FGM Workshop Background Paper - REDD - VietNam

‘legally produced timber’ and ‘decreased deforestation’ will be important selling
points and requirements. Such results can only be realized and ensured in the longer
term if an adequate forest governance system is in place. In the case of REDD+ the
in 2010 formulated ‘safeguards’ (see box 05) can be considered governance
aspects.
Box 05: Safeguards for REDD+
When undertaking REDD+ activities, the following safeguards should be
promoted and supported:
“(a) Actions complement or are consistent with the objectives of national forest
programmes and relevant international conventions and agreements;
(b) Transparent and effective national forest governance structures, taking into
account national legislation and sovereignty;
(c) Respect for the knowledge and rights of indigenous peoples and members of
local communities, by taking into account relevant international obligations,
national circumstances and laws, and noting that the United Nations General
Assembly has adopted the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of
Indigenous Peoples;
(d) The full and effective participation of relevant stakeholders, in particular,
indigenous peoples and local communities, in actions referred to in paragraphs
70 and 72 of this decision;
(e) Actions are consistent with the conservation of natural forests and biological
diversity, ensuring that actions referred to in paragraph 70 of this decision are
not used for the conversion of natural forests, but are instead used to incentivize
the protection and conservation of natural forests and their ecosystem services,
and to enhance other social and environmental benefits;
(f) Actions to address the risks of reversals;
(g) Actions to reduce displacement of emissions. “
Source: Annex I from draft decision -/CP.16, LCA, Cancun 2010
2.3. Why monitor forest governance?
Box 06: The Power of Measuring Results
• If you do not measure results, you cannot tell success from failure
• If you cannot see success, you cannot reward it
• If you cannot reward success, you are probably rewarding failure
• If you cannot see success, you cannot learn from it
• If you cannot recognize failure, you cannot correct it
• If you can demonstrate results, you can win public support
(Source: Kusek & Rist, 2004 7 )
Promoting forest governance may be good, but why should one engage in
monitoring such governance? Would it not be better to spend funds in a more useful
7 Kusek, J., and Rist, R., 2004, 'Ten Steps to a Results-based Monitoring and Evaluation System', World Bank,
Washington, D.C. 268 pp. http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/23/27/35281194.pdf
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