Thursday” August 21:

John Vidal of The Guardian looks at the discussion of how tropical forests should be integrated into post-Kyoto carbon markets.

“Diplomats from more than 100 countries are meeting in Accra” Ghana” to open negotiations on whether tropical forests should join the emerging global carbon market… The move” backed strongly by many developing countries and the G8″ is expected to greatly increase the financial value of forests. It would encourage governments and corporations to protect them and would potentially transfer hundreds of millions of pounds a year to some of the poorest countries in the world. But human rights and environment groups from three continents are warning that the over-hasty inclusion of forests in the post-Kyoto carbon market could trigger a “land grab” leaving tens of millions of people worse off.”

…

Without clear guidelines on land ownership and the involvement of local people” the groups say” the money poured into preserving forests could also fuel violent conflict. “Sixty million indigenous peoples are dependent on forests for their livelihoods” food and medicines”” said Belmond Tchoumba” Friends of the Earth international coordinator of the forest and biodiversity programme. “These people have already been severely impacted by deforestation. If the value of their forests increases” governments and corporations may be willing to go to extreme lengths to wrest forests away from indigenous peoples and others.”

…

“Without quick and robust investment in securing forest-community rights” these carbon markets will further marginalise the poorest of the poor”” said Kyeretwie Opoku of Civic Response” a Ghanaian justice group. “Even the World Bank is saying that this is the social justice issue of our generation.”

Read the full article on The Guardian website.