Institutional Mechanisms for REDD+ - Case Studies Working Paper

� Risk of deforestation;
� Proportion of indigenous population in the area;
� Women‘s participation in the project; and
� The capacity of the applicants to organize themselves and execute the project.
Once the participants are selected, and if it is not available already, the boundaries of the area entering into
the contract are delineated and geo-referenced for monitoring purposes. Performance is monitored using a
combination of remote sensing and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) analysis to detect changes in
forest cover coupled with occasional audits in the field. If deforestation is detected, the payment can be
suspended for the year or the remainder of the contract if it is determined that the owner/community did not
meet the terms of the contract. At the end of the five-year term, there is a possibility to renew the contract.
The program also promotes efforts to secure matching funds to support local concurrent PES systems
(CONAFOR, 2010). 7
Overview of key institutions and actors:
� CONAFOR manages the system, monitors performance, and raises matching funds.
� The PES National Technical Committee is comprised of stakeholders from universities and research
institutions, private sector, government, and civil society actors. They are responsible for selecting the
proposals to participate in the program. The Technical Committee has the authority to demand
compliance with the agreement and to cancel the agreement if the communities do not fulfill the terms
(Government of México, 2010).
� The PES Consultative Technical Committee is comprised of stakeholders from academia, the private sector,
government, and civil society. It provides guidance and advice on matters related to the operating rules
and eligible areas. 8
� Communities, ejidos, and individual landowners commit to maintaining the forest cover of areas under contract
through fire control activities, prevention of illegal logging, and implementation of forest management
practices.
� Intermediaries include forest technicians, NGOs and private consulting firms. Intermediaries play a key role
helping communities to prepare the applications and contracts and develop and implement the projects.
Intermediaries are hired by the communities and the fees and terms of these contracts are not regulated
by CONAFOR. However, intermediaries are required to be registered with CONAFOR. The agency
offers general guidelines as well as suggested fees. For the winning projects, CONAFOR includes
additional funds to cover these services.
� Other actors include those that contribute to PES matching funds (see below), local governments
(including state government, municipalities, and city governments), NGOs, individuals, the private sector,
and foundations and international cooperation funds.
Funding sources:
7 Interviews with Paola Bauche, José María Michel, Sofia Magdalena Garcia Sanchez and Victor Hugo Martinez Cíntora (CONAFOR).
8 Torres-Gonzalez, J. El programa de pago por servicios ambientales en México. Presentation; Gobierno de México.
6 PRRGP INSTITUTIONAL MECHANISMS FOR REDD: CASE STUDIES – WORKING PAPER