Safeguard G

 Actions to reduce displacement of emissions

Actions under REDD+ and other forest-based climate mitigation mechanisms or programs must support solutions to address drivers of deforestation and forest degradation in the area of operations and adjacent areas. The trends of these drivers need to be monitored regularly and measures should be undertaken to deal with the factors that are likely to contribute to future deforestation and forest degradation in order to reduce the risks of reversal after the project is over or reduce the risks of creating pressure and causing deforestation or degradation in the adjacent areas as the results from REDD+ and other forest-based climate mitigation operations.

Principle

 Prevention of deforestation and forest degradation in other areas surrounding the project areas

- One of the key measures for Thailand to ensure laws, strategies and plans on forest, natural resource, and environmental management are achieving expected outcomes is strengthening collaboration of key stakeholders especially among the key government agencies. The central government lead by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MoNRE) has been facilitating the signing of memorandum of understanding (MoU) with key government agencies and private sectors, especially on prevention and elimination of encroachment and destruction of forest resources with Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Ministry of Defense, Royal Thai Armed Forces Headquarters, Royal Thai Army, Royal Thai Navy, Royal Thai Air Force, and Royal Thai Police, etc. As well as on forest fire management with big business corporations of the country. These MOUs ensured effective coordination and integration in implementing of strategies and plans with other sectors.

- In addition, multi-sector committees have been established at national and subnational levels to monitor the progress of strategies and plans, enhance coordination for implementations, and manage risks that could appear during the implementation. The key multi-sector committees on forest, natural resource and environmental management are;

1) National Committee on Prevention and Elimination of Deforestation, chaired by the Minister of Natural Resources and Environment and consists of executive officers (Minister, Director General, Permanent Secretary, Secretary, military Commander) of around 29 government agencies, and selected experts; with the core duties on proposing policies, measures and regulations; control, monitor, supervise on activities; collect data, evidence, and facts; report to the Prime Minister and the Cabinet on matters related to deforestation situations, and actions to prevent and eliminate deforestation and encroachment of forest lands. 

2) Provincial Sub-Committee on Prevention and Elimination of Deforestation, chaired by Provincial Governor and consists of executive officers of provincial government agencies, district authorities, and other non-government representatives such as experts, head of the community network, and representatives of the community-based or civil societies organizations. The core duties of this provincial committee include coordinate the integration of operations at the provincial level, monitor the implementations of relevant agencies, report and provide recommendations to the national committee.

3) Other relevant provincial committees include provincial committee on planning and monitoring of environmental quality management, provincial sub-committee on watershed management, committee on prevention and resolving forest-fire, smoke and PM 2.5. The core duties are similar but on the specific issues it is covered.   

- Concerning transboundary issues between Thailand and neighboring countries on forest and environmental management will be consulted, planed, and taking actions through regional border committees or joint commission cooperations including Thai-Cambodia, Thai-Lao, Thai-Myanmar, and Thai-Malaysia. These official platforms will involve executive officers of Thailand and the neighbor countries including officers from regional and provincial offices related to forest, natural resource and environment. The key transboundary issues that are being discussed and addressed for example the cross-border illegal logging and trade on the case of rosewood along the Thai-Cambodia and Thai-Lao borders.   

- Another mechanism Thailand has involved is Voluntary Partnership Agreements (VPA) process between the Government of Thailand and the EU, which initiated in late 2013. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment is the lead ministry in the VPA negotiations and RFD is hosting a secretariat office called Thai-EU FLEGT Secretariat Office (TEFSO), to coordinate and facilitate all consultations with stakeholders to produce technical documents for the VPA negotiations. Through the FLEGT VPA process the stakeholders in Thailand have enhanced their capacity, especially several regulations and procedures are developed or improved e.g. the Timber Legality Assurance System (TLAS), the due diligence import control system, etc. which will enable the country with stronger potential to prevent illegal timbers and timber products to enter in its supply chain.

- Further information on how safeguard G is respected will be compiled and monitored using the following indicators.

7.1.1 Forest loss and forest degradation and their drivers, as well as risks of due to REDD+ and other forest-based climate mitigation programs are assessed and documented at the national and subnational levels.

7.1.2 Project/program monitoring systems are developed to collect data and track on the level of deforestation and forest degradation in the areas surrounding project/program implementing areas. 

7.2.1 The National Forest Monitoring System (NFMS) is in place to provide information to monitor and manage risks on displacement of deforestation and forest degradation. 

7.2.2 Implementation plans for REDD+ and other forest-based climate mitigation programs identify measures to prevent displacement of deforestation and forest degradation.