Indigenous peoples

Community Monitoring of Natural Resource Systems and the Environment

Community monitoring can track environmental phenomena, resource use, and natural resource management processes of concern to community members. It can also contribute to planning and decision-making and empower community members in resource management. While community monitoring that addresses the environmental crisis is growing, it also gathers data on other global challenges: climate change, social welfare, and health. Some environmental community monitoring programs are challenged by limited collective action and community participation, insufficient state responsiveness to data and proposals, and lack of sustainability over time. Additionally, community members monitoring the environment are increasingly harassed and sometimes killed. Community monitoring is more effective with improved data collection, improved data management and sharing, andstronger efforts to meet community information needs, enable conflict resolution, and strengthen self-determination. Other promising areas for development are further incorporating governance issues, embracing integrated approaches at the community level, and establishing stronger links to national and global frameworks.

The Concept, Practice, Application, and Results of Locally Based Monitoring of the Environment

Locally based monitoring is typically undertaken in areas in which communities have a close attachment to their natural resource base. We present a summary of work to develop a theoretical and practical understanding of locally based monitoring and we outline tests of this approach in research and practice over the past 20 years. Our tests show that locally based monitoring delivers credible data at local scale independent of external experts and can be used to inform local and national decision making within a short timeframe. We believe that monitoring conducted by and anchored in communities will gain in importance where scientist-led monitoring is sparse or too expensive to sustain and for ecosystem attributes in cases in which remote sensing cannot provide credible data. The spread of smartphone technology and online portals will further enhance the importance and usefulness of this discipline.

Creating Synergies between Citizen Science and Indigenous and Local Knowledge

Citizen science (CS) is receiving increasing attention as a conduit for Indigenous and local knowledge (ILK) in ecosystem stewardship and conservation. Drawing on field experience and scientific literature, we explore the connection between CS and ILK and demonstrate approaches for how CS can generate useful knowledge while at the same time strengthening ILK systems. CS invites laypersons to contribute observations, perspectives, and interpretations feeding into scientific knowledge systems. In contrast, ILK can be understood as knowledge systems in its own right, with practices and institutions to craft legitimate and useful knowledge. Such fundamental differences in how knowledge is generated, interpreted, and applied need to be acknowledged and understood for successful outcomes. Engaging with complementary knowledge systems using a multiple evidence base approach can improve the legitimacy of CS initiatives, strengthen collaborations through ethical and reciprocal relationships with ILK holders, and contribute to better stewardship of ecosystems.

Connecting Top-Down and Bottom-Up Approaches in Environmental Observing

Effective responses to rapid environmental change rely on observations to inform planning and decision-making. Reviewing literature from 124 programs across the globe and analyzing survey data for 30 Arctic community-based monitoring programs, we compare top-down, large-scale program driven approaches with bottom-up approaches initiated and steered at the community level. Connecting these two approaches and linking to Indigenous and local knowledge yields benefits including improved information products and enhanced observing program efficiency and sustainability. We identify core principles central to such improved links: matching observing program aims, scales, and ability to act on information; matching observing program and community priorities; fostering compatibility in observing methodology and data management; respect of Indigenous intellectual property rights and the implementation of free, prior, and informed consent; creating sufficient organizational support structures; and ensuring sustained community members’ commitment. Interventions to overcome challenges in adhering to these principles are discussed.

The Use of Digital Platforms for Community-Based Monitoring

Environmental observing programs that are based on Indigenous and local knowledge increasingly use digital technologies. Digital platforms may improve data management in community-based monitoring (CBM) programs, but little is known about how their use translates into tangible results. Drawing on published literature and a survey of 18 platforms, we examine why and how digital platforms are used in CBM programs and illuminate potential challenges and opportunities. Digital platforms make it easy to collect, archive, and share CBM data, facilitate data use, and support understanding larger-scale environmental patterns through interlinking with other platforms. Digital platforms, however, also introduce new challenges, with implications for the sustainability of CBM programs and communities’ abilities to maintain control of their own data. We expect that increased data access and strengthened technical capacity will create further demand within many communities for ethically developed platforms that aid in both local and larger-scale decision-making.

Community-Based Monitoring of Tropical Forest Crimes and Forest Resources Using Information and Communication Technology – Experiences from Prey Lang, Cambodia

The use of smartphones for data collection has opened up new opportunities for communities wishing to engage in community-based monitoring. While information and communication technology (ICT) is able to systematize data collection, complex functions and observation types can present challenges for community members. ICT also may skew community participation towards young men, as they are sometimes more comfortable using smartphones. This study investigates the success and cost-effectiveness of having local forest monitors use ICT to collect data on forest crimes and forest resources in Prey Lang, Cambodia. A workshop was held with the Prey Lang Community Network to identify the resources and illegal activities to be monitored. Guided by the community members, a smartphone app was subsequently developed and a total of 36 community members were trained in its use. We examined the extent to which the capacity of community members to collect data was dependent upon the complexity of the ICT and on their age and gender. We also assessed the costs of the monitoring program over a two-year period. The community members were able to collect large amounts of data regardless of their gender or age. They made 10,842 entries of data on illegal logging and forest resources. Increased complexity of the app had no impact on the proportion of quality data collected. The cost of monitoring resembled other community-based monitoring programs but was notably less than for monitoring by professional foresters. Our findings suggest that local communities with little formal education are able to monitor forest crimes and forest resources cost-effectively using ICT; however, while the documentation collected was highly valuable, software and hardware maintenance, along with the digital data validation process, will continue to require external support.

