Institutional Requirements for REDD+ in Southern Africa

An evaluation was done for the potential of introducing REDD+ in the Miombo woodlands. Three countries -- Botswana, Mozambique and Zimbabwe -- all contain the woodland and were selected for the evaluation. Lessons from the evaluation will help for scaling-up within all 11 countries covered by the biome. Findings pointed out that forest stocks were decreasing for all the countries for at least the past 10 years. Country level institutions responsible for forest conservation indicated that economic, political and social contexts of the countries largely influenced the level of institutional coherence in management of forests. The evaluation pointed out the need for enhanced equitable governance and security of property rights as prerequisite for REDD to be effective. Due to a general weakness in institutional frameworks and forestry governance and a multilayering of institutions, a clash of roles, corruption, and lack of transparency and disregard of conservation are bound to increase. Recommendations are for a development and strengthening of countries’ institutions. The strengthened and collective action of institutions can thus increase and strengthen property rights over forests.