la vina- best practices in governance and biodiversity safeguards for redd-plus

7/30/2019 La Vina- Best Practices in Governance and Biodiversity Safeguards for REDD-Plus

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BEST PRACTICES IN GOVERNANCEAND BIODIVERSITY SAFEGUARDS FOR REDD-PLUS

Valuing national and field-based experiences for UNFCCC-CBD synergies

Outline

Background

Key Messages of the Policy Brief

Recommendations for synergiesbetween the CBD and UNFCCC


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Background

In 2011, the Swiss-Philippine Initiativelaunched the policy briefTowards Building a GovernanceFramework for REDD-PlusFinancing

It outlined 5 key messages to unlock and

properly orient REDD-Plus financing inthe global and national REDD-Plusregime.


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Phase I : Key Messages1. The international community should catalyze adequate REDD-Plus

financing in all phases of REDD-Plus

2. Unlocking private finance requires demand for REDD-Plus credits and

incentives for sustainable investments

3. Planning for REDD-Plus financing should be part of a broader policy

approach which orients investments towards country-specific strategies and

objectives

5. Governments in REDD-Plus countries should ensure balanced investments

within and outside the forest sector in order to address the drivers of

deforestation and forest degradation

4. REDD-Plus payments should cover the implementation and monitoring of

environmental, social and governance safeguards


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Beyond carbon credits?:

Revenue generation mechanisms

for REDD+ investments

How sh

ould safeguards influence

investments and vice-versa?

KEY QUESTIONS ARISING FROM PHASE 1:

1. WHAT EXPERIENCES AND BEST

PRACTICE HAVE WE LEARNED INSAFEGUARDS IMPLEMENTATION?

2. HOW DO WE LINK FINANCE WITHSAFEGUARDS?

3. HOW CAN THE UNFCCC AND CBDINTERFACE WORK ON REDD-PLUS?


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Phase II of the Swiss-Philippine Initiative

Objectives:

1. Generate LESSONS LEARNED and crystallizeBEST PRACTICES from national and field basedexperiences on REDD-Plus development andimplementation.

Demonstrate how safeguards are dynamically beinginterpreted at the ground level.

Contribute towards grounding international and nationaldiscussions towards practical REDD-Plus safeguardsimplementation.

2. Developing synergistic GUIDANCE on safeguards in

both the UNFCCC and CBD processes, especially on: improving REDD-Plus safeguards implementation

the establishment of the Safeguards Information System(SIS)


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REDD-Plus at the UNFCCCElements of REDD+ Package Relevant COP

Launch of the REDD-Plus Mechanism (with 7safeguards)

COP 16 in 2010

REDD-Plus Financing Sources COP 17 in 2011

National Forest Monitoring SystemsMeasurement Reporting and Verification (MRV)

Financing Modalities

COP 18 in 2012

Safeguards Information System (SIS)GovernanceBiodiversity

COP 19/20 in 2013/2014

Hyderabad, 2012

Drivers of deforestation TBD

Forest Reference Levels TBD

Standards and Safeguards TBD


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Phase II: Activities

Nepal WorkshopField practitioners andnational policymakers

Side Event at CBD COP-11 HyderabadLaunch of Policy Brief

Side Event at UNFCCC COP-18 DohaLaunch of Policy Brief

AUGUST

OCTOBER

DECEMBER

Philippines Workshop

Safeguards workinggroup

APRIL

PARTICIPANTS AND FIELDPRACTITIONERS FROM: Switzerland

Philippines Nepal Costa Rica Kenya Tanzania

Vietnam Indonesia

France Canada+ several NGOs and field practitioners

Ph II K M


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1. REDD-Plus implementation succeeds when it adds value to the overall nationalforest management strategy and local development goals.

2. Transparency and effective participation in REDD-Plus entail ownership offorest governance structures by empowered local stakeholders

3. REDD-Plus should demonstrate that it facilitates sustainability of the forestsector by providing multiple benefits, including the conservation of biodiversity

and ecosystem services, and the associated rights of indigenous and localcommunities, particularly in areas of high biodiversity value.

5. REDD-Plus payment schemes should form part of an innovative andsustainable financing strategy linked to broader performance parameters.

4. The Safeguards Information System is a critical platform for demonstrating

compliance with REDD-Plus safeguards that secures results-based payments.

Phase II : Key Messages


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1. REDD-Plus implementation succeeds when it adds value to theoverall national forest management strategy and local

development goals.

