The UN-REDD Programme is developing a framework for ensuring that its activities contribute to promoting social and environmental benefits, and reduce any potential risk from implementation of REDD+ activities.
The criteria will be used to: assist countries in formulating national REDD+ programmes for which they seek UN-REDD support; review national programmes prior to submission for a UN-REDD Policy Board decision on funding; and assess national programme delivery.
6 December 2011: The UN-REDD Programme has opened for public consultation on its draft social and environmental principles and criteria (SEPC) – Benefit and Risks Tool (BeRT). The consultation is open until 20 January 2012.
The Programme is developing a framework for ensuring that its activities contribute to promoting social and environmental benefits, and reduce any potential risk from implementation of activities for REDD+ (reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation and the role of conservation, sustainable management of forests and enhancement of forest carbon stocks in developing countries).
The criteria will be used to: assist countries in formulating national REDD+ programmes for which they seek UN-REDD support; review national programmes prior to submission for a UN-REDD Policy Board decision on funding; and assess national programme delivery. The criteria are drawn from literature on safeguards, standards and certification, as well as guidance provided by the Cancun agreements reached in December 2010 at the UN Climate Change Conference.
The BeRT has been developed to guide the preparation of national REDD+ programmes and initiatives seeking UN-REDD support. Comments are welcome on the usefulness and effectiveness of the tool. [UN-REDD Press Release]