Project News

REDD+ Safeguards are precautionary measures to avoid or reduce the social and environmental risks of negative impacts caused by REDD+ activities^[1]. Countries planning to receive the result-based payments of REDD+ should submit, in advance to UNFCCC^[2], a REDD+ safeguards report outlining the status of the implementation of safeguards in their work. Thus, F-REDD is assisting Laos in preparing its REDD+ safeguards report.

As part of this support, a total of five consultations (twice at the national level, three times at the regional level) were held. The consultations were done by setting the safeguards as themes, particularly "Transparent and effective national forest governance structures" and "Respect for the knowledge and rights of indigenous peoples and members of local communities", and targeting the main involved actors as five groups, which are government, local community, private sector, civil society, and development partners. As sufficient consideration on social customs, languages, and gender is important to encourage free and fair discussion, especially for the local community group. RECOFTC^[3] was selected as a partner to enhance the neutrality and transparency of the consultations.

The results of the consultations will be submitted to the UNFCCC Secretariat in the middle of this year as part of the REDD+ safeguards report for Laos. In this way, Laos'REDD+ efforts are progressing, slowly but surely.

A consultation workshop in the northern region

Discussion in a group work