May 19, 2015 REDD+ Safeguard Information Systems: Vietnam’s nascent response Stevo Swan

Contents 1.Current status 2.Near-future interventions 3.Take-home messages 2Title

3 Background Vietnam – one of the first countries to engage in REDD+  FCPF - R-PIN (2008) → R-PP (2010; mid-2012 inception)  UN-REDD – first country programme (Phase I: ; Phase II: in prep.)  Numerous NGO interventions (SNV largest and most diverse REDD+ prog.) Vietnam - not one of the earlier starter safeguard countries in 2011  Responding to Cancun safeguards - number of national processes instigated  Brazil (Acre); DRC; Ecuador; Indonesia (Central Kalimantan) Nepal; Tanzania  Responses driven by external multilateral initiatives (SEPC; SES; SESA)

Readiness efforts Vietnam – focus of readiness efforts to date: 1.Institutional development 2.Stakeholder engagement 3.Benefit Distribution System 4.Reference (Emission) Levels 5.MRV framework 6.National REDD+ Programme Vietnam - focused on main elements of national REDD+ architecture  Institutional foundations  System of accounting for emission reductions/enhanced removals  System of compensating local actors for implementing REDD+ activities  Next key piece of REDD+ architecture to be designed and installed – SIS…? 4Title

UN-REDD activities National MRV Framework Document  ‘With reference to safeguards information’ – web-based portal by Phase II Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC)  Guidelines developed, applied and evaluated in one pilot province Benefit distribution system (BDS)  R-coefficients (payment weighting); self-selection procedures for BDS models Participatory governance assessment (PGA)  Multi-stakeholder assessment (instigated March 2012) Participatory carbon monitoring (PCM):  Technical manual developed and tested in one pilot province 5Title

‘High-biodiversity REDD+’ INTERNATIONAL INTERNATIONAL mechanisms to foster high-biodiversity REDD+ schemes explored and supported NATIONAL Biodiversity safeguards are recognised and operationalised as part of the NATIONAL REDD+ programme SUBNATIONAL Biodiversity monitoring framework designed, tested at the SUBNATIONAL level and integrated into the safeguards information system LOCAL Participatory forest (carbon and biodiversity) monitoring system developed and piloted at the LOCAL level 6Title

International intervention Conceptual framework - broad options for national governments National policy strengthening and coherence Integrated subnational planning National REDD+ programme-level standards Regulatory approaches Economic incentives Monitoring and reporting 7Title How to operationalize Cancun safeguards and deliver co-benefit performance?

Technical assistance from UNEP-WCMC SNV remains product-neutral; focus on facilitating multi-stakeholder process Make significant and necessary contributions to forestry sector-wide policy (Circular guiding strategic environment and social assessment in forestry ) National intervention Harmonised national safeguard response 1. Comparative analysis - Cancun safeguards, SESA, SEPC, SES Institutional processes; purposes; content; applications 2. Options assessment → developing national safeguards approaches basis for developing generic guidance multiple sets of safeguards addressed in a single country-led process 8Title

Subnational and local interventions Participatory Forest Monitoring (PFM) cost-effective contribution to SIS…? 3 areas of intervention: Technical development and field testing of global best practice methodologies currently limited to development of global best practice PCM and PBM Operational frameworks identifying entry points in existing monitoring systems proposing options modifications to accommodate PFM data Political engaging national and (pilot) provincial governments in policy dialogue using operational framework as a communications vehicle 9Title

STWG-SG overview Sub-technical working group on safeguards (STWG-SG)  1 of 6 STWGs: BDS; governance; local implementation; MRV; private sector  Inaugural meeting (28 March 2012); 2 nd meeting (19 April 2012)  Chaired by VNFOREST-Vietnam REDD+ Office and SNV (HB-REDD+ PMU) Objective  Co-ordinated technical assistance delivered to GoV and other stakeholders  Operationalising safeguards to promote social and environmental co-benefits  At national, subnational and local levels 10Title

STWG-SG results 1.STWG-SG established and operationalized  2012 indicator – six STWG-SG meeting agendas and minutes 2.Options for operationalizing REDD+ safeguards in Vietnam identified  2012 indicator - options paper - existing and potential safeguard actions 3.National REDD+ programme environmental & social safeguards developed  2012 indicator – first coherent draft of national REDD+ safeguards 4.National safeguard information system (SIS) developed  2012 indicator – first coherent draft of SIS framework document 11Title

National SIS Forest Management Information System (FORMIS) National Forest Inventory (NFI) Forest and Forest Land Monitoring (FFLM) Novel system or part of existing systems? No commitments to MRV under UNFCCC Integrate with MRV or not? Responding to UNFCCC SBSTA and CBD SBSTTA guidance Defining information protocols and standards Elaborating an operational framework Designing web portal architecture Identification of capacity building needs Some indicative activities? 12Title

Concluding remarks There are a range of options available for operationalizing safeguards: national policy strengthening, integrated subnational planning, regulatory and economic instruments and improved monitoring systems Incorporating co-benefits into a national REDD+ strategy or programme doesn’t necissitate the creation of brand-new systems or technologies but the re-evaluation and enhancement of those already at a country’s disposal REDD+ countries are already committed to environmental and social outcomes in the forestry sector. Integrating co-benefits into REDD+ could reduce investment and transaction costs of delivering these outcomes It is important to adopt national-level standards as a direct intervention that demonstrates political commitment to environmental and social co- benefits, but they are not the totality of a country’s safeguard response 13Title

National REDD+ Programme Draft indicates environmental and social safeguard policy commitments Overall objective Specific objective Guiding principles Policy integration Fund management Benefit distribution International co-operation Reiterates Cancun safeguards but does not prescribe actions 14Title

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