The concept of developed nations paying to protect forests in the tropics is likely to be incorporated into the global climate agreement that will replace the Kyoto Protocol.

Already, Britain and Norway have pledged £108million to preserve forests in the Congo Basin. But according to the Rights and Resources Initiative, the lack of clear guidelines on land ownership means that the money could simply go to the recipient countries’ central governments, where corrupt officials could siphon it off.

Andy White, coordinator of the initiative, suggested that the money should instead go directly to local groups – but that such a strategy would be hampered by the lack of clear land rights in many of the affected countries. ‘We have huge concerns about sending all of this money in the name of fighting climate change if the land rights for the people living there aren’t resolved,’ he said. ‘It could cause more violence, benefit only a wealthy elite and lead to even greater carbon emissions.’

September 08