REDD+ policy implementation and institutional interplay: Evidence from three pilot projects in Cameroon

There is evidence that institutions related to climate change and natural resource influence each other's performance, and that local settings also affect policy outcomes. We examine how policy implementation processes and institutional interactions shape the Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) programme in Cameroon. While institutional and governance features of REDD+ have been extensively studied, research on REDD+ implementation has primarily focused on resource tenure, benefit-sharing and participation. Less attention has been given to how implementation typology determines the highly influential factors for REDD+ outcomes, and how preexisting forest institutions affect REDD+. We apply a policy implementation framework and a theory for institutional interaction to examine how REDD+ implementation typologies, and interactions with forestry regulations influence the outcomes of three REDD+ pilot projects in South and West Cameroon. Drawing from four focus group discussions with project beneficiaries and thirteen interviews with local stakeholders and land-users, we find that REDD+ projects epitomise political implementation in the South and experimental implementation in the West. We also indicate how project outcomes have been affected by rules regarding community forests, reforestation and timber processing. Our findings suggest that cultural understanding and local knowledge as well policy designers' ability to satisfy community preferences is important for projects'outcomes in the South, while resource availability and social capital are pivotal in the West. Incentives to promote local timber processing, rethink and expedite the decentralisation of forest governance would improve REDD+ project implementation in Cameroon.