Challenges for REDD+:
Co-benefits and Biodiversity
Safeguards
Ian Thompson
Canadian Forest ServiceandInternational Union of Forest
Research Organisations (IUFRO)
Waseda University, Tokyo, February 8, 2013

What are co-benefits and safeguards?
• REDD is about storing carbon - anything else that is derived froma REDD project is a ‘co-benefit’- e.g., clean water, bushmeat, biodiversity, etc.
• this language is unfortunate because it implies the need to modify
a REDD project to achieve co-benefits• safeguards are built-in assurances that certain forest social andenvironmental values will be protectedConvention on Biological Diversity –REDD safeguards Decision
Adopted as Decision XI/19:• compile information on biodiversity safeguards• work with IUFRO Global Expert Panel on climate change
and biodiversity :- Publication: “Understanding Relationships between
Biodiversity, Carbon, Forests, and People: the key toachieving REDD+ objectives” (IUFRO World Series Vol. 31)• build synergy between biodiversity action plans and climate
action plans• guidance to Parties: stakeholder involvement, multiple
benefits, ecosystem management, limit degradation, use
native trees, consider all carbon pools, use traditional
knowledge, etc.

Environmental safeguards
1. Overall: No leakage and must be additional
2. Actions should be consistent with conservationof natural forests and biodiversity• consistent with CBD ‘Programme of Work on
Forest Biodiversity’ and national forest planning• protection and conservation of primary forests• enhance other environmental services• no forest conversion
3. Avoid adverse impacts on non-forest
ecosystems and their services• no afforestation in grasslands or savannahs

Why are REDD environmental
safeguards important?
• we obtain many benefits from forests, not just carbon• need to comply with national biodiversity plans andenvironmental laws
• projects need to be science based – i.e., need tounderstand ecosystem science• e.g., understand that biodiversity supports many
ecosystem services, including carbon

Why do we need biodiversity safeguards?
• most safeguard processes consider biodiversity as a “cobenefit” to carbon in forests• this view is fundamentally wrong because there is arelationship between biodiversity and carbon in forests• many other ecosystem services are also supported bybiodiversity• >70% of studies show that more species in the ecosystem
leads to higher production

Mechanisms for biodiversity increasing
production and carbon storage• complementarity in resource use• facilitation (e.g., legumes, symbionts, commensals)• increased pollination by multiple species• pest reduction (e.g., birds reduce chronic insect herbivory
and increase production by 20% in montane pines in US)• disease reduction (e.g., roots touching in single species
plantations facilitates disease)• increased soil productivity (litter decomposition)• ecosystem resilienceBiodiversity is key to many
ecosystem services
Ecosystem service

Strength of linkage
to biodiversity

Quality of evidence

Pollination

HighHigh

Decomposition

HighHigh

Carbon sequestration

HighHigh

Carbon storage

Mixed

High

Erosion control

Low

High

Pest control

High

High

Seed dispersal

High
to none (wind)High

Water quality

Low

Poor

Water quantity

Medium to highPoor

So, we could grow trees and store carbon….

Or, we could foster and maintain forest ecosystems withmultiple ecosystem services….and store even more carbon

How should we implementbiodiversity safeguards?
• need landscape approach with national-level data on forest
types and species distributions – high biodiversity areas• maintaining primary forests first• sustainable management second, and reforest third• establish best indicators with set objectives (e.g., area of eachecosystem type, functional species, etc.) for monitoring

Composite map ofcarbon and species
richness in Tanzania

MRV – Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification• need effective information systems (including indicators)• assess progress relative to objectives which are thesafeguards
MonitorFundingagency

Reportprogress

REDD project
design andfunding by results

Assess relative
to objectives

Value of safeguards with MRV• enables a results-based incremental funding scheme• protect local cultures and national interests• promotes sustainable development• promotes science-based policy for forest recovery• promotes consideration of more than just carbon

Conclusions and why we need biodiversity safeguards• biodiversity provides many ecosystem services and isdirectly related to carbon sequestration• biodiversity is directly related to ecosystem resilience• therefore: REDD projects in degraded forests ordeforested areas should work towards fully functioning
forest ecosystems to• 1. maximise carbon storage over time, and• 2. provide a suite of other services to benefit local
communities

End