Among its safeguards, REDD-Plus should ensure actions complement or areconsistent with the objectives of national forest programmes and relevantinternational conventions and agreements.

A common challenge is finding a niche for REDD-Plus where various forestmanagement strategies and programs already exist

Experience shows that countries that develop their REDD-Plus strategieswith the explicit purpose of adding value to existing efforts have a muchhigher chance of succeeding and gaining traction nationally and locally

REDD-Plus could be demonstrated to add emphasis on how existing plans toavoid and reduce deforestation and degradation can be logically bundled forlivelihood support and biodiversity protection, and vice versa.


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Several examples of countries

where REDD-Plus organicallyfits with broader forestmanagement/conservation goals:

Tanzanias integration of REDD-Plus with local agriculturalstrategies and Village Land

Forest Reserves Vietnams NBSAP The Philippines Ecotowns and

the National REDD-Plus Strategy

Indonesias proposed equivalentstandards across land use

sectors

Nepals comprehensivecoordination through the REDDCell

BEST PRACTICEEXAMPLES


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BEST PRACTICES IN GOVERNANCE

AND BIODIVERSITY SAFEGUARDS FOR REDD-PLUSValuing national and field-based experiences for UNFCCC-CBD synergies

2. Transparency and effective participation in REDD-Plus entailownership of forest governance structures by empowered local

stakeholders

REDD-Plus is known for its emphasis on the full and effective participation ofrelevant stakeholders in decision-making.

Numerous international initiatives and standards have emerged in recentyears that promote the development of frameworks, criteria and indicatorsto demonstrate good governance and environmental integrity, among others (e.g.FCPF Guidelines for the SESA and ESMF, the REDD-Plus SES and CCB

Standards and UN-REDD SEPC).

There are calls from national and field-based experiences that a more context-specific and demand-driven approach towards the establishment of forestgovernance structures is necessary.

National and field practitioners cite difficulties of having to comply withdifferent standards for different funding mechanisms, which can result in thedoubling of efforts and mechanistic monitoring that can ultimately hinder genuineownership of forest governance.


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Costa Rica, Indonesia, Nepal,

Vietnam and the Philippines areattempting to overcome thesechallenges through the

Harmonization and mutualrecognition of standards by statesand donors

States and NGOs taking the leadon developing nationallyappropriate safeguards guidelines

Indonesias PRISAIor shieldthe

countrys own REDD-Plus Principles,Criteria and Indicators Standard

The Philippines REDD-Plus 101 andREDD-Plus Roadshows


3 REDD Pl h ld d t t th t it f ilit t t i bilit


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3. REDD-Plus should demonstrate that it facilitates sustainabilityof the forest sector by providing multiple benefits, including the

conservation of biodiversity and ecosystem services, and theassociated rights of indigenous and local communities,

particularly in areas of high biodiversity value.

REDD-Plus requires that actions are consistent with the conservation ofnatural forests and biological diversity, and incentivize the protection andconservation of ecosystem services, and to enhance other social andenvironmental benefits.

Conservation of natural forests and biodiversity are intimately tied to accessrights, livelihoods, and possible related conflicts.

There are unique and practical examples whereby REDD-Plus projects havebeen designed from the very beginning as platforms to conserve, enhanceand provide multiple benefits beyond just emission reduction

Such benefits have ranged from jobs creation, tenure, ecotourismopportunities, improved water quality, landslide hazard mitigation and otherecosystem services.

National and field experiences cite simple and practical reality: REDD-Plus hasto be demonstrated as providing short and long-term opportunities ratherthan taking them away; facilitating sustainable outcomes and animprovement in the quality of life rather than just carbon outcomes.


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In Nepal and Tanzania, REDD-Plus

establishes local land registries tosecure tenure

In the Philippines, the NationalREDD-Plus Strategy adopts a Triple

Bottomline Approach where carbon,biodiversity and community areequally valued

Kenyas Wildlife Works Projectdemonstrates the powerful role of

jobs creation and well organizedalternative livelihoods in ensuring thesustainability of REDD-Plus


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4. The Safeguards Information System is a critical platform fordemonstrating compliance with REDD-Plus safeguards that

secures results-based payments.

It was agreed in Cancun and reaffirmed in Durban that a system for providinginformation on how safeguards are addressed and respected - a safeguardsinformation system (SIS) is a pre-requisite for obtaining results based financefor REDD-Plus.

