Forests Climate Change and Indigenous Knowledge. Reflecting Indigenous Ontologies in the Economics of Restoration

This chapter explores the intersection of political, economic, and cultural realities in the forest, climate change, and indigenous knowledge arena in Oceania. Drawing on our experience as practitioners in carbon financed forest conservation and economic development, the chapter sheds light on practical and enduring solutions to deforestation and forest degradation in this region. We explore what potential leverage indigenous peoples possess to increase their share of power in the context of forest conservation for a common climate action purpose. In the process, we examine how indigenous peoples can play a game-changing leadership role in teaching us all how to belong to our only home and embed this belonging into the fine print of financing agreements where power relations are sharply defined. It draws on case studies of carbon financed forest conservation projects on Māori land in Aotearoa New Zealand, and on tribal lands in Fiji, Vanuatu, and the Solomon Islands.