TY - JOUR

T1 - Beyond carbon, more than forest? REDD plus governmentality in Indonesia

AU - McGregor, Andrew

AU - Challies, Edward

AU - Howson, Peter

AU - Astuti, Rini

AU - Dixon, Rowan

AU - Haalboom, Bethany

AU - Gavin, Michael

AU - Tacconi, Luca

AU - Afiff, Suraya

PY - 2015

Y1 - 2015

N2 - Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation (REDD+) is an expanding global initiative oriented at slowing or reversing carbon emissions from forests in the Global South. The programme is based on the principle of payment for environmental services, where the carbon sequestration services of forests are seen to have a financial value which can be paid for through grant and market mechanisms. In this paper we explore how REDD+ is implemented, drawing upon the concept of governmentality. We focus on REDD+ practices in Indonesia, concluding with a case study focused on the Sungai Lamandau REDD+ project in Central Kalimantan. A cross-scalar approach is adopted that explores the different but overlapping strategies of actors congregating at international, national, and local scales. We detail the neoliberal strategies employed by international actors; the more disciplinary approaches evident within national planning processes; and local forms of engagement being practised by a forest community. Our findings reveal REDD+ to be comprised of a heterogeneous regime of disjointed practices that reflect the existing political ecologies and interests of differently located actors. Rather than consolidate these approaches we argue that the strength of the programme lies in its fluidity, which is creating new cross-scalar opportunities, and risks, for those pursuing forms of social and environmental justice.

AB - Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation (REDD+) is an expanding global initiative oriented at slowing or reversing carbon emissions from forests in the Global South. The programme is based on the principle of payment for environmental services, where the carbon sequestration services of forests are seen to have a financial value which can be paid for through grant and market mechanisms. In this paper we explore how REDD+ is implemented, drawing upon the concept of governmentality. We focus on REDD+ practices in Indonesia, concluding with a case study focused on the Sungai Lamandau REDD+ project in Central Kalimantan. A cross-scalar approach is adopted that explores the different but overlapping strategies of actors congregating at international, national, and local scales. We detail the neoliberal strategies employed by international actors; the more disciplinary approaches evident within national planning processes; and local forms of engagement being practised by a forest community. Our findings reveal REDD+ to be comprised of a heterogeneous regime of disjointed practices that reflect the existing political ecologies and interests of differently located actors. Rather than consolidate these approaches we argue that the strength of the programme lies in its fluidity, which is creating new cross-scalar opportunities, and risks, for those pursuing forms of social and environmental justice.

KW - Geography

KW - Environmental justice

KW - Environmentality

KW - Forest governance

KW - Governmentality

KW - Indonesia

KW - REDD+

KW - govermentality

KW - environmentality

KW - REDD+

KW - forest governance

KW - environmental justice

KW - Indonesia

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84921755964&partnerID=8YFLogxK

UR - https://www.mendeley.com/catalogue/72c0680a-5bb7-373e-a626-2942932c5f30/

U2 - 10.1068/a140054p

DO - 10.1068/a140054p

M3 - Journal articles

AN - SCOPUS:84921755964

VL - 47

SP - 138

EP - 155

JO - Environment and Planning A

JF - Environment and Planning A

SN - 0308-518X

IS - 1

ER -