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Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation in Cameroon -- Assessing costs and benefits

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  • Bellassen, Valentin
  • Gitz, Vincent

Abstract

A new momentum is underway to account for emissions from "avoided deforestation and degradation" at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). This paper assesses the feasibility of one of the Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation (REDD) mechanisms currently discussed, namely that of "Compensated Reduction", in the case of Cameroon. Here we assess the differential revenues that a farmer could get from 1Â ha of land out of two alternative land-uses: shifting cultivation, the traditional land-use pattern in southern Cameroon, or carbon credits as compensation for the conservation of primary forest. It is found that a break-even price of $2.85/t of carbon dioxide equivalent would level shifting cultivation with "Compensated Reduction". This result suggests that at current carbon prices, and independently form variations in the discount rate, it could already be more profitable to preserve the primary forest rather than to log it in order to grow crops.

Suggested Citation

  • Bellassen, Valentin & Gitz, Vincent, 2008. "Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation in Cameroon -- Assessing costs and benefits," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 68(1-2), pages 336-344, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecolec:v:68:y:2008:i:1-2:p:336-344
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Vincent Gitz & Philippe Ciais, 2004. "Future expansion of agriculture and pasture acts toamplify atmospheric CO2 levels in response to fossilfuel and land-use change emissions," Post-Print halshs-00009828, HAL.
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    3. Tschakert, Petra, 2004. "The costs of soil carbon sequestration: an economic analysis for small-scale farming systems in Senegal," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 81(3), pages 227-253, September.
    4. Kenneth M. Chomitz & Franck Lecocq, 2004. "Temporary sequestration credits: an instrument for carbon bears," Climate Policy, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 4(1), pages 65-74, March.
    5. Sankhayan, Prem L. & Hofstad, Ole, 2001. "A village-level economic model of land clearing, grazing, and wood harvesting for sub-Saharan Africa: with a case study in southern Senegal," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 38(3), pages 423-440, September.
    6. van Soest, D.P., 1998. "Tropical Deforestation : An Economic Perspective," Other publications TiSEM 726d991c-92e0-413e-a0a5-e, Tilburg University, School of Economics and Management.
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