Designing Effective REDD+ Safeguard Information Systems

The report examines the development of safeguard information systems (SIS) for REDD+, focusing on how to leverage existing systems to meet UNFCCC Durban guidance. It analyzes eight existing frameworks—including UN-REDD SEPC, FCPF SESA, and the Convention on Biological Diversity—and provides case studies from Ethiopia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Tanzania, and Vietnam. The findings emphasize the need for harmonized reporting, multistakeholder participation, and country-driven processes to ensure transparency and avoid duplicative burdens on national focal points.

• The UN-REDD Social and Environmental Principles and Criteria (SEPC) and the Climate, Community and Biodiversity Alliance (CCBA) REDD+ Social and Environmental Standards (SES) are the most closely aligned with REDD+ safeguards, making them primary candidates for integrated reporting.
• The EU's Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) process provides strong data for governance safeguards, specifically regarding national forest laws and the effectiveness of legal frameworks.
• The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and Global Forest Resource Assessment (FRA) offer significant data for reporting on biodiversity and natural forest conservation safeguards.
• Early national experiences show that REDD+ SIS are effectively built by integrating data from existing sources; for example, the Philippines uses FRA data and biodiversity assessments, while Vietnam links its SIS to its national MRV framework and benefits distribution system.
• Effective institutional structures for SIS often involve a tiered approach where subnational entities collect data and national focal points consolidate and report the information to the UNFCCC, as seen in Indonesia's proposed model.
• Stakeholder participation, particularly from civil society organizations (CSOs) and local communities, is critical for validating safeguard information and filling capacity gaps in government departments.
• There is a critical need to harmonize reporting requirements across the UNFCCC and various funders (such as FCPF and UN-REDD) to prevent unnecessary complexity and administrative burdens on national focal points.

APA

Boyle, J., & Murphy, D. (2012). Designing Effective REDD+ Safeguard Information Systems. International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/redd_sis_building_existing_systems.pdf

Chicago

Boyle, Jessica, and Deborah Murphy. Designing Effective REDD+ Safeguard Information Systems. International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2012. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/redd_sis_building_existing_systems.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Boyle |first1=Jessica |last2=Murphy |first2=Deborah |title=Designing Effective REDD+ Safeguard Information Systems |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |date=August 2012 |url=https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/redd_sis_building_existing_systems.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{boyle2012designing, author = {Boyle, Jessica and Murphy, Deborah}, title = {{Designing Effective REDD+ Safeguard Information Systems}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2012}, month = aug, url = {https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/redd_sis_building_existing_systems.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }