Geographic overlaps between priority areas for forest carbon-storage efforts and those for delivering peacebuilding programs: Implications for policy design

Research output: Contribution to journalLetterResearchpeer-review

  • Augusto Carlos Castro Nunez
  • Mertz, Ole
  • Chrystian C. Sosa

Of the countries considering national-level policies for incentivizing reductions in forest-based greenhouse gas emissions (REDD+), some 25 are experiencing (or are emerging from) armed-conflicts. It has been hypothesized that the outcomes of the interactions between carbon-storage and peacebuilding efforts could result in either improved or worsened forest conservation and likewise increased or decreased conflict. Hence, for this study we explore potential interactions between forest carbon-storage and peacebuilding efforts, with Colombia as a case study. Spatial associations between biomass carbon and three conflict-related variables suggest that such interactions may exist. Nonetheless, while priority areas for carbon-focused conservation are presumably those at highest risks of deforestation, our research indicates that forests with lower risk of deforestation are typically those affected by armed-conflict. Our findings moreover highlight three possible roles played by Colombian forested municipalities in armed groups' military strategies: venues for battle, hideouts, and sources of natural resources to finance war.

Original languageEnglish
Article number054014
JournalEnvironmental Research Letters
Volume12
Issue number5
Number of pages12
ISSN1748-9318
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2017

    Research areas

  • armed-conflicts, Climate change, co-benefits, forest-carbon storage, peacebuilding, REDD, UNFCCC

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