Woods Hole Research Center

Forests and Climate: Securing Community Livelihoods and Protecting the Environment

The Green Belt Movement (GBM) and Woods Hole Research Center (WHRC) will host a panel to discuss the impact of climate finance projects in terms of rights and responsibilities from a grassroots perspective. The panel will explore how to ensure the right mix of incentives for household forest users to engage in forest conservation projects, utilizing participatory forest mapping and monitoring and socio economic research tools. GBM’s pilot projects and WHRC's research will provide vital insights in how future REDD+ forestry projects can be designed and implemented to reduce risk, maximize social impacts and develop the capacity needed for success.

Friday, December 2, 2011
11:30—13:00
Amanzimtoti River Room

Moderator: Ms. Francesca de Gasparis, Director of the Green Belt Movement – Europe

Ms. Constance Okollet - Representing Grassroots Women’s Perspective. Chairperson of Osukuru United Women’s Network, Uganda and founding member of Climate Wise Women As a leader in her region in Eastern Uganda Constance will share experiences about the impact of climate change on villagers lives and livelihoods

Ms. Mercy Karunditu – Senior Project Officer at the Green Belt Movement Mercy leads one of GBM’s climate finance projects, she will share the key issues faced by GBM and communities who plant trees to secure their livelihoods and to restore degraded forests.

Dr. Glenn Bush – Assistant scientist and environmental economist at the Woods Hole Research Center. Glenn will focus on the importance of social impact assessment and using the right tools with a livelihoods perspective in designing and delivering climate finance projects.

Dr. Nadine Laporte- Associate scientist at the Woods Hole Research Center. Nadine will share WHRC experiences on capacity building for REDD-relevant forest carbon mapping.

Dr. Eric Davidson - Executive Director and Senior Scientist at the Woods Hole Research Center

Dr. Karanja Njoroge - Chief Executive Officer at the Green Belt Movement

Dr. Nadine Laporte - The Role of Local Communities in Forest Monitoring for REDD+

Dr. Glenn Bush - Putting people in the REDD+ picture; Sustainability, livelihoods and local opportunity costs

WHRC Director Dr. Eric Davidson speaks at the side event.