18 November 2014: A study conducted by researchers from the Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) demonstrates the importance of urgent action to address the social aspects of REDD+. The study covers Brazil, Indonesia and Tanzania, and focuses on social safeguards, which are expected to be a topic of discussion at the upcoming UNFCCC Conference of the Parties (COP) in Lima, Peru.

The study, titled ‘Multi-Level policy dialogues, processes, and actions: Challenges and opportunities for national REDD+ safeguards Measurement, Reporting, and Verification (MRV),’ considers the two prevailing views on social safeguards; one that sees safeguards as a mechanism to ensure that no harm is done to people, and the other, which views safeguards as a way to ensure that benefits are realized by all affected stakeholders. In examining safeguards in REDD+ countries, the study identifies the Climate, Community and Biodiversity Standard (CCB), the REDD+ Social and Environmental Standards, and the Forest Carbon Partnership Facility (FCPF) environmental and social risk management framework.

Overall, the study concludes that there is a need for national-level surveys to be combined with “ground-truthing” at the project level. This can, according to the case studies, be achieved through a decentralized approach to data collection and safeguards monitoring. The study does note, however, that more attention should be given to media reporting on the social impacts of REDD+ and notes that expectations are high for more clarity on social safeguards from the UNFCCC process.

CIFOR is part of the CGIAR Consortium. [CIFOR Press Release] [Publication: Multi-Level policy dialogues, processes, and actions: Challenges and opportunities for national REDD+ safeguards Measurement, Reporting, and Verification (MRV)]