Adrian Nel
I am a Geographer, originally from Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. My interest is in research and teaching about contemporary human-environment/landscape relations in Southern and Eastern Africa; inflected through the lens of political ecology – which explores the roots of social conflicts over access and use of the environment (variously construed), and competing views of our potential socio-ecological future. Most recently my work has engaged green economy interventions and valuations of nature as problematic responses to emergent climate/social-environmental crises. Here I was specifically interested in re-politicising how new transnational socio-ecological governance structures such as carbon forestry assemblages arise, the 'uneven trajectories of change' they embody, and the social and environmental costs and benefits that attend them. With regard to my politics I am interested in resisting inequalities, injustices and domination with regard to our varied habitats and ecologies, and in the role of empathy and the application of relational justice in promoting a more positive socio-ecological future. I am an outdoors enthusiast, and I am always an active, enthusiastic participant in the academic and social life of the institutions I work in.
Supervisors: Douglas Hill, Simon Springer, and Chris Rosin
Address: Room 16, 3rd Floor, Sciences Building
Main Campus
Pietermaritzbburg
Supervisors: Douglas Hill, Simon Springer, and Chris Rosin
Address: Room 16, 3rd Floor, Sciences Building
Main Campus
Pietermaritzbburg
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Keywords. Assemblage approaches, valuation, neoliberal environmentalism, forestry, REDD+, Uganda
In order to think through how market environmentalism literally 'takes place', I draw from both political economy critiques and post-structuralist perspectives in geography. I utilise the concepts of assemblage and territoriality, and apply them to a case study on neoliberal environmental governance in Uganda. I use assemblage – denoting how extended social structures are drawn together from heterogeneous elements (or actors) – to understand how forestry is controlled through an arborescent, trans-national hierarchy, which I term the Market Environmental Governance Assemblage (MEGA). I use the concept of territoriality to explore what this arrangement does to forestry territories in Uganda, where particular meanings, power relations and constructions of social space comprise what are considered as forest ‘natures’. A key argument of this thesis is that there are three movements that are crucial to understanding and evaluating carbon forestry and market environmentalism in Uganda; firstly territorialisation, which refers, simplistically, to the establishment and defence of particular territory, and subsequently reterritorialisation and deterritorialisation.
Through the concept of territorialisation I explore the emergence of what is codified and 'managed' as the ‘forest estate’ in Uganda and chart its relationship to the complex set of political and social relationships through the colonial and post-colonial State formation. This perspective brings to light a history of violence and dispossession, and shows that contemporary forestry politics are immanently connected to the broader trajectories and political economy of the Ugandan state. Through the concept of reterritorialisation I show how market environmentalism reshapes forestry governance itself. I reflect on how the establishment of carbon forestry and the neoliberalisation of the forestry sector work as lines of articulation, that rescale forestry governance and in so doing to constitute the new MEGA. These movements directly and indirectly extend the control of non-state actors, and the privatization, deregulation and commodification of areas of 'forest nature'. Finally to the extent that this happens, I argue the re-territorialisation of forestry governance accomplishes a deterritorialisation of the sovereign forest estate territory itself. Through deterritorialisation I argue we can conceptualise, spatially, how market environmentalism may be both environmentally and socially damaging in Uganda.
What this experimental approach makes visible is that setting carbon forestry as the telos, or end point of conservation, to which actors must aspire and dedicate a perpetual flurry of activity, can lead to both 'false promises', systematic violence against local communities, and a selective extension, evasion and accommodation of the complex-dynamic causes of deforestation in the country. However, the approach also shows us that that this arrangement was not inevitable and does not have to remain the case, and that there are lines of flight across the three movements that point to opportunities for alternative arrangements; as Deleuze (1991) puts it, there is no reason to fear or hope, only to look for new weapons.
