 |
To be successful, any REDD mechanism must respect the rights of Indigenous Peoples and other forest-dependent communities. Towards this objective, the UN-REDD Programme is undertaking global and national consultations. In partnership with the United Nations University, Tebtebba and the Secretariat to the Convention on Biological Diversity, UNDP hosted the Global Indigenous Peoples Consultation on REDD in Baguio City, Philippines, in November 2008. The overarching principles and recommendations developed during this consultation – which included the call for engagement, information and reliance on free, prior and informed consent – provided the basis for an Operational Guidance for the Engagement of Indigenous Peoples and Other Forest-Dependent Communities. This Guidance is being distributed to UN-REDD Programme staff, UN Country Team staff, and national government and civil society counterparts involved in any UN-REDD Programme activities that may impact upon the rights and livelihoods of Indigenous Peoples or other forest dependent communities.
UNDP is responsible for facilitating the self-selection of the Indigenous Peoples representatives to the Policy Board - a process initiated during the Indigenous Peoples’ Global Summit on Climate Change in Anchorage, Alaska - as well as civil society representatives self-selection. It also facilitates the input from the independent Civil Society Advisory Group to the UN-REDD Programme through the Policy Board.