Ecuador has been a participant in the United Nations Program for REDD (UN-REDD) since Oct 2009 when it was formally accepted as an “observer country.”   Since the acceptance of its National Joint Program (NJP) in March 2011, Ecuador’s status changed from an “observer country” to that of a “beneficiary country” and joined the group of twelve pilot countries that are implementing activities in preparation for REDD+.

Beginning in the second semester of 2011, the NJP will support Ecuador during the preparatory phase for the implementation of the REDD+ mechanism that will become part of Ecuador’s National REDD+ Plan, presently in development.  These activities will be complimentary to others supported by the German Government’s technical and financial cooperation to Ecuador, which also seeks to contribute to the preparatory phase of REDD+ implementation.

Ecuador‘s NJP sets forth the following six expected results:

1. Design and implementation of a National Forest Monitoring System;
2. National implementation of a REDD+ consultation process involving civil society, indigenous communities and Afro-Ecuadorian and Montubio communities;
3. Development of policies and instruments for the implementation of REDD+;
4. Development of the operational framework for the implementation of REDD+;
5. Assurance of multiple environmental and social benefits ;
6. Design and implementation of a benefit-sharing system.