The Possibility of A/R CDM as the Adaptation Measure : Case Study in Fiji and Kenya

Abstract

The Afforestation and Reforestation project activity under the Clean Development Mechanism (A/R CDM) is one of the policies set under the Kyoto Protocol. A/R CDM is to remove greenhouse gases by the afforestation or reforestation project in developing countries. There are restrictions and barriers to promote A/R CDM under the present rules because of complex rules, low profitability, and low priority for many countries. On the other side, A/R CDM has the specific advantages. One of these is the potential as adaptation and the object of this paper is to disclose this possibility of A/R CDM. This paper focused on 2 A/R CDM projects as case studies, in Fiji (to plant mangrove trees) and in Kenya (to plant indigenous fruit trees IFTs). Adaptation is to take social, economic and ecological adjustments to decrease the damage of climate change, and had been drawn attention especially among developing countries which were vulnerable to bad effects of climate change. The results of field surveys showed that both forestation projects have functions not only as mitigation but also as adaptation as follows; 1) In the mangrove planting in Fiji, local people understood the function of biodiversity conservation as conservation for marine species and the function of bank protection as a breakwater against high waves. 2) The IFT planting in Kenya has some functions to keep and conserve biodiversity in the local ecosystem threatened by loggings and to work as the role of food security. The adaptation measure has regionality (as adaptation measure and policy should be implemented according to site specific circumstances and characteristics for its best effects) and it is important point to have high adaptability to the locals as these projects. A/R CDM, with various second effects such as adaptation, can be evaluated as the cobenefits-typed climate policy. Facing the limitations of A/R CDM under present rules, it is expected to reevaluate its specific advantages for the promotion of A/R CDM from the viewpoint of equity and human security. At present, conceivable means are proposed as follows; conversion of credit prices through the introduction of a new basis of variation from the viewpoint of adaptation and project support through the Adaptation Fund. Recently, REDD (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation) in developing countries has been the focus of attention. REDD has many characteristics similar to environmental forestry, because it is a policy to prevent the deforestation and forest degradation and vegetation on site. REDD is highly expected to become a useful scheme with possibility doing a good job as the adaptation in a forest sector in the future.