A Darker Shade of Green: REDD Alert and the Future of Forests (GJEP)

Global Justice Ecology Project / January 2012

This video includes interviews with indigenous and local communities who are critical of the scheme known as REDD+ (Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation) that proposes to pay developing countries to keep their forests standing.

They argue REDD is not the correct solution to combat the climate crisis because instead of focusing on reducing emissions from burning fossil fuels (around 80%) the UN and other global agencies are promoting REDD to deal with deforestation (around 20%).

“But REDD appears to be more about making money than protecting forests or saving the climate”.

REDD shifts the responsibility for reducing emissions of carbon dioxide from polluting industries to those countries with forests that act as ‘carbon sinks’.

There are interviews with communities in Chiapas (Mexico), Acre (Brazil) and California on what REDD agreements between the three governors of these states mean for them.

Those interviewed say REDD does not respect the rights of indigenous peoples and will force them from their territories. They point out that the reason forests are still standing in areas where indigenous peoples live is because they have conserved them. They conclude REDD does not benefit indigenous peoples.

————————————

This summary was prepared by Why Green Economy?. The views expressed have been paraphrased. See the original source for more information.