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Institutional Choice and Substantive Representation of Local People in Carbon Forestry in Uganda

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Global Forest Governance and Climate Change

Part of the book series: Palgrave Studies in Natural Resource Management ((PSNRM))

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Abstract

Mbeche assesses the rhetoric of representation by focusing on carbon forestry rhetoric versus practice in Uganda. He examines the choice of local institutions selected by carbon forestry projects and programmes for local partnership and the effects of these institutional choices on local representation. In addition to assessing the extent to which the rhetoric of representation is reflected in the design and implementation of carbon forestry programmes in Uganda, the chapter reflects on how to broaden accountability and responsiveness in carbon forestry.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    REDD+ is a market-based conservation mechanism involving the transfer of funds from developed countries to reward forest-based communities in developing countries for their conservation effort (Angelsen et al., 2009) while PES is a voluntary transaction where a buyer purchases a well-defined ecosystem service from a service provider (individuals, community groups, companies or government) on condition that the service provided can be verified (Engel, Pagiola, & Wunder, 2008). CDM works beyond forests and it allows industrialized countries with emission reduction targets to invest in projects (energy sector, waste management, transport, agriculture and forestry) in developing countries and to use the emission reductions yielded to comply with their climate protection targets (Ruta, 2015; UNFCCC, 2010).

  2. 2.

    Mandate is present when representers (representatives) act under the explicit or implicit directions from the represented (Pettit, 2010) or when they have been authorized by the represented to act on their behalf (Pitkin, 1967).

  3. 3.

    From 1962 to 1986, when Museveni’s National Resistance Movement (NRM) took over, Uganda had seven governments. However, it was Milton Obote (who served twice) and Idi Amin who served longest during this period. Other short-term presidents during this period include Lule, Binaisa, Paulo Muwanga and Tito Okello. President Museveni through his NRM has served since 1986, making him one of the longest serving heads of state in Africa. For details, see Oloka-Onyango and Barya (1997), Moncrieffe (2004) and Barkan (2011).

  4. 4.

    Uganda is subdivided into four administrative units called regions, which are further subdivided into districts—a total of 112 by 2012 (Western, 26; Northern, 30; Central, 24 and Eastern, 32).

  5. 5.

    Districts and their sub-units are local government authorities made of elected councillors.

  6. 6.

    Several traditional kingdoms were abolished during the regime of Milton Obote. For details of traditional authority systems in Uganda, see Mamdani (1996) and Moncrieffe (2004).

  7. 7.

    These include Albertine Rift Forest Carbon project in Western Uganda (KESI, 2009), Trees for Global Benefits project and EU-supported SawLog Grant Scheme (Republic of Uganda, 2011a).

  8. 8.

    Uganda is subdivided into 4 administrative units called regions, which are further subdivided into districts—a total of 112 by 2012 (Western, 26; Northern, 30; Central, 24 and Eastern, 32).

  9. 9.

    The NGOs selected included Environmental Alert, the International Union for Conservation of Nature, CARE-Uganda, Water Governance Institute, Tree Talk, ECOTRUST, NAPE, IPAC/TABORA, CODECA and ACODE. IUCN and CARE are international NGOs, while the rest are national NGOs.

  10. 10.

    Rwoho Central Reserve is one of the protected area forests managed by the National Forestry Authority. It covers an area of 9073 ha and has suffered deforestation in recent years.

  11. 11.

    Statement of declaration of low-income communities and individuals to UNFCC on 25 March 2008 by the executive director, NFA.

  12. 12.

    In addition to RECPA which was allocated 60 ha, other CBOs included (hectarage allocated in brackets) KAFODA (65.6 ha), SWAGEN (35.9 ha), KADA (22.7 ha) and BECA (22 ha). See Ruta (2015) for details.

  13. 13.

    In 2010, one woman got severely burnt in an attempt to put out a fire that started from her garden out of fear for impending repercussions in the Rwoho village.

  14. 14.

    Interviews with senior NFA official, Kampala, 2 May 2012.

  15. 15.

    A practice where young trees are tended in cultivated plots until they reach knee height.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Nairobi, Kenya

    Robert Mbeche

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  1. Robert Mbeche
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Economics and Social Sciences, University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany

    Emmanuel O. Nuesiri

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Mbeche, R. (2018). Institutional Choice and Substantive Representation of Local People in Carbon Forestry in Uganda. In: Nuesiri, E. (eds) Global Forest Governance and Climate Change. Palgrave Studies in Natural Resource Management . Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-71946-7_4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-71946-7_4

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