1 December 2014: In support of discussions on REDD+ at the Lima Climate Change Conference, the Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) released a series of briefs on REDD+ safeguards. The second in the series considers safeguards within the framework of REDD+ benefit sharing mechanisms.

In particular, the brief explores how safeguards can contribute to effective and equitable benefit sharing from REDD+, including both monetary and in-direct benefits. The brief suggests two concrete steps including: identifying high-risk areas from a safeguard point of view; and building criteria and indicators for safeguards in benefit sharing mechanisms.

In order to operationalize the suggested steps, the brief notes the need for data on benefit sharing mechanism design, support for standardization of methodologies, the allocation of sufficient resources for ground-truthing and the design of feedback loops to facilitate on-going risk assessments. CIFOR is part of the CGIAR Consortium. [Publication: Operationalizing Safeguards in National REDD+ Benefit-sharing Systems – Lessons on effectiveness, efficiency and equity]