Citizen science tools for engaging local stakeholders and promoting local and traditional knowledge in landscape stewardship

Citizen science has been proposed as one way of engaging local stakeholders in landscape stewardship (Plieninger and Bieling 2012). Citizen science encompasses a broad array of approaches in which citizens are involved in one or more aspects of assessment and monitoring of the environment (Bonney et al. 2014). In Europe, most citizen science schemes only involve community members in data collection. The design, analysis and interpretation of the assessment results are undertaken by professional researchers. Recently, experiments have been made to involve community members in all aspects of environmental assessment and monitoring, including scheme design, data interpretation and use of the results for decision-making and action (Johnson et al. 2016). Although there are still a number of scientific questions surrounding these approaches and many schemes are still at an early stage of development, the new approaches show a great deal of promise. A topic corresponding with citizen science is the promotion of traditional and indigenous knowledge associated with land use and landscapes (Berkes 2012). We recognise the differences between local and traditional knowledge, indigenous knowledge and knowledge generally held by citizens. Local and traditional knowledge is held by communities with longterm affiliations to specific landscapes. Indigenous knowledge also has long-term affiliations with landscape but has furthermore a specific legal status being protected under international agreements (Convention on Biological Diversity, Article 8j). This chapter analyses the challenges and successes of three schemes that stand out from the majority, because they involve natural resource users directly in monitoring attributes central to their livelihoods (Greenland and Finland) or because of the role of digital technology in facilitating the citizen science activities (Faroe Islands). We begin by describing and explaining the activities and outcomes for each of the three schemes, before presenting our own cross-cutting analysis of the benefits and challenges of such approaches for engaging local stakeholders in landscape stewardship.

Can Community Members Identify Tropical Tree Species for REDD+ Carbon and Biodiversity Measurements?

Biodiversity conservation is a required co-benefit of REDD+. Biodiversity monitoring is therefore needed, yet in most areas it will be constrained by limitations in the available human professional and financial resources. REDD+ programs that use forest plots for biomass monitoring may be able to take advantage of the same data for detecting changes in the tree diversity, using the richness and abundance of canopy trees as a proxy for biodiversity. If local community members are already assessing the above-ground biomass in a representative network of forest vegetation plots, it may require minimal further effort to collect data on the diversity of trees. We compare community members and trained scientists’ data on tree diversity in permanent vegetation plots in montane forest in Yunnan, China. We show that local community members here can collect tree diversity data of comparable quality to trained botanists, at one third the cost. Without access to herbaria, identification guides or the Internet, community members could provide the ethno-taxonomical names for 95% of 1071 trees in 60 vegetation plots. Moreover, we show that the community-led survey spent 89% of the expenses at village level as opposed to 23% of funds in the monitoring by botanists. In participatory REDD+ programs in areas where community members demonstrate great knowledge of forest trees, community-based collection of tree diversity data can be a cost-effective approach for obtaining tree diversity information.

Community Monitoring of Carbon Stocks for REDD+: Does Accuracy and Cost Change over Time?

Reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation in developing countries, and the role of conservation, sustainable management of forests, and enhancement of forest carbon stocks in developing countries (REDD+) is a potentially powerful international policy mechanism that many tropical countries are working towards implementing. Thus far, limited practical consideration has been paid to local rights to forests and forest resources in REDD+ readiness programs, beyond noting the importance of these issues. Previous studies have shown that community members can reliably and cost-effectively monitor forest biomass. At the same time, this can improve local ownership and forge important links between monitoring activities and local decision-making. Existing studies have, however, been static assessments of biomass at one point in time. REDD+ programs will require repeated surveys of biomass over extended time frames. Here, we examine trends in accuracy and costs of local forest monitoring over time. We analyse repeated measurements by community members and professional foresters of 289 plots over two years in four countries in Southeast Asia. This shows, for the first time, that with repeated measurements community members’ biomass measurements become increasingly accurate and costs decline. These findings provide additional support to available evidence that community members can play a strong role in monitoring forest biomass in the local implementation of REDD+.

A Multicountry Assessment of Tropical Resource Monitoring by Local Communities

The rapid global growth of conservation schemes designed to incentivize local communities to conserve natural resources has placed new importance on biological monitoring to assess whether agreements and targets linked to payments are being met. To evaluate competence in natural resource monitoring, we compared data on status and trends collected independently by local-community members and trained scientists for 63 taxa and five types of resource use in 34 tropical forest sites across four countries over 2.5 years. We hypothesized that the results would vary according to differences in the education and value systems of the monitors. We found that, despite considerable differences in countries, cultures, and the types of natural resources monitored, the community members and the scientists produced similar results for the status of and trends in species and natural resources. Our findings highlight the potential value of locally based natural resource monitoring for conservation decisionmaking across developing countries.

