Landscape of Paradoxes : The Norwegian Climate and Forest Initiative

Abstract

In the course of a few years, 2007-2010, the protection of rainforest has become one of the most interesting and important elements in Norwegian development policy. This swift evolution of importance and the huge dimensions of the projects call for some questions. How did the rainforest suddenly appear as a crucial and important part of Norwegian development aid, as well as the relationship between Norway and the global south? What has actually happened and what sort of dynamics is unfolding itself in the process of implementing the Norwegian Climate and Forest Initiative? Why did the rainforest appear as an attractive idea for Norway and other actors? And are there some elements in this Norwegian narrative about climate and rainforest that are neglected? The principal idea in this thesis is that through a deeper understanding of this process, will deeper and more general features of Norwegian climate and development policies be visible. The research is concentrated on interviews with Norwegian actors. How they think, act and experience the initative is a central element for the thesis.