Links between Climate Change Mitigation, Adaptation and Development in Land Policy and Ecosystem Restoration Projects: Lessons from South Africa

Nicola Favretto, Andrew J. Dougill, Lindsay C. Stringer, Stavros Afionis and Claire H. Quinn
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Nicola Favretto: School f Earth and Environment, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK
Andrew J. Dougill: School f Earth and Environment, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK
Lindsay C. Stringer: School f Earth and Environment, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK
Stavros Afionis: School of Politics, Philosophy, International Relations and Environment, Keele University, Staffordshire ST5 5BG, UK
Claire H. Quinn: School f Earth and Environment, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK

Sustainability, 2018, vol. 10, issue 3, 1-19

Abstract: Links between climate change adaptation, mitigation and development co-benefits in land policy and ecosystem restoration projects are hampered by limited understanding of how multi-faceted policy, institutions and projects interact. This paper explores perceptions of co-benefits produced by two community-level projects that pursue ecosystem restoration in South Africa. It develops a new analytical framework to assess the enabling and constraining factors in delivering triple wins for adaptation, mitigation and development. The aim is to investigate the potential for integrating community perspectives into policy and project development and implementation. Data collected through mixed-methods (policy analysis, semi-structured interviews, participatory site visits and focus groups) are analysed using thematic analysis. We find that while the projects investigated have potential to deliver triple wins, siloed approaches presently hinder effective implementation. In particular, project focus on job creation hampers the achievement of longer-term mitigation and adaptation benefits. Operational flexibility, long-term goals, multi-sectoral cooperation and enabling frameworks are imperative to the achievement of triple wins. Findings provide valuable lessons that can be applied across sub-Saharan Africa towards achieving triple wins in climate and development policy and practice, especially those developed with job creation and ecological restoration aims.

Keywords: climate compatible development; sustainable land management; project monitoring and evaluation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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