Introduction

Deforestation and forest degradation contributes significantly to global greenhouse emissions. Thus, there is a pressing need to understand, measure and mitigate forest-based activities that can drive climate change. Measurement, reporting and verification (MRV) of reductions in emissions are important elements of understanding the extent of such emissions. Yet, implementing a nation-wide MRV system is not without challenges. Indonesia, with its incredible diversity in both forest ecosystems and cultures, is a good example of this.

A participative approach to MRV (PMRV) aims to integrate local people and contexts into the process. It can be both cost-efficient and socially equitable, yet more needs to be understood about how to integrate such a system among a diverse range of cultures and ecosystems.

The Social team’s research centers on the question: what do we need to know for PMRV to be feasible and sustainable?

Within this research, four key questions arise:

• What conditions make it possible for local people to conduct PMRV?
• What is needed for people to be willing to participate in PMRV?
• What existing institutions can support PMRV, and how?
• What similarities and particularities among field sites are useful to consider when developing PMRV in Indonesia?

We have designed the following research methods to address these questions.