Indigenous Intl. Caucus about REDD+

• We consider important the participation of indigenous experts in education and training programs in the use of IPCC methodologies.
• We support pilot initiatives with indigenous communities which take into account key social, environmental, economic and rights elements.
• Forests are not just carbon sinks. Forests form part of the processes and functions of the planet’s life systems. Therefore they are important for the processes of regulating the climate and are vulnerable to changes in the climate. Forests are centers of life and biodiversity because they are spaces inhabited by a group of beings including animals, micro organisms, vegetable and humans, in particular indigenous peoples.
• With regard to the drivers of deforestation,  we have repeatedly pointed out that the main threats to forests are: monoculture, energy mega projects, agriculture, large infrastructure projects etc… We are concerned that indigenous peoples’ practices of shifting cultivation have been identified as one of the drivers of deforestation.
• Indigenous peoples must have full and effective participation in the definition of reference levels at national and sub national levels, including making contributions  based on traditional knowledge;
• The implementation and monitoring of redd + activities, must be in compliance with international instruments and must require  respect for the rights of indigenous peoples, in particular their rights to land, territory, and natural resources and effective implementation of their right to free, prior and informed consent. 
• It is important that there be an information system reporting on respect for safeguards. The reporting should be linked to international instruments and the actual performance  of governments in respecting these obligations. We reaffirm the Free Prior and Informed Consent must be considered as a right and not as a safeguard.
• Indigenous peoples themselves can produce reports based on criteria established in a workshop convened by the SBSTA for this purpose and can create an information system to supplement and to be an integral part of the national information system.  
• We recommend the establishment of a technical workshop to review progress on safeguards in other processes such as CBD. The implementation of safeguards and activities identified will require that adequate financial resources made available to indigenous peoples.
• The information system produced by indigenous peoples on the application of safeguards should also be taken into account in assessing the activities financed by the Green Climate Fund.