Tenure and Global Climate Change (TGCC) Quarterly Report, July – September 2017

The aim of the task order is to identify and test models that strengthen resource governance and property rights as they relate to programming that reduces deforestation and forest degradation and increases the resiliency of vulnerable populations. The impacts of social and environmental change and society's responses are significantly affecting resource tenure governance, the rights of communities and people, and their livelihoods. In turn, resource tenure and property rights issues may strengthen or undermine successful implementation of initiatives to respond and adapt to global climate change. Interventions that strengthen resource tenure and property rights governance can help reduce vulnerability and increase resilience. They also promote resource-use practices that achieve mitigation, and development objectives. The task order consists of four tasks and contains a grants under contract mechanism to support these task areas. These tasks aim to: 1. Pilot tenure interventions that strengthen land rights as an enabling condition for the promotion and adoption of sustainable land use practices, particularly agroforestry, through work in the Chipata and Petauke Districts of Zambia's Eastern Province. The work has also evolved to support policy engagement and research around customary land administration in Zambia. 2. Clarify the legal and regulatory rights to benefits derived from environmental services under REDD+ and other Payment for Environmental Services incentives through resource tenure and REDD+ assessments, as well as targeted legal assistance to the development of a national land use policy and associated laws in Burma. This work has evolved to consider tenure conditions associated with the sustainable management of mangrove systems and their environmental services. 3. Undertake research on tenure, property rights, and climate change mitigation and adaptation, initially focused on the following two questions: a. How does the devolution of ownership and governance of forests improve forest condition and help communities benefit from programs aimed at reducing deforestation? b. How does devolution of marine resource tenure rights contribute to meeting biodiversity conservation, sustainable fisheries management, and coastal adaptation objectives? This work has evolved to consider the tenure dimensions around reducing deforestation in commodity supply chains associated with the Tropical Forest Alliance (TFA) 2020 initiative, with field activities in Paraguay and Ghana. 4. Strengthen women's property rights under REDD+ through support to customary land mapping and planning pilot processes. The work has evolved based on financial support from USAID/Burma and now focuses on the piloting of recognition of community rights over land and resources in diverse agricultural/forest landscapes in Burma, while maintaining attention to the recognition of women's property rights. Further piloting is being carried out related to coastal zone planning and mangrove management. The project has made significant progress in the quarter, with notable achievements in Zambia, Burma, and globally. In Zambia, the project has supported the development of a national land use policy and associated laws, and has undertaken research on tenure, property rights, and climate change mitigation and adaptation. In Burma, the project has clarified the legal and regulatory rights to benefits derived from environmental services under REDD+ and other Payment for Environmental Services incentives, and has strengthened women's property rights under REDD+. Globally, the project has undertaken research on the tenure dimensions around reducing deforestation in commodity supply chains associated with the Tropical Forest Alliance (TFA) 2020 initiative. The project has also made significant progress in building partnerships and engaging with stakeholders, including government agencies, civil society organizations, and local communities. The project has also developed a range of tools and resources to support the implementation of tenure and property rights interventions, including a tenure assessment framework and a set of guidelines for customary land mapping and planning. Overall, the project has made significant progress in the quarter, and is well-positioned to achieve its objectives and make a meaningful contribution to the reduction of deforestation and forest degradation, and the increase of the resiliency of vulnerable populations.