Linking Public Participation in Scientific Research to the Indicators and Needs of International Environmental Agreements

Different monitoring approaches collect data that can measure progress toward achieving global environmental indicators. These indicators can: (1) Audit management actions; (2) Inform policy choices; and (3) Raise awareness among the public and policy makers. We present a generic, empirically based, framework of different environmental monitoring approaches, ranging from scientist-driven to those undertaken by local people. This framework is used to assess monitoring possibilities for the Convention on Biological Diversity “2020” indicators, and those of 11 other international environmental agreements. Of the 186 indicators in these 12 environmental agreements, 69 (37%) require monitoring by professional scientists, whereas 117 (63%) can involve community members as “citizen scientists.” Promoting “community-based” and “citizen science” approaches could significantly enrich monitoring progress within global environmental conventions. It would also link environmental monitoring to awareness raising and enhanced decision-making at all levels of resource management.

Community Monitoring for REDD+: International Promises and Field Realities

Will community monitoring assist in delivering just and equitable REDD+? We assessed whether local communities can effectively estimate carbon stocks in some of the world’s most carbon rich forests, using simple field protocols, and we reviewed whether community monitoring exists in current REDD+ pilots. We obtained similar results for forest carbon when measured by communities and professional foresters in 289 vegetation plots in Southeast Asia. Most REDD+ monitoring schemes, however, contain no community involvement. To close the gulf between United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change texts on involving communities and field implementation realities, we propose greater embedding of community monitoring within national REDD+ pilot schemes, which we argue will lead to a more just REDD+.

Reshaping conservation: the social dynamics of participatory monitoring in Tanzania’s community-managed forests

Drawing on a study of community-managed forest reserves in southern Tanzania, this article discusses how community members engage and shape inclusive protected area management practices to produce outcomes that were not intended by external implementers. The article shows how a participatory natural resource monitoring scheme operating in the area becomes part of the villagers’ collective and individual efforts to assert their claims to territory and resources vis-a-vis the state, other communities, and other community members. By altering the monitoring procedures in subtle ways, community members strengthen the monitoring practices to their advantage, and to some extent move them beyond the reach of government agencies and conservation and development practitioners. This has led to outcomes that are of greater social and strategic value to communities than the original ‘planned’ benefi ts, although the monitoring scheme has also to some extent become dominated by local ‘conservation elites’ who negotiate the terrain between the state and other community members. Our findings suggest that we need to move beyond simplistic assumptions of community strategies and incentives in participatory conservation and allow for more adaptive and politically explicit governance spaces in protected area management.

Segundo Resumen de Información Abordaje, Respeto y Cumplimiento de las Salvaguardas Ambientales y Sociales para las Fases de Implementación y Pago por Resultados de la Estrategia Nacional de Cambio Climático y Recursos Vegetacionales (ENCCRV) de Chile

Salvaguardas Ambientales y Sociales para las Fases de Implementación y Pago por Resultados de la Estrategia Nacional de Cambio Climático y Recursos Vegetacionales (ENCCRV) de Chile. El documento tiene como objetivo general, actualizar y ampliar la información sobre cómo Chile ha abordado, respetado y cumplido las salvaguardas ambientales y sociales del enfoque de política REDD+ a través de la ENCCRV. El Primer Resumen de Salvaguardas informó sobre lo realizado entre el período 2013- 2017, correspondiendo a la Fase de Formulación de la ENCCRV, mientras que este Segundo Resumen, informa sobre las Fases de Implementación y Pago por Resultados que abarcan el período 2018 – 2022.

Forest Policy, Institutions, and REDD+ in India, Tanzania, and Mexico

This article investigates forest policies and institutions surrounding REDD+ in three heavily forested countries: India, Tanzania, and Mexico. The comparative analysis leads to three key insights. First, each of the case study countries has multiple land tenure statutes that result in different distributions of the costs and benefits of forest protection for key stakeholders. Second, land tenure regimes that offer local communities the most secure forest rights are not necessarily those associated with benefit-sharing mechanisms outlined in national REDD+ policy proposals. Third, a credible commitment by government to share REDD+ benefits with forest-dependent people is contingent on the interests of key actors involved in the policy process. Political and administrative structures that limit the power and authority of forest government bodies lead to more responsive and accountable policy outcomes.

10+ years of UN-REDD expertise and best practice;

10+ years of UN-REDD expertise and best practice; to the most current topics and knowledge from our broad range of Programme experts.

Recognizing and empowering indigenous peoples and Local Communities as critical partners in forest solutions to the climate emergency

UN-REDD has devised and implemented a wide range of policy instruments and development practices to help countries promote the participation and inclusion of indigenous peoples and local communities in forest-based climate solutions.

Nota Informativa N°32. Modelo Ambiental Intercultural Andino (MAIA) y Modelo Ambiental Intercultural Mapuche (MOFIM).

