An Assessment of Social and Economic Indicators in Pilot REDD+ Communities of Afi/Mbe in Cross River State, Nigeria

Abstract

Poverty alleviation for forest dependent communities is one of the key objectives of Reducing Emission from Deforestation and Forest Degradation-plus (REDD+), apart from climate change mitigation and biodiversity conservation. There is need to avoid adverse social and economic consequences by adopting strong safeguard and measures if REDD+ is to have positive impacts for climate mitigation and biodiversity conservation. A Participatory Community Wellbeing Assessment (CWA) tool was used to measure some socioeconomic indicators as it relates particularly with regard to basic needs, safety needs, belonging needs, self-esteem as well as spiritual needs in eight selected communities in Afi/Mbe, one of the pilot REDD+ project sites in Cross-River State, Nigeria. The findings reveal that 62.5% of the communities sampled had much decline in their food security from pre-REDD+ period while 37.5% of the communities had slight decline on the same indicator. The trend in reduction in food security in the communities particularly with reference to pre-REDD+ era is also reflected in trends in savings. 62.5% of the communities' sampled had decline in savings indicator. This has some implication on the security need due to inability to buffer for the future. The alternative livelihood indicator showed that only 25% of communities sampled has one form of alternative livelihood or the other. The effect of REDD+ on the basic need indicator is also reflected in the inability of resident farmers to build new houses of their own. Outsiders like Civil servants now come into the communities to erect houses. This poses a serious equity issue for local residents. A set of recommendations for improving alternative livelihoods, health and education in the communities are proffered in addition to means of leveraging REDD+ to achieve sustainable development objectives in Nigeria. The study can form a basis for formulation of policies and measures with regards to REDD+ social safeguards and equity in REDD+ process in line with UN-REDD proposed social and environmental safeguards criteria.