Les marchés du carbone sont apparus globalement comme un élément central des stratégies basées sur le marché pour faire face à la crise climatique. Le commerce mondial du carbone repose sur le principe qu'il est possible de réduire les émissions mondiales de gaz à effet de serre et de stabiliser le climat de la terre tout en générant de nouvelles formes d'accumulation de capital. Parmi les initiatives du marché du carbone figurent les projets de réduction des émissions provenant du déboisement et de la dégradation (REDD), qui relient les paysans et les agriculteurs de subsistance du Sud aux consommateurs et aux industries du Nord. Ces projets se développent sur le continent africain, donnant lieu à des impacts sociaux, économiques et écologiques. Dans cet article, nous répertorions les résonances des mouvements sociaux sur les marchés du carbone. Grâce à une étude de certaines ONG actives dans les campagnes sur le marché du carbone en Ouganda, nous examinons leurs stratégies et leurs tactiques, et comment elles réagissent à l'expansion de l'économie du carbone. Nos résultats démontrent que les approches des ONGs se déplacent entre les programmes «de réforme» et «rebelles» ou «radicaux». Les stratégies dominantes visent à réformer les marchés du carbone et la gouvernance forestière associée. Entre-temps, un programme rebelle ou radical-y compris le rejet de la langue et de l'idéologie du commerce du carbone, ainsi que la construction de mouvements autonomes au niveau local soutenant les droits de l'homme-émergent dans les espaces restreints de la gouvernance économique verte privatisée et un État militarisé. Il existe des possibilités restreintes d'organiser des mouvements radicaux, et l'institutionnalisation fréquente et l'influence limitée des ONG. Mais la compréhension croissante de ces programmes radicaux de changement et de leurs contributions pour réinventer des modes de vie alternatifs est importante pour les chercheurs, les militants et les praticiens.
De manera global, los mercados de carbono han surgido como una característica central en las estrategias de mercado para hacer referencia a la crisis climática. El mercado global en carbono, tiene como premisa la posibilidad de reducir las emisiones globales de gas invernadero y estabilizar el clima terrestre, mientras que al mismo tiempo se generen nuevas formas de acumulación de capital. Entre las iniciativas de mercados de carbono se incluyen proyectos de Reducción de Emisiones de Deforestación y Degradación (REDD) los cuales conectan a campesinos y agricultores de subsistencia en el sur con consumidores e industrias del norte. En el continente africano, estos proyectos se están expandiendo y están provocando impactos sociales, económicos y ecológicos. En este artículo trazamos movimientos en respuesta a mercados de carbono. A través de un estudio de varias ONGs que tienen actividad en campañas relacionadas con mercados de carbono en Uganda, examinamos las estrategias y tácticas de los movimientos que surgen en respuesta a la creciente economía de carbono. Nuestros hallazgos demuestran que los acercamientos de las ONGs se mueven entre y a través de agendas de cambio radicales o de reforma y rebeldía. Las estrategias que dominan están dirigidas a la reforma de los mercados de carbono y de gobernanza forestal asociada. Mientras tanto, una agenda de cambio radical o rebelde-que incluye el rechazo al lenguaje y la ideología del comercio de carbono, a la par de construir movimientos locales autónomos basados en los derechos-surge en los constreñidos espacios de gobernanza económica verde privatizada y el estado militarizado. Dadas las constreñidas oportunidades para la organización de movimientos radicales, y la frecuente institucionalización y limitada influencia de las NGOs, el incremento en el entendimiento de estas agendas radicales de cambio y sus contribuciones para la re-imaginación de sustentabilidades alternativas, se vuelven relevantes para académicos, activistas y profesionistas por igual.
Keywords. Assemblage approaches, valuation, neoliberal environmentalism, forestry, REDD+, Uganda
In order to think through how market environmentalism literally 'takes place', I draw from both political economy critiques and post-structuralist perspectives in geography. I utilise the concepts of assemblage and territoriality, and apply them to a case study on neoliberal environmental governance in Uganda. I use assemblage – denoting how extended social structures are drawn together from heterogeneous elements (or actors) – to understand how forestry is controlled through an arborescent, trans-national hierarchy, which I term the Market Environmental Governance Assemblage (MEGA). I use the concept of territoriality to explore what this arrangement does to forestry territories in Uganda, where particular meanings, power relations and constructions of social space comprise what are considered as forest ‘natures’. A key argument of this thesis is that there are three movements that are crucial to understanding and evaluating carbon forestry and market environmentalism in Uganda; firstly territorialisation, which refers, simplistically, to the establishment and defence of particular territory, and subsequently reterritorialisation and deterritorialisation.
Through the concept of territorialisation I explore the emergence of what is codified and 'managed' as the ‘forest estate’ in Uganda and chart its relationship to the complex set of political and social relationships through the colonial and post-colonial State formation. This perspective brings to light a history of violence and dispossession, and shows that contemporary forestry politics are immanently connected to the broader trajectories and political economy of the Ugandan state. Through the concept of reterritorialisation I show how market environmentalism reshapes forestry governance itself. I reflect on how the establishment of carbon forestry and the neoliberalisation of the forestry sector work as lines of articulation, that rescale forestry governance and in so doing to constitute the new MEGA. These movements directly and indirectly extend the control of non-state actors, and the privatization, deregulation and commodification of areas of 'forest nature'. Finally to the extent that this happens, I argue the re-territorialisation of forestry governance accomplishes a deterritorialisation of the sovereign forest estate territory itself. Through deterritorialisation I argue we can conceptualise, spatially, how market environmentalism may be both environmentally and socially damaging in Uganda.
