Thesis (MPhil (Sustainable Development and Management))--University of Stellenbosch, 2010. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT:
This thesis addresses the topic of carbon finance in the context of reforestation and
avoided deforestation. The research is based on the Nhambita Reduced Emissions
from Deforestation and Degradation (REDD) and Agro-forestry carbon offset project
in North West Mozambique. The thesis raises important questions in terms of the
relevance of carbon offset projects to human and biophysical realities in Africa. The
research was conducted through the lens of ethnographic development and explores
how carbon offset projects are received by recipient communities. What issues do
such projects attempt to address? Are the targeted issues the „real‟ issues, as they are
perceived by local populations in developing countries? Who do such projects benefit
and who do they benefit the most?
The thesis comprises two academic papers. The first paper is a synthesis article
presenting a review of key issues with regards to the roll-out of improved cooking
stoves (ICS) in the context of carbon offset projects, combined with a pre-feasibility
study on the introduction of ICS in the Nhambita village. It shows how biomass will
continue to play a dominant role in addressing Southern African energy needs and
how a large scale dissemination of ICS could play a seminal role in alleviating
pressure on threatened ecosystems. The paper, however, recognizes that ICS
programmes are not a panacea and discusses the pitfalls of paradigms underlying
stove-provision programmes to date. Based on a review of the pertinent literature and
on the field work conducted in Mozambique, conclusions are drawn that
environmental and health considerations do not constitute a sufficient „pull‟ factor
from the end user‟s perspective. It appears that best channels to engage with the
targeted users are economic and social rationales. This debate is of particular relevance to climate change policy but it also offers insights in terms of the
acceptance of such programmes by the target communities.
The second paper is related to the first in that it discusses the opportunities and
challenges associated with the developmental ambitions of carbon offset projects. By
virtue of the market systems that regulate them, such carbon offset projects imply an
innovative developmental praxis, whereby project recipients become the owners and
the sellers of a tangible good in the form of carbon credits. This innovative dimension
is, however, thwarted by the fact that such projects stir welfare expectations from
project participants. Such livelihood improvement expectations become the fertile
ground for difficulties reminiscent of the weakness of traditional aid. The intricacies
underpinning this new mechanism that combines land use changes with
environmental conservation and livelihood benefits are debated in the context of
private entrepreneurship and global markets. The analysis is anchored in a socioanthropological
interpretation of climate change science and lays the emphasis on the
risks and constraints of such projects, from the perspective of the target communities.
The paper concludes by discussing the policy implications of these findings. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING:
Hierdie tesis behandel die onderwerp van koolstoffinansies binne die konteks van
herbebossing en vermyde ontbossing. Die navorsing is gebaseer op die Nhambita
Veminderde Emissies van Ontbossing en Degradasie (REDD) en die agrobosbou
koolstofkompensasieprojek in Noord-Wes Mosambiek Die tesis opper belangrike
vrae ingevolge die relevansie van koolstofverminderingsprojekte vir die menslike en
biofisiese realiteite van Afrika. Watter kwessies probeer sulke projekte aanspreek? Is
die geteikende kwessies die „ware‟ kwessies, soos hulle gesien word deur plaaslike
bevolkings in ontwikkelende lande? Wie trek voordeel uit sulke projekte en wie trek
die meeste voordeel daaruit?
Die tesis behels twee akademiese verhandelings. Die eerste verhandeling is „n
sinteseartikel wat „n oorsig bied van sleutelkwessies ten opsigte van die uitrol van
verbeterde kookstowe (VKS) binne die konteks van koolstofverminderingsprojekte,
gekombineer met „n vooruitvoerbaarheidstudie oor die bekendstelling van VKS in die
Nhambita-dorpie. Dit dui aan hoe biomassa sal voortgaan om „n dominante rol te
vervul in die aanspreek van energiebehoeftes in Afrika en hoe die onderliggende
paradigmas van vorige stoofvoorsieningsprogramme heroorweeg moet word om tot
die debat by te dra. Hierdie benadering erken die belangrikheid van hierdie hernubare
energiebron, terwyl dit die ekologiese implikasies van die swaar steun op biomassa
besef, veral in Suider Afrika. Gebaseer op 'n oorsig van gepaste literatuur sowel as die
veldwerk gedoen in Mosambiek, word die gevolgtrekking gemaak dat omgewings- en
gesondheidsoorwegings nie genoeg stukrag verleen vanuit die eindgebruiker se
perspektief nie. Die beste kanale om by die teikengebruikers betrokke te raak, is
ekonomiese en sosiale rasionale. Hierdie debat is van besondere betekenis vir die klimaatsveranderingsbeleid maar word ook fyn bestudeer ten opsigte van die
aanvaarding van sodanige programme deur die teikengemeenskappe.
Die tweede verhandeling is verwant aan die eerste in die opsig dat dit die geleenthede
en uitdagings bespreek wat verband hou met die ontwikkelingsbehoeftes van
koolstofverminderingsprojekte. Uit hoofde van die markstelsel wat hulle reguleer,
impliseer sulke koolstofverminderingsprojekte „n innoverende ontwikkelingspraktyk,
waarvolgens projekontvangers die verkopers word van „n tasbare voordeel in die
vorm van koolstofkrediete. Hierdie innoverende dimensie word gedwarsboom deur „n
tradisionele benadering tot ontwikkeling wat ontstaan uit die welvaartverwagtings van
projekdeelnemers. Sodanige bestaansverbeteringverwagtings word die teelaarde van
probleme kenmerkend van die swakheid van tradisionele bystand. Die
ingewikkeldhede van hierdie nuwe meganisme, wat landgebruikveranderings
kombineer met omgewingsbewaring, asook die bestaansvoordele word gedebatteer
binne die konteks van privaat entrepreneurskap en wêreldmarkte. Die ontleding is
geanker in „n sosio-antropologiese interpretasie van klimaatsveranderingwetenskap en
benadruk die risiko‟s en beperkings van sulke projekte, vanuit die perspektief van die
teikengemeenskappe.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/5295 |
| Date | 12 1900 |
| Creators | Lagrange, Chantal V. M. |
| Contributors | Stamm, A., Mcdonald, I. A. W., University of Stellenbosch. Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. School of Public Leadership. |
| Publisher | Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | en_ZA |
| Detected Language | Unknown |
| Type | Thesis |
| Rights | University of Stellenbosch |
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