XVI/7.Advice on the application of relevant REDD+¹³ safeguards for biodiversity, and on possible indicators and potential mechanisms to assess impacts of REDD+ measures on Biodiversity

1.Noting the potential for synergies in implementing efforts for reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation in developing countries; and the role of conservation, sustainable management of forests and enhancement of forest carbon stocks in developing countries (REDD+), and the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 and its Aichi Biodiversity Targets, urges Parties, other Governments, and relevant organizations to ensure that they are implemented in a coherent and mutually supportive way;

2.Noting that the indicative list of indicators to assess progress towards the goals of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 and the Aichi Biodiversity Targets, as contained in recommendation XV/1 of the Subsidiary Body, could be useful for assessing the contributions of REDD+ activities for achieving the objectives of the Convention on Biological Diversity;

3.Noting that relevant technical guidance for achieving biodiversity and indigenous and local community benefits in the context of REDD+ activities is available or under development at national, regional and international level;

4.Invites Parties, other Governments, and relevant organizations to continue and strengthen their efforts to promote the contribution of REDD+ activities towards achieving the objectives of the Convention on Biological Diversity, and provide benefits for biodiversity and to indigenous and local communities, with particular attention to:

[5.[Approves] [Takes note of] [Welcomes] the advice on relevant country-specific biodiversity safeguards for REDD+ contained in annex I,^** as guidance focused on national implementation;]

6.Invites Parties, other Governments, and relevant organizations to consider the information in annex I^** when planning and implementing REDD+ activities and when preparing national reports and other submissions on progress towards the Aichi Biodiversity Targets of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020, and, where applicable, for other relevant submissions under other processes;

7.Noting its relevance to addressing REDD+ safeguards and multiple benefits, reaffirms its guidance on ecosystem based approaches to climate change mitigation and on reducing biodiversity impacts of mitigation measures in decision X/33, paragraphs 8 (m)-(q), (s), (u), (v), (y) and (z);

8.Invites Parties and other Governments, according to national circumstances and priorities, as well as relevant organizations and processes to reduce the risk of displacement of deforestation and forest degradation to areas of lower carbon value and/or higher biodiversity value, and other risks to biodiversity and to indigenous and local communities, including through:

9.With reference to the safeguards adopted in UNFCCC decision 1/CP.16, appendix I, paragraph 2, encourages Parties that are planning and implementing REDD+ activities to develop and apply REDD+ safeguards that ensure that benefits for biodiversity and for indigenous and local communities are achieved, and to share their experiences and lessons learned from national and, where appropriate, subnational implementation;

10.Noting that there are ongoing safeguards initiatives related to REDD+, invites Parties, other Governments and relevant organizations involved in these initiatives to share their experiences and lessons learned, as a contribution to the development and implementation of national, and where appropriate sub-national safeguard frameworks, considering paragraphs 7 and 8 above; and invites organizations and countries in a position to do so to provide further support to developing countries in addressing biodiversity concerns and in achieving multiple benefits in REDD+ activities at national and, where appropriate, sub-national level;

11.Requests the Executive Secretary to compile information from Parties on experiences regarding how the potential effects of REDD+ activities for the traditional way of life and related knowledge and customary practices of indigenous and local communities are being addressed, and to submit this information to the Working Group on Article 8(j) and Related Provisions for its consideration, and invites the Working Group on Article 8(j) and Related Provisions to consider this information when undertaking their broader work, as appropriate;

12.Further requests the Executive Secretary to: and report on progress of such efforts to the Conference of the Parties at its twelfth meeting.

13.Requests the Executive Secretary to further develop advice on issues included in paragraph 9 (h) of decision X/33, based on further views from Parties and in collaboration with the Collaborative Partnership on Forests, and report to the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice prior to the [twelfth] [thirteenth] meeting of the Conference of the Parties.