The implementation of REDD+ in Africa: The case of REDD+ conflict management

It has been eighteen years since the Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation (REDD+) program was first introduced by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) as a mechanism to fight against global warming and climate change. During this time, many REDD+ projects have emerged in forest-rich countries throughout the developing world, many in Africa. Equally, a large amount of literature has examined how REDD+ projects are managed in Africa and the challenges they present. Specifically, there is a growing body of scientific literature on conflicts linked to the REDD+ framework in Africa, albeit fragmented. This incomplete information base hinders the development of a comprehensive research agenda on REDD+ conflict management in Africa and dampens efforts towards the design of adaptive REDD+ policies that address actual and potential conflicts for African nations. This paper contributes to bridging this knowledge gap by systematically reviewing REDD+ conflict-related issues in Africa using the automated content analysis (ACA) tool, Leximancer (edition 5.0), and employing the resource conflict, collective action, and social-ecological resilience (RCCASER) framework for categorization to improve the current body of knowledge on REDD+ conflict management in Africa. Our findings suggest that REDD+ conflicts in Africa manifest around issues related to forest access, land tenure, community participation, benefit sharing, and structural adjustment. To enhance the smooth implementation of projects that ensure win–win outcomes for all stakeholders while ensuring that REDD+ objectives are met, future research should consider field research on the REDD+ conflict-related themes identified in this study.