REDD+ has the potential to deliver substantial benefits beyond carbon. However, fulfilling this potential depends on careful planning and implementation that effectively address such issues as monitoring, transparent and effective governance, participation, inclusiveness of all stakeholders and respect to indigenous people’s rights. Accordingly, the UN-REDD Programme is working with partners and REDD+ countries to develop tools and guidance to enhance the multiple benefits of REDD+ and reduce risks from inadequate planning and implementation.
As part of this work, a set of Social and Environmental Principles and Criteria are being developed.
The Principles and Criteria are intended to contribute to the UN-REDD Programme’s developing framework for ensuring that the Programme’s activities contribute effectively to promoting social and environmental benefits and reduce any potential risk from REDD+ implementation. In particular, we propose that the Principles and Criteria are used by the UN-REDD Programme as a tool for:
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assisting countries in formulating national REDD+ programmes and initiatives for which they seek UN-REDD support;
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reviewing national programmes prior to submission for a UN-REDD Policy Board decision on funding and
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assessing national programme delivery.
The Principles and Criteria are coherent with and draw from the guidance provided by the Cancun agreements, and emerge from the existing rich body of knowledge and literature on safeguards, standards and certification. They consist of broad principles (overarching, fundamental, active statements) within which a list of criteria have been identified as conditions to be met by UN-REDD Programme-funded activities in order to contribute to the achievement of the Principles.
We invite you to comment on the draft Principles and Criteria (version 3 of October 2011). Please send comments and any questions you might have to ccb@unep-wcmc.org. Your feedback will be part of a public consultation process, running from 15 October to 31 December 2011, that will also include information and feedback sessions at upcoming international REDD+ gatherings and facilitated consultations with pilot REDD+ countries.
Download the draft Social and Environmental Principles and Criteria (English, Spanish and French).
Download the feedback form (English).
The Principles and Criteria have been greatly enriched through the consultations held so far. See a response matrix on the feedback received on previous draft versions of the Principles and Criteria.
