Safeguards and Multiple Benefits in a REDD+ Mechanism

The discussion paper on "Safeguards and Multiple Benefits in a REDD+ System" considers REDD+ Safeguards and co-benefits in the Cancun Agreements, their role in REDD+ Readiness Preparation Proposals, systems for sharing information and lessons from in country experiences. It calls for experience with free, prior and informed consent (FPIC); community forest management; payment for ecosystem services; REDD+ Social and Environmental Standards; forest law enforcement, governance and trade (FLEGT) and forest certification to inform UNFCCC negotiations. It stresses that a safeguard information system can have international guidelines, but that implementation should be country based and not enforced externally. In terms of multiple benefits, the paper highlights that benefit sharing requires clarification of property rights over carbon, land tenure and other rights. It describe underlying principles of transparency, accountability and participation.