Safeguards in the Brazilian context

The REDD+ safeguards were defined under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) as general guidelines to be observed by all countries wishing to implement REDD+. Applying the safeguards in each country, however, requires efforts to interpret them under the particular local context. Brazil considers that enhancing the understanding of the safeguards is a key factor for the effective implementation of the National REDD+ Strategy.

The National REDD+ Committee has established a Thematic Advisory Board on the Safeguards to coordinate the discussions on the topic. This includes the conceptualization of the safeguards in the Brazilian context, developing the Safeguards Information System and reviewing the summary of information on the safeguards, among other activities.

Background

The debate about REDD+ safeguards in Brazil began even before the safeguards were formally defined under the UNFCCC, in December 2010. The discussions started in 2009, with the engagement of social movements, smallholders, private sector actors, environmental NGOs and research institutions in workshops, meetings and a public consultation, which had the report "REDD Social and Environmental Principles and Criteria" as an outcome. In 2011, the Ministry of the Environment (MMA) promoted the workshop "Implementing Social and Environmental Safeguards in the National REDD+ Strategy" (Portuguese only), with the engagement of several civil society organizations.

In 2012, the MMA and the National Indigenous Peoples Foundation held a seminar to discuss the indigenous peoples' issues related to the implementation of REDD+ in Brazil. The workshop resulted in the drafting of the document "Set of Principles and Premises for the Implementation of REDD+ in Indigenous Lands".

The MMA also coordinated a Technical Panel with experts from civil society organizations. The Panel conducted a survey of information and gaps related to the implementation of safeguards and the development of the Safeguards Information System. The report (Portuguese only) produced presents the results and recommendations for future developments. The "Summary of Information on how the Cancun Safeguards were Addressed and Respected by Brazil throughout the Implementation of Actions to Reduce Emissions from Deforestation in the Amazon Biome between 2006 and 2010" was largely based on this report.