Brazil takes a big step in REDD+ implementation and will receive US$ 96 million from the GCF

Brazil's proposal to receive payments for results in reducing emissions from deforestation (RED) in 2014 and 2015 was approved by the GCF Board in its 22nd meeting in Songdo, Korea. The approval is a historic result that demonstrates recognition of the country's efforts to produce REDD+ results made possible by the implementation of forest-related public policies in the past two decades.

Brazil's proposal was the first approved under the GCF REDD+ results-based payment (RBP) pilot programme launched in October 2017. This program aims to operationalize the REDD+ results-based payments instrument and targets developing countries that have achieved emission reduction results from deforestation and forest degradation, recognized under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

Since the launch of the GCF pilot program, the Ministry of the Environment (MMA in its Portuguese acronym) has been pursuing efforts to comply with the requirements from the Call for Proposals and access the resources. The first step was the selection of the United Nation Development Program (UNDP) as the most suitable GCF accredited entity operating in Brazil for this proposal. UNDP was identified through a simplified selection process, based on technical parameters, which involved thirteen entities already accreditedor in an advanced phase of accreditation to the GCF.

Since this definition, MMA and UNDP worked in partnership to prepare the documents necessary for the approval of the proposal. In July 2018, the Concept Note for the Funding Proposal was presented, which demonstrates Brazil's compliance with the requirements of the Warsaw Framework for REDD+ and its interest in receiving payment for its results. In August 2018, the financing proposal was submitted, which includes, besides the description of how Brazil achieved the results, the guidelines for the use of funds and information on imlpementation and the respective arrangements. A process of dialogue with the different stakeholders and potential beneficiaries will follow.

Since the launch of the GCF Pilot Program in October last year, MMA has been conducting dialogues involving various actors and discussion forums, including the CONAREDD+; representatives of the states of the Legal Amazon; other ministries; instances of governance within the scope of the National Policy for Territorial and Environmental Management of Indigenous Lands (PNGATI); among others. With the approval of the proposal, the dialogues will continue to promote transparency and social participation in the process of refining the project proposal (project design, distribution of resources, implementation arrangement, etc.) involving various sectors of society. The proposal divides resource use into two main components, or outputs:

• Development of a Pilot Program to Incentivize Environmental Services for Conservation and Recovery of Native Vegetation (Floresta+ Program); and
• Strengthening the implementation of the National REDD+ Strategy (ENREDD+) through improvements in its governance, structure and systems.

The Floresta+ project, a component that will receive more than 80% of the total amount of resources, embodies Brazil's effort to demonstrate its commitment to the continued reduction of emissions from deforestation, as well as forest degradation. Aligned with approaches already taken in action plans to combat deforestation and the National Plan for Native Vegetation Recovery (Planaveg), Floresta+ seeks to promote innovation in incentives for environmental services through conservation and recovery of native vegetation. The project will share benefits with rural, indigenous and traditional Amazonian communities for a more sustainable production, aiming to recognize the role of key stakeholders for forest conservation in the country. The development of Floresta+ has as specific objectives:

• Provide monetary compensation to encourage the conservation and restoration of native vegetation, as well as the improvement of ecosystems that generate environmental services;
• Prevent deforestation, forest degradation and forest fires through monetary incentives;
• Encourage conservation and restoration of native vegetation on farms, conservation of indigenous', traditional peoples and communities' territories;
• Promote compliance with environmental legislation, especially those related to the protection and restoration of native vegetation;
• Provide a financial mechanism to foster the development and implementation of public policies on conservation and restoration of native vegetation, in particular, Proveg and Planaveg.

For more information on the proposal and documents submitted to the GCF, please visit: http://redd.mma.gov.br/pt/financiamento/fundo-verde-para-o-clima-gcf.