El documento describe el Modelo Ambiental Intercultural Andino (MAIA) y Modelo Ambiental Intercultural Mapuche (MOFIM). Ambos enfoques, constituyen un marco operativo y metodológico que permitirá que la implementación de las medidas de acción de la ENCCRV sean concordantes con lo establecido en los compromisos nacionales e internacionales para el resguardo de los derechos y conocimientos de los pueblos indígenas, específicamente lo establecido en las salvaguardas de Cancún para iniciativas REDD+ aplicables a la ENCCRV, las políticas operacionales del Banco Mundial como agencia implementadora y la normativa nacional vigente.

Nota Informativa N°26. Plan de Gestión de Recursos Vegetacionales en Tierras Indígenas en el marco de la Estrategia Nacional de Cambio Climático y Recursos Vegetacionales (ENCCRV).

El documento describe el Plan de Gestión de Recursos Vegetacionales en Tierras Indígenas en el marco de la Estrategia Nacional de Cambio Climático y Recursos Vegetacionales (ENCCRV). Se espera que este Plan se transforme en la principal directriz institucional y sea considerado como una guía para la gestión de la Corporación en los territorios indígenas.

CBD Technical Series no. 85: Synthesis report on experiences with ecosystem-based approaches to climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction

This report has been prepared to provide a synthesis of experiences with ecosystem-based approaches to climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction, and an analysis of challenges, lessons learned and opportunities related to their design and implementation.

Sistematización del Proceso de Consulta de la Estrategia Nacional REDD+ con Pueblos Indígenas

Este documento resume el proceso de consulta realizado en Costa Rica con los Pueblos Indígenas para la implementación de la Estrategia Nacional REDD+.

Nota Informativa N°17. Proceso de Diálogo y Participación con los Pueblos Indígenas en la formulación de la Estrategia Nacional de Cambio Climático y Recursos Vegetacionales (ENCCRV) de Chile.

Documento que describe el Proceso de Diálogo y Participación con los Pueblos Indígenas en la formulación de la Estrategia Nacional de Cambio Climático y Recursos Vegetacionales (ENCCRV) de Chile el cual incluyó a los pueblos originarios de todo el territorio de Chile continental, focalizando las zonas rurales de las diez regiones con presencia de población indígena y donde sus formas de vida y costumbres se relacionan directa e indirectamente con los bosques y recursos vegetacionales.

Conservação das Florestas para Combater as Mudanças Climáticas

Em dezembro de 2015, com a assinatura do Acordo de Paris, as nações do mundo chegaram a um acordo histórico, abrangente e coletivo para combater as mudanças climáticas. O objetivo principal do acordo no âmbito da Convenção-Quadro das Nações Unidas sobre Mudança do Clima – CQNUMC (em inglês, United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change – UNFCCC) é manter o aumento da temperatura média global abaixo de 2° C em relação aos níveis pré-industriais, buscando esforços para que este aumento não passe de 1,5° C. O referido acordo reconhece o papel fundamental das florestas, incluindo ações para deter e reverter as taxas de desmatamento e de degradação florestal nos países em desenvolvimento, que têm contribuído com até 20% das emissões anuais de gases de efeito estufa. Para ajudar os países nessas ações, o acordo inclui uma estrutura de políticas e de incentivos para reduzir o desmatamento e a degradação florestal e aumentar o armazenamento de carbono nas florestas por meio da conservação e da gestão sustentável, o que inclui ações relacionadas ao REDD+.

Conservar los bosques para combatir el cambio climático

En diciembre del 2015, con la firma del Acuerdo de París, las naciones del mundo llegaron a un consenso sobre un enfoque histórico, colectivo y exhaustivo para combatir el cambio climático. El objetivo principal del acuerdo, conforme a la Convención Marco de las Naciones Unidas sobre el Cambio Climático (CMNUCC), es mantener el aumento de la temperatura media mundial muy por debajo de los 2 °C con respecto a los niveles preindustriales, e intentar limitar el aumento a 1.5 °C. El acuerdo reconoce el papel fundamental de los bosques y de las acciones para detener y revertir la tasa de deforestación y degradación forestal en los países en desarrollo, que han aportado hasta el 20 % de las emisiones anuales de gases de efecto invernadero. Con el fn de ayudar a los países a efectuar estas acciones, el acuerdo incluye un marco de políticas e incentivos para reducir la deforestación y la degradación forestal, y aumentar el almacenamiento de carbono en los bosques mediante la conservación y el manejo sostenible. Este marco se conoce como REDD+.

Conserver les forêts pour lutter contre le changement climatique

En décembre 2015, avec la signature de l’Accord de Paris, les pays du monde entier se sont accordés sur une approche historique, collective et complète pour lutter contre le changement climatique. Le principal objectif de l’accord, sous la Convention-cadre des Nations Unies sur le changement climatique (CCNUCC) est de maintenir la montée de la température moyenne de par le monde bien en-deçà de 2oC au-dessus des niveaux préindustriels et d’essayer de limiter l’augmentation à 1,5oC. Au sein de cet accord se trouve la reconnaissance du rôle essentiel des forêts, y compris des actions visant à arrêter la déforestation et la dégradation de la forêt et à inverser leur rythme dans les pays en développement. La déforestation et la dégradation de la forêt contribuent jusqu’à hauteur de 20% aux émissions de gaz à effet de serre. Pour accompagner les pays dans ces actions, l’accord inclut un cadre de politiques et d’incitations pour la réduction de la déforestation et de la dégradation de la forêt, ainsi que l’augmentation des stocks de carbone dans les forêts par le biais de la conservation et d’une gestion durable. C’est ce que l’on appelle la REDD+.

