Also available in Spanish
As REDD+ preparation in Mexico proceeds at a rapid pace, civil society, local communities, and indigenous peoples have voiced concerns regarding impacts on communities and community rights. However, if the government of Mexico facilitates a transparent, participatory process of REDD+ strategy development and implementation, REDD+ is a potential opportunity to promote community rights, strengthen the Mexican legal framework, and facilitate sustainable rural development.
A new study, led by Red MOCAF and RITA and authored by Gonzalo Chapela y Mendoza, explores in detail several priority themes for REDD+ and community rights. The study draws upon an analysis of national legislation, existing government forest-related programs, literature on safeguards and human rights, interviews with relevant actors, and input from local communities during workshops. The study begins by considering the concept of REDD+, identifies risks and threats inherent to REDD+ that require safeguards, outlines the essential components of a national safeguard framework, and concludes by makes proposals for integration of binding safeguard language into the federal legal framework.
Read the full study (Spanish):
Mexican Forest Communities Facing REDD
Examining the guarantee of community rights: Safeguards; benefit distribution of avoided emissions; and monitoring, reporting and verification