Misunderstandings and scepticism around schemes that pay countries to protect their forests are rife. Ther are also fears that without proper policing the scheme will be a magnet for organised crime and corruption.Over the next decade developing countries could collect $35 billion every year to reduce deforestation. Indonesia received US$30 million from Norway, the first slice of a Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation-type deal (REDD+) worth $100 million. And Guyana is in line for the same amount soon.Halting deforestation,Wholesale NBA Jerseys, which contributes almost 20 per cent of the world’s annual carbon dioxide emissions, would be a boon for the fight against climate change. But poorly executed, REDD+ and similar deals could lead to corruption, exploitation of indigenous people and no overall emissions reduction. ( (?Only the general principle has been agreed internationally, but at the last count there were 144 REDD+ type initiatives being pursued by a variety of organisations. Despite difficulties of sourcing money,Cheap Jerseys Free Shipping, wording contracts, setting baselines and identifying beneficiaries, and whether the world is ready or not, REDD+ is happening.One of those countries where it is happening is Guyana, where President Bharrat Jagdeo, who earlier this year was given the UN’s Champion of the Earth award, says, “Climate change is good business for us. It is probably the best thing that could have happened to forested countries.”Guyana and Norway signed a Memorandum of Understanding last November, in which Guyana could receive US$250 million for conserving its forest; but there is continuous wrangling although Norway’s millions have not yet arrived.Meanwhile, miners vociferously complain about being forced out of business by accompanying stricter regulations. Longer term,wholesale nfl jerseys, protecting forests could bring economic benefits but short term there are sacrifices for developing countries.Dane Gobin, chief executive of Iwokrama – a forest reserve in Guyana – sums up the matter: “We have a resource we would like to get money for. Either you pay us for biodiversity services or we will sell the forest to Malaysian logging companies.”Corruption fearsPaying developing countries to protect forests sounds like a win-win situation but it is risky. Shyam Nokta,Cheap Jerseys Wholesale, head of the Guyana’s office of climate change,Cheap NFL Jerseys Stitched, said: “We need assurance that finance will be predictable, secure over time and that it will be new. Developed countries need assurances of openness, transparency and that the money will be used in development.”Under REDD+, billions of dollars will flow into some of the most corrupt countries in the world. Forest campaigner for Global Witness, Mattia Fosci, said: “Every organised criminal and corrupt official worth his salt will be planning how to take a slice; that is why good governance of REDD revenues is essential.”In Papua New Guinea, the director of the Office of Climate Change, Theo Yasause, was investigated over illegal carbon credits, although cleared of corruption. Some of these ‘credits’ were given to Nupan Trading run by Kirk Roberts. So-called ‘carbon cowboy’ Roberts is being investigated for allegedly misleading villagers over carbon-trading schemes.Corruption is not the only risk, Fosci added: “The real danger is that REDD revenues are captured by the elites, the forest-dependent people remain just as disenfranchised as they are now under logging regimes.”However, REDD+ could be an opportunity for indigenous people to benefit financially and otherwise from their role as stewards of the forest. Ecuador’s UN deal to prevent oil exploitation in Yasuni National Park was heralded as a victory for the local forest people.But under REDD+, communities without formal land rights miss out. Guyana is using some money for titling Amerindian lands, but it is debatable whether the country can enforce titles effectively. At one point the Mines Commission, which investigates miners’ violations of the Amerindian Act, had a 19,000-case backlog.Reaping REDD+ benefits depends on indigenous people fully participating in the process. In Papua New Guinea there were serious misunderstandings, with people believing they needed to bottle the carbon dioxide before they could sell it – or worse – burn the forest and bag the carbon to get rich from ‘sky money’.In Ecuador a consortium of indigenous people rejected REDD+ saying it removes their control of resources.Forests and climate campaigner for FERN, Kate Dooley said: ‘The increase in market value of large, remote tracts of forest is already leading to “the last great lan