L15 - REDD

Question 1

What are ecosystem services?

Answer 1

The provision of natural resources or process valued by humans

Question 2

What are the four main types of ecosystem services?

Answer 2

Supporting, Provisioning, Regulating, and Cultural services

Question 3

Give examples of Supporting Services

Answer 3

Soil formation, photosynthesis, nutrient recycling, seed dispersal, and pollination

Question 4

Give examples of Provisioning Services

Answer 4

Food, water, timber, and fibre

Question 5

Give examples of Regulating Services

Answer 5

Climate regulation, flood control, disease regulation, and water purification

Question 6

Give examples of Cultural Services

Answer 6

Aesthetic, recreational (eg. ecotourism, angling), and mental well-being

Question 7

What is the purpose of Payments for Ecosystem Services (PES)?

Answer 7

To fund protection of tropical forests and biodiversity through monetary incentives

Question 8

What is the mean value of tropical forest services?

Answer 8

Approximately $1,312 per hectare per year

Question 9

What does REDD+ stand for?

Answer 9

Reducing Emission from Deforestation and Degradation “plus” conservation, sustainable forestry, and enhancement of forest carbon stocks

Question 10

How much does the UNFCCC predict REDD+ payments could reach annually?

Answer 10

Up to $30 billion per year

Question 11

When is REDD+ a win-win for carbon and biodiversity?

Answer 11

When high carbon stores correlates with high biodiversity

Question 12

Why might carbon and biodiversity not always align?

Answer 12

Some areas have high carbon but low biodiversity, or vice versa

Question 13

What is the opportunity cost in REDD+?

Answer 13

The lost revenue from potential logging or farming

Question 14

What are the main threats to Borneo’s forests?

Answer 14

Intensive logging and conversion to plantations (eg. oil palm)

Question 15

Why is REDD+ expensive in Borneo?

Answer 15

High opportunity costs due to lucrative timber and plantation industries

Question 16

What is the REDD+ breakeven carbon price in the Amazon?

Answer 16

$7.9-10.54 per tonn CO2

Question 17

Why is REDD+ more cost-effective in the Amazon than in Borneo?

Answer 17

Lower opportunity costs and comparable to voluntary carbon market prices

Question 18

What land use dominates the Tropical Andes?

Answer 18

Low-intensity cattle farming on marginal pasture?

Question 19

What are the co-benefits of regrowth in the Tropical Andes?

Answer 19

Carbon recovery and biodiversity restoration, including IUCN Red-listed species

Question 20

How much carbon stock can recover in 30 years in the Andes?

Answer 20

About 50% of original carbon stock

Question 21

What are the typical voluntary carbon market prices?

Answer 21

Around $7.8 per tonne CO2

Question 22

Where can REDD+ protect biodiversity cheaply?

Answer 22

Andes ($2/tCO2), NE India (<$1.5/tCO2), East Africa ($6.5/tCO2)

Question 23

Where is REDD+ less feasibly economically?

Answer 23

SE Asia ($47/tCO2) due to high costs

Question 24

Where is REDD+ less feasible economically?

Answer 24

SE Asia ($47/tCO2) due to high costs

Question 25

What are the four major challenges for REDD+?

Answer 25

(1) Equity (neo-colonialist or pro-poor) (2) Leakage (3) Agricultural intensification (4) Protection of natural habitats

Question 26

What is "leakage" in REDD+?

Answer 26

When protecting one area shifts deforestation to another area

Question 27

How can agricultural intensification affect REDD+?

Answer 27

It can either spare land for nature or increase profits, raising opportunity costs

Question 28

Why are safeguards needed in REDD+?

Answer 28

To prevent replacing natural ecosystems with plantations and to ensure local community participation