Forest and Plant Conservation Research Office
Forest and Climate Change Division

Cancun Safeguards

The ‘Cancun Safeguards’ are a set of social and environmental safeguards for REDD+ implementation, which were adopted at the 16th Conference of the Parties (COP) to the UNFCCC in 2010. The safeguards aim to ensure that any social and environmental risks of REDD+ actions are minimized and that the benefits are enhanced.

The seven Cancun Safeguards are:

(A) Consistent with national forest programs, national laws, and relevant international conventions and agreements,
(B) Transparent and effective national forest governance structures,
(C) Respect for the knowledge and rights of indigenous peoples and members of local communities,
(D) Full and effective participation of relevant stakeholders,
(E) Actions are consistent with the conservation of natural forests and biological diversity, and to enhance other social and environmental benefits,
(F) Actions to address the risks of reversals,
(G) Actions to reduce displacement of emissions.
Countries that implement REDD+ must promote and support the Cancun Safeguards in all REDD+ implementations must develop a Safeguards Information System (SIS) to demonstrate these safeguards are addressed and respected, and must periodically submit Summaries of Information on safeguards to the UNFCCC.
What do ''address'' and ''respect'' mean?
“Address”: The governance arrangements - including policies, laws, regulations and the institutions, information systems, etc. – to deal with safeguards are in place (on paper).

“Respect”: How these governance arrangements are being implemented and affect real and positive outcomes on the ground (in practice)
Forest and Plant Conservation Research Office
Forest and Climate Change Division
magnifiercross linkedin facebook pinterest youtube rss twitter instagram facebook-blank rss-blank linkedin-blank pinterest youtube twitter instagram