Best Practices and Considerations for the Development of REDD+ Country Approaches to Safeguards and Design of Safeguard Information Systems

Document developed by CLP and SNV (2016). This document aims to provide guidance and a systematic overview of the different processes and considerations that form the core of Country Approaches to Safeguards (CAS). The broader objective of this document is to provide a framework structure for REDD+ countries seeking to develop their own CAS to respond to the UNFCCC and other international REDD+ safeguard requirements.

Letter Of Intent (LOI)

Document which set the obligations for both parties, namely DRC and CAFI, in terms of milestones to be complied with by DRC and the necessary funding CAFI will have to provide for the implementation of the DRC National REDD+ Investment Plan

Lettre d'Intention (LOI)

Document qui détermine les obligations des deux parties, à savoir la RDC et l'Initiative pour les Forêts de l'Afrique Centrale (CAFI), en terme de jalons à atteindre pour la RDC et des financements à assurer par CAFI pour la mise en oeuvre du Plan d'investissement National REDD+

National REDD+ Investment Plan

Programatic framework translating the National REDD+ Strategy into sectoral activities and key reforms, with project files related to the pilars identified in the National REDD+ Strategy

Plan National d'Investissement REDD+

Cadre de programmation qui décline la mise en oeuvre de la Stratégie Nationale REDD+, en terme d'activités sectorielles, des politiques et des réformes clés, notamment avec des fiches projets qui sont présentés correspondant aux piliers de la Stratégie.

Stratégie Nationale REDD+ Appendices

Annexes au Document de la Stratégie Nationale REDD+

Stratégie Nationale REDD+

Document de référence qui identifie les moteurs directs et indirects de la déforestation et de la dégradation forestière. Il précise la vision du Gouvernement pour un développement économique et social du pays à faible carbone, à l’horizon 2035, centrée sur 7 piliers d’intervention stratégique, dont 3 piliers sectoriels (agriculture, énergie e forêt) et 4 piliers habilitants (gouvernance, aménagement de territoire, reforme foncière et démographie)

Conserving Forests to Combat Climate Change

In December 2015, the Paris Agreement recognized the critical role of forests in combating climate change. This recognition included actions to halt and reverse the rate of deforestation and forest degradation in developing countries, which have contributed up to 20 percent of annual greenhouse gas emissions. To assist countries in these actions, the agreement includes a framework of policies and incentives for reducing deforestation and forest degradation and increasing carbon storage in forests through conservation and sustainable management. This is known as REDD+, a mechanism that has evolved over a decade of discussions, research, and negotiations to become a key piece of the newly adopted climate architecture. The aim of REDD+ is to halt and reverse forest cover and carbon loss in developing countries by helping countries shift to low-emissions development pathways by increasing the value of healthy forests relative to other land uses. Achieving and sustaining the objectives of REDD+ requires the transformation of economic activities within and outside of forests, often referred to as the drivers of deforestation and forest degradation. A solid understanding of REDD+ and the Paris Agreement is needed to accomplish these economic transformations and conserve forests as natural places, carbon stocks, and sustainable resources. This paper describes what REDD+ is, in a manner that is accessible to policy makers, scientists and civil society and in a form that is completely consistent with the UNFCCC decisions and agreements.

Forests, climate change, and equity in Viet Nam: REDD+ equity challenges and solutions according to national stakeholders

Equity has featured prominently in international climate change discussions since the establishment of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in 1992. Looking forward, equity is expected to be of even greater relevance in this year’s hoped for landmark climate agreement, to be finalized at the 21st Conference of the Parties (COP21) in Paris. Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) remains a focal point of global debate at the intersection of forest and climate change policy. While the exact financing mechanism for REDD+ has yet to be determined, it is clear that demonstrating equity will be an essential part of accessing REDD+ payments and financing in the future. At the national level, Viet Nam recognizes the importance of equity for ensuring an effective REDD+ framework. Therefore, this brief is designed to present key REDD+ equity challenges, as identified by national policy makers and stakeholders in Viet Nam, and potential solutions to address those challenges. By highlighting national equity priorities identified during a workshop held in advance of COP21, we aim to ensure that future capacity development efforts are directed where there is the greatest need and national buy-in. The priority equity issues identified in Viet Nam include: tenure and resource rights, access to information, and benefit sharing.

Forests, climate change, and equity in Lao PDR: REDD+ equity challenges and solutions according to national stakeholders

Equity has featured prominently in international climate change discourse since the establishment of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in 1992. Looking forward, equity is expected to be of even greater relevance in this year’s hoped for landmark climate agreement, to be finalized at the 21st Conference of the Parties (COP21) in Paris. Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) remains central in global conversations at the intersection of forest and climate change policy. While the exact financing mechanism for REDD+ has yet to be determined, it is clear that demonstrating equity will be essential for accessing REDD+ financing in the future. Lao PDR recognizes the importance of equity for ensuring an effective REDD+ framework. Therefore, this brief is designed to present key REDD+ equity challenges as identified by national policy makers and other stakeholders in Lao PDR and potential solutions to address those challenges. By highlighting national equity priorities identified during a workshop held in advance of COP21, we aim to ensure that future capacity development efforts are directed where there is the greatest need and national buy-in. Priority equity issues identified in Lao PDR include: benefit sharing, participation and decision making, and livelihoods.