Parties undertaking REDD-Plus activities should periodically provide asummary of information on how the safeguards are being addressed and

respected in national communications, or through communication channelsagreed by the Conference of Parties.

Advice developed under the CBD on the application of REDD-Plus relevantbiodiversity safeguards, particularly on indicators, is directly relevant to theSIS and further guidance to be developed under the UNFCCC.

Parties are now in the process of developing their SIS, establishing frameworks,standards and indicators to use as a basis for monitoring, drawing oninternational standards, existing systems, and cross-fertilisation.


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Experience from several countries stresses theimportance of participatory and inclusive

monitoring, and the value of community monitoring.

In Costa Rica, indigenous knowledge andcommunity approaches form the main basis fortheir safeguards indicators (eg. water quality)

Kenyas Wildlife Works Project is developing hybridexpert and community driven indicators. And alsoprovides upfront payments for the development ofproject level SIS

Indonesia is utilizing Participatory GovernanceAssessments (PGA) to contextualize international

standards

Nepals Community Forest User Groups monitorthe forest, their governance structures and socialdevelopment



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5. REDD-Plus payment schemes should form part of an innovativeand sustainable financing strategy linked to broader performance

parameters.

In Durban, it was recognized that a diversity of funding sources includingpublic, private, market based and non-market based financing would benecessary in order to meet the scale of financing required for the fullimplementation of REDD-Plus.

REDD-Plus finance has become a subject of interest in the public and the privatesectors alike, as there is growing evidence from national experiences that

REDD-Plus investments and payments can be logically integrated intoexisting and/or broader sustainable financing strategies cutting acrossareas related to REDD-Plus (i.e. ecosystem services, agriculture, locallivelihoods, environment-related taxes and levies).

REDD-Plus financing models are neither homogenous nor static. They aredynamic and adaptive to local realities and capacities, and oriented towards

cost-effectiveness and competitiveness. Hence, these models need to beembedded unto a broader sustainable financing strategy and bedemonstrated to add value to existing and/or new investments


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Various models are now emerging where

REDD-Plus financing is adaptively andinnovatively managed based on thepriorities and intended outcomes of aparticular area.

Tanzanias trial payment scheme to test

appropriate benefit sharing schemes

Vietnams R-Coefficient, where social andenvironmental benefits are valuated towardsinforming economic instruments

Costa Ricas NationalPayment for EcosystemServices (PES) system serving as the platformfor REDD-Plus implementation and financing


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The UNFCCC and the CBD are independently developing advice andguidance on REDD-Plus safeguards. At national levels, strategies and actionplans on REDD-Plus, biodiversity and adaptation are being developed, oftenby different agencies even though they are inextricably linked.

Extensive national experience from which best practices can be drawn

already exists.

Parties and stakeholders alike would benefit from synergistic guidancefrom the UNFCCC and the CBD that draws on such national andproject level experiences to ensure it is not only practical but also relevantand can be adapted to national and local realities.

CONCLUSIONS:Realizing synergies between the UNFCCC and CBD

on biodiversity and governance safeguards


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RECOMMENDATIONS:Realizing synergies between the UNFCCC and CBD

on biodiversity and governance safeguards

1. Synergy between National REDD-Plus Strategies, Adaptation Plans, Biodiversity Plans(NBSAPs) for efficient and effective coordination

1. Mutual recognition of CBD and UNFCCC guidance. Clarity on cross-fertility of decisionsand enhanced mechanisms for coordination, esp. with respect to REDD-Plus SIS

2. A process established towards developing common standards and guidance atinternational and national level for the implementation of safeguards and mutualrecognition of equivalent standards (eg. REDD SES and PRISAI)

3. Recognition that effective mitigation and adaptation require sustained REDD-Plusactions that build on strong local governance structures and multiple benefits models,equally valuing carbon, community and biodiversity.

4. Ensuring a transparent, effective and participatory process for developing SIS is critical,recognizing the role of community monitoring at local levels and governanceassessments at national level

5. Establishing governance frameworks to ensure equitable distribution of benefits. Trialpayments can be helpful to test sustainability and appropriateness of schemes.

6. Establish an analytical process to understand the costs and benefits of differentfinancing/benefit sharing schemes to test the effectiveness of considering broaderperformance parameters in designing performance based-payments


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AND BIODIVERSITY SAFEGUARDS FOR REDD-PLUSV l i ti l d fi ld b d i f UNFCCC CBD i

Thank you.

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