Imperial College London
Portrait Picture

ProfessorRobertEwers

Faculty of Natural Sciences, Department of Life Sciences (Silwood Park)

Professor of Ecology
 
 
 
//

Contact

 

+44 (0)20 7594 2223r.ewers

 
 
//

Location

 

1.4Centre for Population BiologySilwood Park

//

Summary

 

Publications

Citation

BibTex format

@article{Lyons-White:2022:10.1016/j.landusepol.2021.105770,
author = {Lyons-White, J and Mikolo, Yobo C and Ewers, RM and Knight, AT},
doi = {10.1016/j.landusepol.2021.105770},
journal = {Land Use Policy},
pages = {1--12},
title = {Understanding zero deforestation and the High Carbon Stock Approach in a highly forested tropical country},
url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.landusepol.2021.105770},
volume = {112},
year = {2022}
}
Download

RIS format (EndNote, RefMan)

TY  - JOUR
AB  - “Zero deforestation” commitments are pledges by companies to avoid deforestation when producing palm oil. Zero deforestation can be implemented using the High Carbon Stock Approach (HCSA), a tool that distinguishes forests from degraded land which can be developed. In highly forested countries like Gabon, zero deforestation may conflict with national economic goals involving palm oil and other agricultural commodities. We investigated perspectives of stakeholders in Gabon about zero deforestation and the HCSA using Critical Systems Heuristics, a systems thinking methodology. In 25 interviews with government, NGOs, companies, and research institutions, and two focus groups with rural communities, we identified three contrasting perspectives on forest conservation and agro industrial development: international, national, and local. Zero deforestation represents an international perspective that marginalises issues from a national perspective. This may produce unintended consequences that undermine the legitimacy of zero deforestation, including conversion of Gabon’s savannahs and disincentives for sustainable business. From a local perspective, zero deforestation is embedded in an agro-industrial vision that may marginalise value judgments concerning forests and traditional livelihoods. Gabon’s National Land Use Plan could help reconcile the three perspectives but requires recognition by international standards. Adapting the HCSA to Gabon’s context should also be considered to promote legitimacy. Research is required to ensure proposed institutional arrangements deliver equitable multi-stakeholder participation in land-use planning. Gabon’s case shows the applicability of zero deforestation to all highly forested countries cannot be assumed. Improved international understanding of national contexts, and flexibility in applying “zero deforestation”, is important for designing effective and equitable international standard
AU  - Lyons-White,J
AU  - Mikolo,Yobo C
AU  - Ewers,RM
AU  - Knight,AT
DO  - 10.1016/j.landusepol.2021.105770
EP  - 12
PY  - 2022///
SN  - 0264-8377
SP  - 1
TI  - Understanding zero deforestation and the High Carbon Stock Approach in a highly forested tropical country
T2  - Land Use Policy
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.landusepol.2021.105770
UR  - https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0264837721004932?via%3Dihub
UR  - http://hdl.handle.net/10044/1/91793
VL  - 112
ER  -
Download