Forests, climate change, and equity in Cambodia: REDD+ equity challenges and solutions according to national stakeholders

Equity has featured prominently in international climate change discourse since the establishment of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in 1992. Looking forward, equity is expected to be of even greater relevance in this year’s hoped for landmark climate agreement, to be finalized at the 21st Conference of the Parties (COP21) in Paris. Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) remains a focal point of global debate at the intersection of forest and climate change policy. While the exact financing mechanism for REDD+ has yet to be determined, it is clear that demonstrating equity will be an essential part of accessing REDD+ payments and financing in the future. At the national level, Cambodia recognizes the importance of equity for ensuring an effective REDD+ framework. Therefore, this brief is designed to present key REDD+ equity challenges as identified by national policy makers and other stakeholders in Cambodia and potential solutions to address those challenges. By highlighting national equity priorities identified during a workshop held in advance of COP21, we aim to ensure that future capacity development efforts are directed where there is the greatest need and national buy-in. Priority REDD+ and forest governance equity elements identified in Cambodia include: participation and decision-making, governance and regulations, and access to information.

Equity in forests and REDD+: An analysis of equity challenges as viewed by forestry decision-makers and practitioners in Cambodia, Lao PDR and Viet Nam

Considerable debate has developed in recent years over the potential of Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) to either rectify or exacerbate social inequities in tropical forest countries. Despite agreement on the importance of equity issues in REDD+, few studies have considered differences in equity and equitable outcomes as understood at national and local levels, and related contextspecific barriers that frustrate the achievement of equitable outcomes. This paper surveys perceptions of REDD+ related challenges to equity and potential solutions of forestry decision-makers and practitioners in three Mekong countries.

Listening to the Forest in Panama. UN-REDD Programme Active Listening Process - Women’s Channel

Spanish with English Sub-titles: During 2014 and 2015 Panama carried out an “active listening” process with key stakeholders on the situation of the forest and the challenges to reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation looking at the participatory construction of Panama’s National REDD+ Strategy. The dialogue included several key stakeholder groups; including a specific channel for women. This video shows the voices and opinions of women from indigenous, afro-descendant and campesino communities of Panama.

Women’s Inclusion in REDD+ in The Philippines Lessons from Good Practices in Forest, and Other Natural Resources Management Sectors

This study is a part of the Joint Initiative of the USAID-funded LEAF Project, WOCAN, and the UN-REDD Programme to investigate practical entry points for women’s inclusion in Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) policies and practices. It explores the current status and implementation of policies and practices related to gender equality in forestry and other natural resource management sectors in the Philippines, and their relation to REDD+ initiatives. An effort was made to identify the elements that prevent the inclusion of women in REDD+ in the Philippines, as well as the factors that enable their inclusion in policies and practices. Given the emerging and unfolding state of REDD+, an exploration of gender issues in REDD+ was tied to the overall status of women’s inclusion in the broader NRM sector. Data for this study was collected using desk reviews, key-informant interviews and field site interactions at Atimonan, Quezon. The early findings were then presented through a national dialogue for further discussion and validation, which led to identification of practical entry points and key recommendations for improving effectiveness of natural resource management and REDD+ through greater inclusion of women in forest policies and programs.

Women’s Inclusion in REDD+ in Cambodia Lessons from Good Practices in Forest, Agriculture and Other Natural Resources Management Sectors

The study is a part of the Joint Initiative of WOCAN, the UN-REDD Programme and USAID-funded LEAF Project to investigate practical entry points for women’s inclusion in Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) policies and practices. It aims to explore the current status and effectiveness of policies and practices related to gender integration in forestry, REDD+ and other natural resources management sectors in Cambodia. It analyses the current policies and practices, identifies the gaps between policies and practices, determines the factors that enable the inclusion of women in the policies and practices and identifies elements that prevent inclusion and effective implementation.

Scoping Study of Good Practices for Strengthening Women’s Inclusion in Forest and Other Natural Resource Management Sectors

This scoping report examine\'s the diversity of good practices within the forest and other land-use sectors on women’s inclusion, with a view to draw out key enabling conditions that have facilitated women to participate and benefit from policies, institutions and practices −both formal and informal at all levels.

Guidance Note on Gender Sensitive REDD+

This note has been prepared as a guide for those involved in REDD+ efforts at the local, national, regional or global level. The overall objective is to promote gender sensitive REDD+ processes and to support UN-REDD partner countries and stakeholders in the preparation, development and implementation of gender sensitive REDD+ strategies.

