School of Earth and Environment

Sustainability Research (SRI) PhD Projects

Characterising sustainable pro-poor PES mechanisms - lessons for REDD and REDD+ implementation in Tanzania

Supervisors: Dr Rob Marchant (Environment Department, University of York), Dr Susannah Salluand David Raffaelli (Environment Department, University of York)

Project overview

Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) mechanisms translate external and non-market values of ecosystems into financial incentives for local ecosystem service providers. Low income countries are particularly attracted to PES as it provides a new potential funding stream from higher income countries. This is particularly the case for the Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation mechanism (REDD). REDD and the recently developed REDD-plus (REDD+) provide incentives to reduce the emissions of greenhouse gases from deforestation and forest degradation, and, in the case of REDD+, the enhancement and sustainable management of forest carbon stocks. Whilst REDD and REDD+ are primarily carbon sequestration strategies, there is huge potential to harness co-benefits, including biodiversity conservation and poverty alleviation, if the forests are managed sustainably.

Aside from carbon sequestration, forests provide extensive ecosystem service benefits such as watershed protection and nutrient cycling, as well as fuel, food, water, shelter and medicines. Forest resources directly support the survival and livelihoods of millions of people while also indirectly contributing to agricultural services and food supply. Much current debate therefore focuses on the potential impacts of PES mechanisms on those dependent on forests for their livelihoods. In particular, understanding is lacking regarding the forest management and governance structures of initiatives like REDD+ which intend to facilitate sustainable and equitable (and/or pro-poor distribution of benefits).

Tanzania is a REDD pilot country with heavy community dependence on the natural forest resource base for livelihood sustenance and economic development, a powerful conservation lobby, and one of the most advanced community forestry jurisdictions in Africa. The country has recently compiled its Draft National REDD+ Strategy which expresses its vision for “the benefits, goods and services to be equitably shared by all stakeholders for adaptation, mitigation and adoption of a low carbon development pathway”. The Draft Strategy recognises that for this to be possible, changes and reforms in forestry management and governance systems are required. Research is nevertheless required to support the development of pro-poor models that consider whether and how multiple benefits might be achieved across carbon and livelihood dimensions. 

Objectives

The aim of this project is to characterise broader sustainable pro-poor PES initiatives with a view to informing the development of appropriate forestry management and governance structures for the sustainable and equitable distribution of benefits from REDD and REDD+ initiatives at the local level in Tanzania.

The project will address the following objectives:

  1. Systematically review and analyse the characteristics of pro-poor PES schemes at global, regional, national and local levels.
  2. Investigate the livelihood and carbon sequestration benefits and flows within ongoing PES schemes in Tanzania.
  3. Undertake a policy analysis integrating the findings of objectives 1) and 2) to identify key gaps and lessons from PES schemes that have not been included in Tanzania’s draft REDD+ strategy.
  4. Investigate the implications of 1), 2) and 3) for the design of REDD+ activities in Tanzania.

Methods to be used include: literature review and interviews with PES project representatives (objective 1); livelihood and carbon surveys in selected sites in Tanzania (objective 2); policy and discourse analysis (objective 3); focus groups with government officials, NGOs, private-sector partners, and local community representatives in Tanzania (objective 4).

Resource and facilities available

The successful student will be provided with a desk and computer in the York Environment Building and will part of a vibrant wider research group within the Environment Department.  Two phases of work in Tanzania are envisaged. The first when policy document collation and empirical field data collection will take place (4 months). The second when follow-up focus groups and/or interviews with stakeholders will be conducted (1 month). In-country field collaboration will be developed with partners at WWF-Tanzania and Sokoine University of Agriculture. Ongoing carbon mapping project work led by York will provide carbon sequestration data to this project and important supervisory collaborations with the University of Dar es Salaam, Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism and the Tanzania Forest Conservation Group. This project aligns neatly with the work of four PhD students at Leeds and York.

The student will be encouraged to participate in other related activities at both universities including seminars, reading groups and workshops (e.g. Stockholm Environment Institute, Sustainability Research Institute and Centre for Climate Change Economics and Policy). PhD Associate status will be provided to the ESRC Centre for Climate Change Economics and Policy.

Nature of Award & Person Specification

As a +3 award applicants must be able to start study on October 2011 and have completed an ESRC-recognised Master’s Degree or appropriate research training programme.

UK students will be eligible for a full award and other European Union applicants will be eligible for an award paying academic fees only, except in cases where residency in the UK has been established for more than 3 years prior to the start of the programme of study.

Application Procedure:

Formal applications should be made online. For more information on the application procedure follow instructions at http://www.york.ac.uk/graduatestudy/applying/. Applications should be submitted online by March 31st, 2011. Please include with your application: (i) a full CV and (ii) a brief covering letter specifically explaining why you are interested in the project. Shortlisted candidates will be invited for interviews scheduled for April 21st 2011.

For more information on the project, please contact Dr Rob Marchant (robert.marchant(at)york.ac.uk), or any of the supervisors involved in the project.

For further information on the application process, contact:
The Graduate Schools Office, University of York, Heslington, York YO10 5DD, UK
Tel: +44 (1904) 432142
Fax: +44 (1904) 434039
E-mail: onlinegraduate@york.ac.uk (general online application enquiries)