Rainforest Conservation Concessions
Protecting Biodiversity and Providing Income to Developing Countries
Sep 12, 2008
Starting in Guyana in 2002, conservation organizations have leased rainforest lands around the world that would have ended up as logging concessions. By leasing to conservation organizations, at the same price as would have been realized from the timber industry, the rainforests are protected and the concessions can continue long term as the resource is not depleted.
The idea has caught hold with private industry as well as part of their carbon offset obligations. Most recently the president of Guyana has proposed putting most of his country’s rainforest under international supervision in exchange for financial support, including debt relief. This type of international cooperation in protecting the world’s rainforests and balancing the differing needs of the countries of the world offers another way of reducing the impact of climate change.
The Advantages of a Rainforest Conservation Concession
While it might seem that creating a park or wildlife reserve would be the best answer, there are problems with their creation. In many areas indigenous peoples live within the rainforest and excluding them completely by turning the area into a tourist destination gives much of the benefit to the people of developed nations who visit. Inclusion of managed use of the rainforest in the conservation concession contract enables local people to gain as well.
An important advantage is the speed with which a conservation concession can be negotiated. Unlike the protracted process of converting a rainforest area into a reserve or national park, governments are used to the timber concession contract process which takes a couple of months as opposed to years.
If, after the process is complete, parts of the rainforest are felt to be suitable for conversion into parks or reserves, the conservation concession protects the land while steps are taken to create and develop the park or reserve.
Other land in the area may continue as conservation concession land where some use of the resource is allowed but in a controlled manner which maintains the health of that rainforest. Funds from the concession can be used to improve the lives of the people of the area.
Biodiversity is also protected by the concessions, while allowing for some research into the wildlife and beneficial plants of the area.
Problems with Rainforest Conservation Concessions
While the process of creating a conservation concession can be quicker than creating a reserve, the concession lease must be set up in such a way that local people realize benefits. Ineffective management and leadership can have a negative effect on a conservation concession. Government support via regulations and genuine collaboration between local officials and national government in the process are necessary if the conservation concession is to be successful.
The outside agency providing the funding, whether it is an international conservation organization or private company, must also work cooperatively with the government and local people to ensure that their goals are met. Ensuring that illegal logging or other activities do not take place within the rainforest concession areas requires diligent enforcement and lack of corruption within the management group.
Where The Rainforest Concessions May Help
Rainforest conservation concessions are in place, or in negotiation, in Central and South America (Guyana, Guatemala, Peru, Brazil and Bolivia), Africa (Madagascar, Cameroon and Sierra Leone), Southeast Asia (Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei and Thailand) and Mexico.
While rainforest conservation concessions are only one of many options needed if rampant deforestation is to be curbed, it shows promise in the battle to reduce greenhouse gases and protect biodiversity.
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