In South Africa, a new working paper from the Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) explores different biofuel production mechanisms for sub-Saharan Africa and ways to mitigate potential negative side effects from project development while ensuing local benefits such a job creation and energy access. Market-based mechanisms versus legal and policy mechanisms to enhance long-term sustainability are also discussed.

Hutan tropis yang ditetapkan sebagai kawasan lindung memiliki tingkat deforestasi tahunan lebih tinggi dibandingkan wilayah kelola masyarakat lokal. Demikian penuturan Manuel Guariguata, Peneliti Senior di Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) dalam siaran persnya, akhir pekan lalu.

Manuel Guarigata, peneliti CIFOR memberikan komentnya mengenai hasil penelitian bahwa tingkat deforestasi tahunan hutan lindung jauh lebih tinggi dibandingkan dengan wilayah hutan yang dikelola masyarakat lokal. “Hasil penelitian kami menunjukkan bahwa memagari hutan dan menetapkannya sebagai hutan lindung, tidak selalu menjamin terpeliharanya tutupan hutan dalam jangka waktu lama, jika dibandingkan dengan wilayah hutan yang dikelola masyarakat lokal. Bahkan pada kenyataannya, hutan lindung lebih banyak kehilangan pohon,” katanya.

Riyong Kim Bakkegaard, a leader of researchers in the Amazon in association with CIFOR global REDD research initiative comments on pledge system under REDD+ in order to protect the rainforest. “The idea behind payments for environmental services is to provide an incentive to people. But the problem that we can see is that sometimes it is not big enough to become an effective incentive,” Bakkegaard said.

CIFOR was part of team in Central America that finds that the temperature is rising and forests are taking longer to grow, while farther south, the Amazon rainforests have yet to feel the effects of global warming.