REDD+ Impacts: Evidence from Nepal

Bishnu Prasad Sharma (), Subhrendu Pattanayak, Mani Nepal, Priya Shyamsundar () and Bhaskar S. Karky

Working Papers from eSocialSciences

Abstract: This paper discusses the findings from one of the first rigorous quasi-experimental studies using a ‘before-after-control intervention’ design that encompass all major aspects of REDD+: forest carbon and bio-physical, ecological, livelihood and welfare. The analysis of the outcome indicators from two years of REDD+ incentive payments indicate that there are positive signs of improved forest condition for carbon additionality and livelihood improvements, while no harm has been done to local livelihoods, which is generally feared in REDD+ literature. Although there is no change in forest carbon components in REDD+ communities compared to controls, important changes are observed in ecological indicators such as reduction in forest fires, timber extraction and encroachments that could contribute to carbon enhancement in the future. It is found that there is a decline in the share of firewood in household cooking that is consistent with the observed increase in biogas, a cleaner and convenient renewable energy source. These findings support the broader sense that REDD+ initiatives must and can work in tandem with other global initiatives (e.g., ENERGY + and the Sustainable Development Goals), in this case, indicating that a shift to biogas fuel could improve livelihoods and ensure REDD+ success in Nepal.

Keywords: Sustainable Forest Management; Forest Carbon; Livelihood; REDD+ Impact; Sustainable Development Goals; Environment; Bio-Physical; Ecological; Livelihood; Welfare; Firewood; Household Cooking; Nepal. (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2015-09
Note: Institutional Papers
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (7)

Downloads: (external link)
http://www.esocialsciences.org/Download/repecDownl ... &AId=7554&fref=repec

Related works:
Working Paper: REDD+ Impacts: Evidence from Nepal
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:ess:wpaper:id:7554

Access Statistics for this paper

More papers in Working Papers from eSocialSciences
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Padma Prakash ().