185 CHALLENGES OF FOREST GOVERNANCE IN ADDRESSING REDD+: STATUS, EFFECTS AND PROSPECTS. THE CASE OF BALE ECO-REGION, OROMIA REGIONAL STATE, ETHIOPIA RESEARCH PAPER Endalkachew Birhan 1* , Engdawork Assefa 1 and Maria A. Petrova 2 1 Addis Ababa University, Sidist Kilo Main Campus, Addis Ababa, 1000, 1176, Ethiopia 2 Georgetown University, 3700 O St NW, Washington, DC 20057, the USA *Corresponding author: endalk.birhan@gmail.com Received: January 27 th , 2019 / Accepted: February 16 th , 2021 / Published: April 1 st , 2021 https://DOI-10.24057/2071-9388-2020-108 ABSTRACT. Reduction of emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD+) is an internationally accepted mechanism for encouraging developing countries to contribute to climate change mitigation by reducing greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) by preventing forest loss and degradation; and by increasing removal of GHGs from the earth’s atmosphere through the conservation, management and expansion of forests. This mechanism, however, has failed to bring the desired results in the Bale Eco-Region. Thus, the purpose of this study is to identify the main challenges of forest governance in addressing the implementation of REDD+ projects. Mixed research approach was employed. Relevant qualitative data were gathered through key informant interviews and focus group discussions. Quantitative data were collected through questionnaires. This study revealed that the community produced a total of 5.5 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent in three years (between 2012 and 2015) as a contribution to the global environment. But, they were not received any economic incentives from the REDD+. Generally, while implementing the REDD+ project, forest governance of the Bale Eco-Region has faced diferent challenges, such as weak institutional arrangements, continuation of deforestation, low enforcement capacity, low economic beneft of the community, lack of strong coordination with media and research institutes, confict of interest among sectors over forest land, and lack of adequate budget and logistics to undertake proper monitoring and evaluation. All these challenges have in one way or another contributed to the failure of the REDD+ project in the Bale Eco-Region. KEY WORDS: Forest Governance Challenges; REDD+; Forest Governance; Bale Eco-Region; Carbon Trade CITATION: Endalkachew Birhan, Engdawork Assefa and Maria A. Petrova (2021). Challenges Of Forest Governance In Addressing Redd+: Status, Efects And Prospects. The Case Of Bale Eco-Region, Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia . Geography, Environment, Sustainability, Vol.14, No 1, p. 185-195 https://DOI-10.24057/2071-9388-2020-108 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: The authors of this manuscript would like to express their wholehearted gratitude to all respondents, especially the experts from the Oromia Forest and Wildlife Enterprise (Specifically, those from the Goba and Dodola branches), the experts from the Environment, Forest and Climate Change Authority of West Arsi and Bale Zones, the experts from the NGOs, specifically Farm Africa and SOS Sahel Ethiopia, working in the Bale Eco-Region and the local community for their relevant and adequate comments that make this study informative and successful. Furthermore, we are happy to express our great thanks to the editor and the anonymous reviewers for their constructive comments. Conflict of interests: The authors reported no potential conflict of interest. INTRODUCTION Global forest cover is decreasing due to deforestation and forest degradation. FAO estimates that 13 million hectares of tropical forest are being converted to other land uses every year due to deforestation and forest degradation (Vanderhaegen et al. 2015). Deforestation and forest degradation also contribute indirectly to the global greenhouse gas emissions. According to Blufstone et al. (2013), deforestation and forest degradation are estimated to contribute between 12% and 20% of annual greenhouse gas emissions. To avert this, REDD+ was internationally adopted (Peter et al. 2014). The REDD+ mechanism has been negotiated at the successive United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Conferences of Parties since 2005 (Vanderhaegen et al. 2015). It comprises of local, national and global actions whose primary aim is to reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation and enhance forest carbon stocks in developing countries (Angelsen et al. 2012). While reducing forest-related climate emissions and sequestering more carbon, it aims to fnancially beneft low-income countries, communities and forest users (Blufstone et al. 2013). Two approaches for REDD+ implementation have been discussed within the UNFCCC: a project/result-based payment mechanism and country-governed REDD+ programs that could become a part of wider Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Actions (NAMAs) (Mulyani and Jebson 2013). The governance of forests in general and REDD+ in particular is vital for the success of REDD+ because governance defciencies threaten both the efectiveness and legitimacy of REDD+ (Larson and Petkova 2011).