REDD+ Academy Learning Journals

This comprehensive REDD+ learning resource addresses 12 key topics in REDD+: Forest, Carbon Sequestration and Climate Change; Understanding REDD+ and the UNFCCC; Drivers of Deforestation and Forest Degradation; National Strategies and Action Plans; National Forest Monitoring Systems; Forest Reference Emission Levels; Policies and Measures for REDD+ Implementation; REDD+ Safeguards; REDD+ Finance; Approaches for Allocation of Incentives; Stakeholder Engagement; Good Governance.

Women’s Inclusion in REDD+ in Sri Lanka Lessons from Good Practices in Forest, Agriculture and Other Natural Resources Management Sectors

The study is a part of the Joint Initiative of WOCAN, the UN-REDD Programme and USAID-funded LEAF Project to investigate practical entry points for women’s inclusion in Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) policies and practices. It explores the current status of policies and practices related to gender integration in forestry and other natural resource management sectors in Sri Lanka, and their relation to REDD+ initiatives. It briefly analyses the current policies and practices, indicating the gaps between policies and practice. An effort is being made to identify the elements that prevent the inclusion of women in REDD+ in Sri Lanka, as well as the factors that enable their inclusion in policies and practices.

PROYECTO DE DOCUMENTO DE EXPECTATIVAS DE LA COP 21 DE PARÍS

La Conferencia de las Naciones Unidas sobre el Cambio Climático de 2015 (COP21) es un momento fundamental. Los gobiernos han fijado diciembre de 2015 como plazo para ponerse de acuerdo sobre un nuevo régimen climático para después de 2020.

PROJET DE DOCUMENT SUR LES ATTENTES DE LA COP 21 DE PARIS

La conférence de l’ONU sur le changement climatique de 2015 qui se tiendra à Paris (COP21) est un moment charnière. Les États se sont fixé comme date limite décembre 2015 pour s’accorder sur un nouveau régime climat pour la période après 2020.

Expectations Paper COP21 Paris

The 2015 UN climate change conference in Paris (COP21) is a pivotal moment. Governments have set December 2015 as the deadline to agree on a new climate regime for 2020 onwards. This deal must give the world a fighting chance to avoid dangerous global temperature rises. Such an agreement needs to be fair, ambitious, and transformational. At the same time, COP21 provides an opportunity to showcase efforts that countries, the private sector, and civil society are making to combat climate change – and to accelerate and scale up these actions.

The Implementation of the Warsaw Framework for REDD+ by Brazil

This is the complete version of the publication. It provides details about the Warsaw Framework for REDD+ and the process that Brazil went through as the first developing country to go through its implementation. All the submissions made by Brazil to the UNFCCC are available on this publication, as well as the reports from the technical assessments by UNFCCCC LULUCF experts that verified Brazil\'s REDD+ results. This is an important and useful resource for south-south cooperation on REDD+.

REDD+ e povos indígenas

Povos indígenas estão entre os atores mais atingidos por efeitos indiretos da mudança do clima, tais como secas prolongadas, incêndios florestais, pragas e doenças. Além disso, o desmatamento em terras indígenas é menor do que em áreas com outros usos em uma mesma região, possuindo assim papel estratégico nas ações de REDD+. Troca de visões e experiências sobre REDD+ e sua interface com relação às políticas indígenas e indigenistas são de extrema importância para um delineamento eficiente de ações e garantia de seus co-benefícios. A Política Nacional de Gestão Territorial e Ambiental de Terras Indígenas (PNGATI) figura como importante marco legal para promover a proteção de recursos renováveis em terras indígenas, garantindo a qualidade de vida de suas populações.

Salvaguardas de REDD+

De modo inédito, a Convenção Quadro das Nações Unidas sobre Mudanças do Clima (UNFCCC, em inglês) adotou, em sua decisão 1/CP.16, um conjunto de sete salvaguardas voltadas a REDD+ a serem adotadas e respeitadas pelos países, de modo a abordar os impactos diretos e indiretos, positivos e negativos de ações de REDD+. No Brasil, já existem ações e iniciativas no sentido de garantir e promover as salvaguardas de REDD+ e o país emprega esforços para constituir um sistema nacional de informação sobre como as salvaguardas serão tratadas e respeitadas, levando em conta as bases de dados já existentes.

My Guide - Know Your Rights Related to REDD+: A guide for indigenous and community leaders

The Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) has produced two complementary tools - ForestDefender and My Guide - that are geared towards safeguarding forests and sustainable livelihoods. These tools apply CIEL\'s "rights-based approach," which integrates respect for human rights into laws and policies. CIEL created these resources in response to specific requests from partners, local community members, indigenous peoples. They help translate relevant international law to the national level and empower lawyers, activists, and community leaders to defend their rights and their forests.

Conozca sus Derechos Frente a REDD+ Una guía para líderes de comunidades locales y pueblos indígenas

The Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) has produced two complementary tools - ForestDefender and My Guide - that are geared towards safeguarding forests and sustainable livelihoods. These tools apply CIEL\'s "rights-based approach," which integrates respect for human rights into laws and policies. CIEL created these resources in response to specific requests from partners, local community members, indigenous peoples. They help translate relevant international law to the national level and empower lawyers, activists, and community leaders to defend their rights and their forests.

