union of Forest Research Organizations has highlighted significant shortcomings in carbon offset schemes aimed at conserving forests
• The report reveals that while these programs contribute to mitigating deforestation to some extent, they do not effectively support the financial or social well-being of forest communities

🔭 The context: The study was presented at a recent U.N. meeting focusing on forest loss and scrutinizes both carbon offset initiatives and product certification programs designed to prevent deforestation
• It points out the adverse impacts on forest dwellers, including lack of income and forced evictions, citing specific cases like the violent ejection of Indigenous peoples in Cambodia’s Cardamon Mountains

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: The failure of these schemes to benefit local communities undercuts their effectiveness and sustainability
• The preservation of forests is crucial for biodiversity and as a counter to climate change, but these goals are compromised when local communities are excluded or harmed

⏭️ What's next: The report advocates for more community-led projects, which have proven successful in places like the Solomon Islands, where local initiatives not only conserved forests but also brought tangible benefits to the inhabitants
• This comes amid discussions about potentially relaxing the criteria for carbon offsets in corporate climate targets

💬 One quote: "We are too late in the game to use win-win narratives," said Daniela Kleinschmit, Freiburg University professor and lead author of the report

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