What this experimental approach makes visible is that setting carbon forestry as the telos, or end point of conservation, to which actors must aspire and dedicate a perpetual flurry of activity, can lead to both 'false promises', systematic violence against local communities, and a selective extension, evasion and accommodation of the complex-dynamic causes of deforestation in the country. However, the approach also shows us that that this arrangement was not inevitable and does not have to remain the case, and that there are lines of flight across the three movements that point to opportunities for alternative arrangements; as Deleuze (1991) puts it, there is no reason to fear or hope, only to look for new weapons.
Les marchés du carbone sont apparus globalement comme un élément central des stratégies basées sur le marché pour faire face à la crise climatique. Le commerce mondial du carbone repose sur le principe qu'il est possible de réduire les émissions mondiales de gaz à effet de serre et de stabiliser le climat de la terre tout en générant de nouvelles formes d'accumulation de capital. Parmi les initiatives du marché du carbone figurent les projets de réduction des émissions provenant du déboisement et de la dégradation (REDD), qui relient les paysans et les agriculteurs de subsistance du Sud aux consommateurs et aux industries du Nord. Ces projets se développent sur le continent africain, donnant lieu à des impacts sociaux, économiques et écologiques. Dans cet article, nous répertorions les résonances des mouvements sociaux sur les marchés du carbone. Grâce à une étude de certaines ONG actives dans les campagnes sur le marché du carbone en Ouganda, nous examinons leurs stratégies et leurs tactiques, et comment elles réagissent à l'expansion de l'économie du carbone. Nos résultats démontrent que les approches des ONGs se déplacent entre les programmes «de réforme» et «rebelles» ou «radicaux». Les stratégies dominantes visent à réformer les marchés du carbone et la gouvernance forestière associée. Entre-temps, un programme rebelle ou radical-y compris le rejet de la langue et de l'idéologie du commerce du carbone, ainsi que la construction de mouvements autonomes au niveau local soutenant les droits de l'homme-émergent dans les espaces restreints de la gouvernance économique verte privatisée et un État militarisé. Il existe des possibilités restreintes d'organiser des mouvements radicaux, et l'institutionnalisation fréquente et l'influence limitée des ONG. Mais la compréhension croissante de ces programmes radicaux de changement et de leurs contributions pour réinventer des modes de vie alternatifs est importante pour les chercheurs, les militants et les praticiens.
De manera global, los mercados de carbono han surgido como una característica central en las estrategias de mercado para hacer referencia a la crisis climática. El mercado global en carbono, tiene como premisa la posibilidad de reducir las emisiones globales de gas invernadero y estabilizar el clima terrestre, mientras que al mismo tiempo se generen nuevas formas de acumulación de capital. Entre las iniciativas de mercados de carbono se incluyen proyectos de Reducción de Emisiones de Deforestación y Degradación (REDD) los cuales conectan a campesinos y agricultores de subsistencia en el sur con consumidores e industrias del norte. En el continente africano, estos proyectos se están expandiendo y están provocando impactos sociales, económicos y ecológicos. En este artículo trazamos movimientos en respuesta a mercados de carbono. A través de un estudio de varias ONGs que tienen actividad en campañas relacionadas con mercados de carbono en Uganda, examinamos las estrategias y tácticas de los movimientos que surgen en respuesta a la creciente economía de carbono. Nuestros hallazgos demuestran que los acercamientos de las ONGs se mueven entre y a través de agendas de cambio radicales o de reforma y rebeldía. Las estrategias que dominan están dirigidas a la reforma de los mercados de carbono y de gobernanza forestal asociada. Mientras tanto, una agenda de cambio radical o rebelde-que incluye el rechazo al lenguaje y la ideología del comercio de carbono, a la par de construir movimientos locales autónomos basados en los derechos-surge en los constreñidos espacios de gobernanza económica verde privatizada y el estado militarizado. Dadas las constreñidas oportunidades para la organización de movimientos radicales, y la frecuente institucionalización y limitada influencia de las NGOs, el incremento en el entendimiento de estas agendas radicales de cambio y sus contribuciones para la re-imaginación de sustentabilidades alternativas, se vuelven relevantes para académicos, activistas y profesionistas por igual.