Safeguarding Forests and People

This report provides a framework for REDD+ countries to establish national systems for implementing the seven UNFCCC REDD+ safeguards. It details a structure based on goals, functions, rules, and institutions, and advises governments to assess existing institutional gaps before implementing new laws or agencies to protect biodiversity and local people's rights.

• The UNFCCC REDD+ safeguards consist of seven guiding principles, including transparency, participation, the protection of biodiversity, and the protection of the rights of local people. These safeguards are intended to ensure that REDD+ initiatives do not inadvertently exacerbate existing inequalities or harm ecosystems and communities.
• A robust national system for implementing REDD+ safeguards is composed of four primary components: goals, functions, rules, and institutions. The functions of such a system include anticipating risks and opportunities, planning to avoid harm, managing actions through safeguard plans, monitoring processes and outcomes, and responding to grievances.
• Governments intending to create a national safeguard system should first conduct an assessment with stakeholders to determine the extent to which existing rules and institutions meet the system's goals and functions, and identify risks associated with current gaps. Depending on the findings, governments may choose to reform existing rules, strengthen current institutions, or create new laws, regulations, and agencies.

APA

World Resources Institute (n.d.). Safeguarding Forests and People. https://www.wri.org/research/safeguarding-forests-and-people

Chicago

World Resources Institute. Safeguarding Forests and People. n.d. https://www.wri.org/research/safeguarding-forests-and-people.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=World Resources Institute |title=Safeguarding Forests and People |url=https://www.wri.org/research/safeguarding-forests-and-people |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{worldresourcesinstitutendsafeguarding, author = {{World Resources Institute}}, title = {{Safeguarding Forests and People}}, institution = {World Resources Institute}, url = {https://www.wri.org/research/safeguarding-forests-and-people}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }