19 May 2015: The UN collaborative initiative on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation (REDD) in developing countries (UN-REDD Programme) has launched a tool designed to help REDD+ countries assess the social and environmental benefits and risks associated with potential REDD+ activities. The Benefits and Risks Tool (BeRT) can also analyze existing policies, laws and regulations to see how effectively they address the safeguards that the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the UNFCCC decided should be considered in the undertaking of REDD+ actions.

The so-called ‘Cancun Safeguards’ were agreed at the 16th session of the COP (COP 16) in Cancun, Mexico, and are intended to address potential risks and promote benefits associated with REDD+ implementation. REDD+ countries are requested to develop a Safeguard Information System (SIS) and summarize how the safeguards are being addressed and respected in their national communications (NCs) or via the UNFCCC’s REDD+ web platform.

BeRT can help countries identify gaps in their policy framework for addressing safeguards and inform the country’s REDD+ strategy, in addition to developing the requisite information for country reporting on safeguards. The tool also promotes a “flexible country approach” in responding to the Cancun Safeguards and related COP decisions. The tool, which can be freely downloaded from the UN-REDD website, is also accompanied by a user guide. [UN-REDD Press Release] [BeRT] [BeRT User Guide]