Free, Prior, and Informed Consent in REDD+: Principles and Approaches for Policy and Project Development

Twenty-five success stories: Illustrating ITTO’s 25-year quest to sustain tropical forests

Twenty-five success stories: Illustrating ITTO’s 25-year quest to sustain tropical forests

Twenty-five success stories: Illustrating ITTO’s 25-year quest to sustain tropical forests

Governing the Forests: An Institutional Analysis of REDD+ and Community Forest Management in Asia

Working together to get forest measurement right: a solution for REDD+

Statement on SBSTA-REDD+

Statement from the safeguards working group delivered at SBSTA 37

Linking Adaptation and Mitigation through Community Forestry: Case Studies from Asia

Sustaining and Enhancing Forests Through Traditional Resource Management

This book contains the case studies on traditional forest resource management of indigenous peoples in three countries: Kenya, Nicaragua and Indonesia. One vital element about these case studies is that the those who did the research and wrote the cases were indigenous researchers, themselves.

State of Forest, Policy Environment and Ways Forward

These studies covered the drivers of deforestation and existing national laws and policies on forests, land tenure, indigenous peoples and their rights, climate change and REDD+ from nine countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America. The reports also provided recommendations on how to address issues and challenges affecting forests and indigenous peoples.

Asia Summit on Climate Change and Indigenous Peoples: Report of the Summit

This is the report of the Asia Summit on Climate Change and Indigenous Peoples that was organized by Tebtebba and AMAN (Aliansi Masyarakat Adat Nusantara) of Indonesia. The summit was held in Bali, Indonesia last 24 - 27 February 2009 as part of the series of regional summits by indigenous peoples that culminated in the Indigenous Peoples Global Summit on Climate Change in April 2009.

Climate Change, REDD+ and Indigenous Peoples: Training Course for Indigenous Peoples

Composed of 5 training modules, this training course on Indigenous Peoples, Climate Change and REDD+ aims to enhance the capacity of indigenous leaders, educators and organizers to engage in national and international processes and mechanisms, particularly REDD+ and its repercussions.

Press Release: The European Union announces €3.1 million to secure livelihoods in the Colombian Amazon through forest conservation

REDD-plus & Biodiversity e-Newsletter Volume 4

Reporting REDD - A Journalist's Guide to the Role of Forests in Combating Global Climate Change

Produced by Panos London as part of the Climate Change Media Partnership, this media pack aims to give journalists an overview of a vital issue in global climate change negotiations. REDD - reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation in developing countries - is a proposed mechanism to slow the loss of forests, but how it will work in practice is proving controversial, raising complex and emotive issues of national sovereignty, human rights, big money and corruption. The pack outlines the key debates and looks at the possible complexities involved such as the sheer scale of the mechanism, and the difficulties there might be in measuring the amount of carbon being saved.

Investing in REDD-plus, Executive summary of The Forest Dialogue consensus

Investing in REDD-plus, Consensus on frameworks for the financing and implementation of REDD-plus

Invirtiendo en REDD-plus, Resumen del Consenso del Diálogo Forestal

Invirtiendo en REDD-plus, Consenso sobre marcos generales para el financiamiento e implementación de mecanismos de REDD-plus

Investir dans la REDD-plus, Résumé du consensus atteint par The Forest Dialogue

Investir dans la REDD-plus, Consensus sur les cadres de financement et de l'application de la REDD-plus

The History of REDD policy - Kyoto to Copenhagen

A comprehensive summary of the history of REDD policy, from its roots in the Kyoto Protocol, December 1997, to the final meetings of the AWG-LCA and SBSTA before COP15 in Copenhagen in December 2009. The white paper discusses the genesis of REDD policy and provides an overview of major turning points in the key issues of contention in international REDD policy: -The scope of the definition of reducing emissions from deforestation and degradation; -Carbon Accounting for REDD - Measurement, Reporting and Verification; -The rights of Indigenous People; -Financing options for REDD; -Institutional arrangements - Should REDD be a NAMA or project based.

Guidelines and eligibility criteria for REDD on biodiversity and on Indigenous Peoples and local communities

This paper by Pro Natura - Friends of the Earth Switzerland considers REDD and suggests guidelines as well as eligibility criteria with regard to biodiversity, indigenous peoples and local communities. For more information contact Friedrich Wulf at < friedrich.wulf@pronatura.ch >

REDD-plus & Biodiversity e-Newsletter Volume 2

A briefing paper on Rights, Equity, Development, Deforestation and Governance by Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities

This briefing paper was elaborated by the Task Force on REDD and Communities of the IUCN Commission on Environmental, Economic and Social Policy, in collaboration with the Global Forest Coalition, a worldwide coalition of NGOs and Indigenous Peoples' Organisations. The briefing note is a contribution to the debate about policies and incentives to reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD). It focuses on the potential of governance of forests by indigenous peoples and local communities, and discusses implications of envisaged REDD regimes for local rights. Feedback on the briefing note is welcome and can be sent to Simone Lovera, co-coordinator of the Task Force, < simonelovera@yahoo.com >

Guide on Climate Change and Indigenous Peoples, 2nd edition