Reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation in developing countries (REDD+) requires harmonizing different policy sectors and interests that have impacts on forests. However, these elements have not been well-operationalized in environmental policy-making processes of most developing countries. Drawing on five cases—Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Papua New Guinea, and Vietnam, this article aims to determine whether emerging governance arrangements help REDD+ development by delivering participatory mechanisms for policy coordination. Building upon literature on environmental governance and stakeholder participation, the article examines national governance structures for REDD+ and identifies who participates where, and what decision-making powers they have. Despite structural differences between the countries, our analysis illustrates that REDD+ potentially encourages a new form of environmental governance promoting a cross-sectoral approach and stakeholder participation. Cohesiveness of the structures within a broader governance system is key to defining the capacity of REDD+ governance. The result also poses a question as to the inclusiveness of the state actors involved in order to tackle the different pressure on forests. Considering structural inequalities, the analysis further suggests a need of policy support for those who are affected by REDD+ to ensure that their voices could be heard in decision-making processes.

Forestland concession has been the dominant governance tool for the acquisition of natural state-owned forest resources in many tropical countries, including Bangladesh. Moreover, the forestland concession process confers the holder a bundle of rights. The Sal forests of Bangladesh are treated as some of the greatest concession forests, as a number of ethnic minorities use these forests for their daily living. Therefore, the objectives of the study were to assess the impacts of Sal forestland concession and land rights on the livelihood development of the ethnic minorities living in the Madhupur Sal Forest (MSF) area of Bangladesh. Using both qualitative and quantitative data collection techniques, the study found out that about two thirds of the original Sal forestland was grabbed by the state and non-state actors. As a result, the ethnic minority inhabitants have lost their traditional land and free access rights to the Sal forests. The process of losing ethnic minorities’ land and forest access rights has been enhanced by the institutional arrangements of the state, which had also created severe conflicts between the Forest Department and the ethnic communities. The study also revealed that the forestland concession has negatively affected the five livelihood capitals development of the ethnic minorities, consequently, their forest-based livelihood has shifted to non-securing jobs or poor income sources, like daily wage labor and subsistence agriculture. Despite this, the development drivers have emphasized the Sal forests and biodiversity conservation, while the livelihood development of the ethnic minorities has been ignored from every level. Therefore, this study would recommend establishing a legitimate process in order to settle the issue of traditional land and the forest rights of ethnic minorities, which could also attain the conservation and development goals of the Sal forests.

Agroforestry has long been considered one of the most important land-use practices for conserving species while also meeting the fundamental requirements of millions of poor people in developing countries. Thus, the objective of the study was to determine the impacts of agroforestry practices on the livelihood development of rural farmers and biodiversity conservation potency in the Madhupur tract, Bangladesh. The study was conducted in the Madhupur tract, a famous agroforestry region in Bangladesh, using a mix-method approach to data collection, such as face-to-face interviews of 100 agroforestry farmers for livelihood analysis and using sampling techniques across 50 quadrats (20 m × 20 m) for measuring biodiversity. The results showed that the agroforestry practices significantly increased farm income and provided more benefits to rural farmers. Agroforestry farmers were able to build a social platform while simultaneously increasing their capability through training programs. As a result, the development of agroforestry farmers’ livelihood capital was significant. At the same time, the agroforestry practices introduced 34 plant species into the bare forestland and, therefore, provided higher-quality habitats for biodiversity conservation. The fast-growing tree species, mainly Acacia (diversity index of 0.366), in association with partial shade-loving crops such as pineapple, turmeric, and ginger, were the most dominant species in the agroforestry practices of the Madhupur tract. The study also revealed that agroforestry serves as a wildlife corridor and attracts birds for feeding and breeding. Finally, the agroforestry of the Madhupur tract is a viable land-use practice for biodiversity conservation and livelihood development of rural farmers in Bangladesh, and it is highly suggested that it be strengthened and disseminated.