Community guidelines for accessing forestry voluntary carbon ... - FAO
Community guidelines for accessing forestry voluntary carbon ... - FAO
Community guidelines for accessing forestry voluntary carbon ... - FAO
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<strong>Community</strong> <strong>guidelines</strong> <strong>for</strong> <strong>accessing</strong> <strong>for</strong>estry <strong>voluntary</strong> <strong>carbon</strong> markets<br />
<strong>for</strong> governments to grant concession rights, <strong>for</strong> instance <strong>for</strong><br />
logging, in areas under traditional land tenure systems without<br />
consulting the local population.<br />
2. Understand property rights. It is very important <strong>for</strong> the project<br />
developer to investigate evidence of property rights within the<br />
project area, as well as any outstanding conflicting claims to<br />
the land and resources. If there are unresolved disputes, the<br />
proposed project will be affected and may even aggravate the<br />
disputes. Many communities still use customary or traditional<br />
systems of resource use and land tenure. Unless these are<br />
properly understood and respected, the project will not meet<br />
good standards of social responsibility.<br />
3. Effective communication with local people is essential in<br />
order to discuss rights issues openly and transparently with<br />
all concerned parties. In<strong>for</strong>mation must not be withheld from<br />
communities, nor should they have any reason to suspect<br />
that it has been withheld, or that the project has proceeded<br />
without their consent. Suspicion of non-transparency can<br />
lead to a breakdown in trust and undermine all the hard work<br />
that has been done to develop the project. Through FPIC,<br />
in<strong>for</strong>mation sharing can lead to a consensual agreement.<br />
4. Reach agreement on all rights issues be<strong>for</strong>e proceeding<br />
with the project. People living in or around the project area<br />
may rely in whole or in part on the resources <strong>for</strong> food, fuel,<br />
medicine, fiber, building materials, religious and cultural<br />
purposes. Discuss all relevant issues and establish how the<br />
various benefits of the <strong>for</strong>est can be maintained and shared.<br />
If and when a <strong>for</strong>estry VCM project delivers <strong>carbon</strong> credits, it<br />
must be clear who has the rights to receive financial benefits<br />
from their sale, and these rights must also be agreed upon by<br />
all stakeholders.<br />
5. Document everything. Involve the relevant authorities, legal<br />
and customary agencies to witness agreements made between<br />
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