REDD+ Institutions: A preliminary analysis
| Autor | Maria Fernanda Gebara |
| Páginas | 163-178 |
Introduction
According to North (2000:1) “the institutional framework provides the in-
centive structure that dictates the kinds of skills and knowledge perceived to
have the maximum payo ”. Observing the di erent institutional structures
of modern market economies, authors like North (1990), Eggertsson (1990),
Furubotn and Richter (1998), and Williamson (1985, 2000) emphasize that
institutions are introduced to reduce uncertainty and economize on transaction
costs. On the other hand, the social constructive perspective on institutions
understands the world as socially constructed, where concepts are collectively
produced (Vatn, 2005). Two fundamental issues related to Reducing Emis-
sions from Deforestation and Degradation (REDD+) in developing countries
concerns to uncertainty/risks and transaction costs of projects. is analysis
argues for the need of establishing and reforming institutions for REDD+ ha-
ving a more “socially oriented” focus (Vatn, 2005) as a way of e ectively reduce
risks like: elite capture of bene ts, corruption and unfair distribution of rights
and responsibilities. e choice of a social oriented focus would also re ect
Agrawal et al. (2010) argument that “attempts to reverse deforestation on the
extensive forest frontier need macro -policy reforms but that such reforms can
be strengthened if policy makers also attend to micro -level forest governance
by creating strong local forest management institutions”. rough the lenses
of the Brazilian case this work will look for formal and informal institutions
for REDD+ with particular focus on property rights and bene t -sharing as a
way to increase e ectiveness and fairness of the mechanism. e rst part will
introduce the concept of institutions and how I will analyse them in this paper.
e second part will be dedicated to an analysis of REDD+ institutions in the
1 e author is very thankful to Arild Vatn for his fundamental comments on the text and his inspiring
arguments.
2 Author a liations: Programa de Direito e Meio Ambiente (PDMA) — Fundação Getúlio Vargas and
Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro (CPDA/UFRRJ). Contact: mfgebara@gmail.com.
REDD+ INSTITUTIONS: A PRELIMINARY ANALYSIS1
MARIA FERNANDA GEBARA2
164 A ECONOMIA VERDE NO CONTEXTO DO DESENVOLVIMENTO SUSTENTÁVEL
international level, while the third part will look for the case of Brazil. Finally,
some conclusions will be drawn to demonstrate that without careful attention
while reforming and constructing institutions, proposed REDD+ interventions
can create incentives that undermine developing countries interests and thereby
REDD+ objectives.
I. Institutions: What are they and how to analyse?
Institutions can be understood as rules with respect to a particular set of ac-
tivities (Ostrom, 1990; Furubotn and Richert, 1990 in Primmer et al. 2010).
For North (2000) “institutions are the rules of the game — both formal rules,
informal norms and their enforcement characteristics. Together they de ne the
way the game is played. Organizations are the players.” e explicitly recog-
nized formal rules include the stated rights and obligations (e.g.: legislation),
while informal rules de ne in what is considered right and appropriate, wrong
or inappropriate (North, 1990; Ostrom, 1990 in Primmer et al. 2010).
According to Vatn (2005) there are di erent perspectives of institutions.
Firstly, we have the individualist perspective seeing institutions as mere cons-
traints on individual choice — on individual utility maximization — e.g., Nor-
th (1990). Secondly, we have a more social constructivist perspective seeing
institutions to also form individuals and create di erent kinds of social spaces.
He argues that for the analysis of environmental problems a more social or coo-
peratively oriented focus should be adopted. is is because: (i) environmental
issues are basically about the common good, about how we interact in each
other’s lives; (ii) constructing institutions that emphasize a citizen’s perspec-
tive and the common responsibilities involved supports the strengthening of
trust and engagement in forming the common good that environmental policy
in the end so crucially depends upon. is paper will follow Vatn’s de nition
where institutions are not only constraints as de ned by North (1990), but also
they are what shape the individual and de ne which rationality is relevant or
appropriate in each type of choice -setting.
Institutions can be analysed in di erent ways and many times they are
di cult to de ne and describe. What is important to have in mind while analy-
sing institutions relates to behavioural assumptions on which institutions rest,
reciprocity, feasibility, compatibility, transaction costs and legitimacy. Due to
the complexity of such analysis this paper will be limited to exploring risks of
REDD+ (like elite capture of bene ts, corruption and unfair distribution of
rights and responsibilities) that can be decreased by the implementation or
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