This document summarizes findings from two recent publications on global forest tenure trends and the importance of community forest rights. It finds that while the proportion of forestlands designated for or owned by indigenous and local communities has increased globally from 21% to over 30% between 2002 and 2013, progress has slowed since 2008. Specifically, it notes that over 513 million hectares of forestlands are owned or managed by communities, sequestering a significant amount of carbon. However, deforestation rates are lower in forests with legal recognition and government protection of community rights. The document concludes more support is needed for community forest rights and management from governments and climate initiatives to recognize their role in mitigating climate change.

1. Global
forest and
community
tenure trends
Progress,
slowdown, and
climate outcomes
Jenny Springer
University of Gothenburg seminar
September 10, 2014

2. Introduction 2
Findings from 2 recent publications - focused on centrality
of community forest rights as to the future of forests
 What Future for Reform? (RRI 2014) – tracking forest
“tenure transition”
• Human Rights basis – recognition of customary rights to
forests
• Growing recognition of effectiveness of community
management
 Securing Rights, Combating Climate Change (WRI-RRI
2014) – importance of community forest rights as a
climate change solution

3. 3
What Future for Reform? – 2002-2013
Global forest tenure transition has continued
77.9%
1.5%
9.8% 10.9%
73.0%
2.9%
12.6% 11.5%
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
Administered by
Government
Designated for IPs &
Communities
Owned by IPs &
Communities
Owned by Firms &
Individuals
2002
2013
Lands allocated
to IP/LC on a
conditional
basis, without
the full legal
means to secure
their rights
Communities
have the legal
right to exclude
outsiders, hold
rights in
perpetuity, and
have the right to
due process and
just
compensation

4. 4
Forest tenure transition in LMICs
2002-2013
Significant increase: from
21% of forested lands to
more than 30%

5. Uneven progress across regions (2013) 5

6. Uneven progress within Asia (2013) 6
 ¾ of forests owned by
communities in Asia are
in China’s rural
collectives
 High proportion of
customary lands and
very limited recognition
in Indonesia, peninsular
SE Asia.

7. And recognition has slowed since 2008… 7
Increase in area recognized by time period and tenure category, in Mha
2002-2008 2008-2013
26.8
19.3
66.8
50.3
19.7
16.7
11.2 9.3
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
LMIC REDD+ LMIC REDD+
Designated for IPs and local communties Owned by IPs and local communities
No legal frameworks created since 2008 confer ownership

8. 8 Securing Rights, Combating Climate Change:
A WRI & RRI REPORT

9. 9
Community forests sequester massive
amounts of carbon
15.5 percent of the
world’s forest (513
mil ha)
WRI-RRI 2014

10. Deforestation rates inside indigenous & 10
community forests with legal recognition and
strong government protection are significantly
lower than in forests outside these areas
WRI-RRI 2014

12. 12
What’s needed?
legal recognition & government support
WRI-RRI 2014

13. Concluding Recommendations 13
1. Recognize & support community forest rights and
management – call to national governments
• Continuing in - and moving beyond - Latin America
2. Provide more concrete support from climate
initiatives – valuing CF rights as a climate solution
3. Engage private sector corporations and investors in
respecting community forest rights
• Slowdown coinciding with industrial concession expansion
4. Catalyze broad-based change by including community
land rights in the post-2015 development agenda

14. 14
Thank you!
For more information, visit
www.rightsandresources.org