Frank Akowuge Dugasseh researched into REDD+, a highly touted incentive-based mechanism for addressing deforestation in the global south for supermarkets and homes in the global north to have a continuous supply of their favourite chocolate brands. Specifically, Frank’s research delves into Ghana Cocoa Forest REDD+, the first commodity REDD+ programme in the World to assess its effectiveness in ensuring sustainable cocoa production. The research highlights the relevance of sub-national governance in forest governance and how poorly it is being implemented to support sustainable cocoa production and farmers’ living incomes. The findings of this research also provide useful lessons for the EU Due Diligence Legislation and the economic bloc’s attempt to address “exported” emissions from the global south.

The PhD study was completed at Department of Environmental Science, Faculty of Technical Sciences, Aarhus University.

This summary was prepared by the PhD student.

Time: Monday, 30 September 2024 at 13:00
Place: Roskilde 7413-146 Ozonhullet (Videolokale) (25), Lecture Theatre N/A, Environmental Science, Aarhus University, Frederiksborgvej 399, 4000, Roskilde.
Title of PhD thesis: The role of non-carbon benefits in REDD+: Insights from cocoa forest and shea savannah landscapes in Ghana.
Contact information: Frank Akowuge Dugasseh, e-mail: fad@envs.au.dk or akowuge@gmail.com, tel.: +45 71832348
Members of the assessment committee:
Associate Professor Mirjam Ros-Tonen, Department of Geography, Planning and International Development Studies, University of Amsterdam, Netherlands.
Associate Professor Sabaheta Ramcilovic-Suominen, Natural Ressources Institute of Finland, University of Eastern Finland, Finland.
Professor Katarina Elofsson (chair), Department of Environmental Science, Aarhus University, Denmark
Main supervisor:
Senior Researcher Marianne Zandersen, Department of Environmental Science, Aarhus University, Denmark
Co-supervisor:
Professor Mikael Skou Andersen, Department of Environmental Science, Aarhus University, Denmark
Language: The PhD dissertation will be defended in English
The defence is public.
The PhD thesis is available for reading at the Graduate School of Technical Sciences/GSTS,

Jens Baggesens Vej 53, building 5221, 8200 Aarhus N.