The Programme for Forest Carbon Law and Policy
Deforestation and forest degradation is a major source of greenhouse gas emissions, creating an immediate need to address issues surrounding deforestation. Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation in Developing Countries (otherwise known as “REDD+”) has therefore emerged as an area of international climate change policy. Within the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), work continues towards the development of an international REDD+ mechanism and, in addition, numerous developing nations are currently preparing REDD+ programmes.
The implementation of REDD+ relies on investment from both the public and private sectors, however, many issues need to be investigated and resolved in order for REDD+ to be implemented effectively and equitably. The Programme for Forest Carbon Law and Policy (PFCLP) focuses specifically on key legal and political issues.
Through both the Department of Land Economy’s world-class research capabilities and collaboration with partners in government, civil society and the private sector, the new Programme for Forest Carbon Law and Policy (PFCLP) addresses knowledge gaps to assist those currently designing REDD+ regimes (at both the international and national levels) so that REDD+ programmes and projects can be designed for the benefit of all stakeholders.
Our research programme for 2012-2015
The PFCLP focuses on five main research themes:
The PFCLP focuses on five main research themes:
- The status of forest carbon ownership (distinguishing land tenure from carbon credits)
- Commercial arrangements supporting the forest carbon market
- The protection of indigenous and community rights in the forest carbon market
- Socio-political context of forest carbon ownership
- Application of new knowledge to REDD+ policy-making
Working Papers will be published here on an ongoing basis.
Who is involved in the management and work of PFCLP?
Professor Doug Crawford-Brown (djc77(at)cam.ac.uk), Director of the Cambridge Centre for Climate Change Mitigation Research (4CMR), acts as Director of this research initiative.
The PFCLP research activities are led by Dr Sophie Chapman (smc70(at)cam.ac.uk), Mellon Fellow in Environmental Markets and Associate of 4CMR.
The PFCLP’s external collaborators and advisors include leaders from the private sector, civil society and academia:
Professor Doug Crawford-Brown (djc77(at)cam.ac.uk), Director of the Cambridge Centre for Climate Change Mitigation Research (4CMR), acts as Director of this research initiative.
The PFCLP research activities are led by Dr Sophie Chapman (smc70(at)cam.ac.uk), Mellon Fellow in Environmental Markets and Associate of 4CMR.
The PFCLP’s external collaborators and advisors include leaders from the private sector, civil society and academia:
To visit the websites for these organisations, use the links below:
Centre for European Legal Studies (CELS)
Centre for International Sustainable Development Law (CISDL)
Value for Nature Consulting (jan@valuefornature.com)
Centre for International Sustainable Development Law (CISDL)
Value for Nature Consulting (jan@valuefornature.com)
REDD+ Law Project: a practical application of the PFCLP
4CMR is proud to partner with leading global law firm Baker & McKenzie in the REDD+ Law Project. The PFCLP contributes to the knowledge base for the important work of the project.
The REDD+ Law Project aims to resolve key legal issues which currently pose a barrier to the implementation of REDD+ at the national level. An applied research agenda (building on 4CMR’s Programme for Forest Carbon Law and Policy) is being used to create targeted training programmes for prospective REDD+ host nations to build capacity in their legal frameworks.
Updates of the REDD+ Law Project will be posted on this site. Watch this space!
4CMR is proud to partner with leading global law firm Baker & McKenzie in the REDD+ Law Project. The PFCLP contributes to the knowledge base for the important work of the project.
The REDD+ Law Project aims to resolve key legal issues which currently pose a barrier to the implementation of REDD+ at the national level. An applied research agenda (building on 4CMR’s Programme for Forest Carbon Law and Policy) is being used to create targeted training programmes for prospective REDD+ host nations to build capacity in their legal frameworks.
Updates of the REDD+ Law Project will be posted on this site. Watch this space!
How to get involved in the Programme for Forest Carbon Law and Policy
Please contact either Professor Doug Crawford-Brown (djc77(at)cam.ac.uk) or Dr Sophie Chapman (smc70(at)cam.ac.uk) if you would like to get involved in the Programme for Forest Carbon Law and Policy as a collaborator or sponsor.
Guidelines for contributions to the PFCLP Working Paper Series:
The PFCLP aims to generate new knowledge which can be directly applied in both a policy and transactional context.
Potential contributors to the PFCLP Working Paper Series are therefore invited to submit a proposal or abstract addressing one (or more) of the 5 research themes of the PFCLP:
1. The status of forest carbon ownership
2. Commercial arrangements supporting the forest carbon market
3. The protection of indigenous and community rights in the forest carbon market
4. Socio-political context of forest carbon ownership
5. Application of new knowledge to REDD+ policy-making
All proposals/abstracts must include:
Please contact either Professor Doug Crawford-Brown (djc77(at)cam.ac.uk) or Dr Sophie Chapman (smc70(at)cam.ac.uk) if you would like to get involved in the Programme for Forest Carbon Law and Policy as a collaborator or sponsor.
Guidelines for contributions to the PFCLP Working Paper Series:
The PFCLP aims to generate new knowledge which can be directly applied in both a policy and transactional context.
Potential contributors to the PFCLP Working Paper Series are therefore invited to submit a proposal or abstract addressing one (or more) of the 5 research themes of the PFCLP:
1. The status of forest carbon ownership
2. Commercial arrangements supporting the forest carbon market
3. The protection of indigenous and community rights in the forest carbon market
4. Socio-political context of forest carbon ownership
5. Application of new knowledge to REDD+ policy-making
All proposals/abstracts must include:
i) Outputs (what new knowledge does this paper produce?)
ii) Practical application of the outputs (how is this new knowledge relevant to REDD+ policy and/or transactions?)
iii) Description of the methodology used to generate the outputs, including citations of key texts and data collection methods (how was this new knowledge created?)
iv) Which research theme(s) of the PFCLP the paper relates to (how does this new knowledge contribute to the work of the PFCLP?)
v) A short biography of all authors (please note that writers at all stages of their careers and from all backgrounds are welcome to submit material to the PFCLP).
Please limit your proposal/abstract to 2 x A4 pages and email it to Dr Sophie Chapman at smc70(at)cam.ac.uk.
