The release for public comment of the draft “Beyond Carbon Benefits” certification of the Architecture for REDD+ Transactions (ART) program marks an important milestone in the evolution of REDD+. This is not just another certification, but a fundamental shift in the way we approach forest conservation and climate change mitigation. For too long, REDD+ initiatives have focused exclusively on demonstrating carbon emissions reductions, without including the community economic, social, cultural, and spiritual dimensions intrinsic to forest ecosystems and the worldviews of the communities that care for them. This new certification aims to address this gap.

The certification includes three modules: the Forest Services Module, the Biodiversity Module and the Social-Cultural Module. The three modules will be applied simultaneously and are designed to be applied at the jurisdictional scale in the areas registered with the ART program under the TREES standard. Furthermore, it follows the principle of respecting and strengthening the rights, cultural diversity, and organization of the Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities involved.

The process of co-construction of this framework is as important as the outcome. For the first time, a carbon certification program has partnered with Indigenous Peoples and Local Community organizations (IPLCs) to co-design the model and certification instrument. This IPLC committee worked on the Social-Cultural Module for over a year, meeting continuously to reflect on the experiences and context of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities in different regions, and then proposing the themes, parameters and indicators that are now part of this certification. This unprecedented partnership between IPLC organizations in the Americas and the Congo Basin and the Architecture for REDD+ Transactions (ART), a leading carbon program, marks a fundamental shift in the way carbon market instruments are designed. This working model strengthens the guarantees that the voices and perspectives of the stakeholders most directly affected by REDD+ are included in the instruments governing this mechanism from their design, reducing risks and increasing benefits.

At the same time, and following the methodology developed in the IPLC Committee, a committee of experts in biodiversity, that included a representative from an African IPLC organization, and another in forest services worked on proposals to recognize these attributes in the territories where jurisdictional REDD+ initiatives are implemented.

Aligned with the challenge expressed at the COP16 summit on Biodiversity in Cali, the effort makes REDD+ go beyond the simple accounting of carbon emissions and is understood as a bridge between climate efforts, the defense of the rights of IPLCs and the protection of biodiversity. It recognizes that the success of REDD+ initiatives lies not only in their climate impacts, but in their potential to generate a wide range of environmental, economic, social and cultural co-benefits.

The IPLC committee that worked with ART on the design of this certification is proposing that the following be included in the social and cultural co-benefits component:

• Sustainable Indigenous and Community economies: Enhancing community-led economic activities and enterprises, respecting their traditional practices and fostering long-term economic resilience and self-determination.
• Enabling conditions and capacity building: Equipping Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities with the knowledge, skills and resources needed to participate effectively in REDD+ and broader decision-making processes.
• Territorial rights: Protect and strengthen the rights of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities, which are essential for the long-term security and well-being of both communities and forests.
• Recognition and recovery of ancestral knowledge and cultural identity: Preserve and promote the knowledge and practices of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities, guarantee cultural transmission to future generations and respect intellectual property rights.
• Effective territorial governance: Fostering open dialogue, collaborative decision-making, accountability and conflict resolution mechanisms.

It is not just a technical document, but a powerful tool for a change in perspective.  The Co-benefits certification provides a framework for demonstrating the broader social impacts of REDD+ initiatives, generating incentives for greater investment in genuinely sustainable and equitable programs, and in IPLCs’ initiatives based on their knowledge and mechanisms for conservation and territorial protection.  Once published, this certification may be used to:

• Verify co-benefits of REDD+ programs: Provide independent verification of co-benefits on par with carbon reductions.
• Attract investment: Demonstrate the positive social and environmental impacts of REDD+ programs to potential investors and buyers of carbon credits.
• Improve program design: Provide guidance to encourage future REDD+ programs to be designed to maximize both environmental and social benefits.
• Promote equitable measurable outcomes: Contribute to a more just and sustainable future for Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities by recognizing and rewarding their contributions based on IPLC metrics.

Now we need your voice!

The draft certification is now open for public comment. This is your opportunity to contribute to an initiative that reflects the needs and aspirations of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities around the world.

We look forward to continuing to work to build a future in which forest conservation, community well-being and climate action go hand in hand.

Let’s work together to make this a truly transformative moment for REDD+.

Basiru Isa (REPALEAC)
Elcio Manchineri (COIAB)
Fermín Chimatani Tayori (ANECAP)
Gustavo Sanchez Valle (Red Mocaf)
Onel Masardule (FPCI)

Any opinions expressed in this commentary reflect the views of the authors and not of Carbon Pulse.