Equity, Justice & Well-being

in Ecosystem Governance

Equity in México

• Equity, as can interpreted from policies, implies guaranteeing

the full exercise of social rights and addressing social

inequalities.

• The exercise of social rights, translates to access to basic

services, as basic human capital needed to fully develop as

individuals. individuals.

• Mexico is a signatory of several rights and environmental

international mandates that also promote equity and its

principles.

• Never the less, the reality in Mexico is very unequal

(economic, cultural & gender discrimination).

REDD+ in México• It is the link between forest management and

conservation, looking forward Sustainable Rural

Development.

• Perspective of integrated landscape management,

that implies the junction of environmental (LGEEPA),

forest (LGDFS) and climate (LGCC) with the sector

that implies the junction of environmental (LGEEPA),

forest (LGDFS) and climate (LGCC) with the sector

rural (LDRS) and agricultural (LA) laws and ectors in

Mexico.

• REDD+ is intended to move the legal and institutional

framework in order to effectively benefit forestry

communities.

Equity approaches

1. Benefits should be given to those who effectively

avoid emissions or increase the capture of CO2.

2. The benefits must provided to those who have

rights over land and natural resources.

3. Benefits must be channeled in favor of the poorest

and most vulnerable population or marginalized

(usually indigenous peoples, women and the

elderly).

Questions

• Who should get the benefits of REDD +, people

Deforest and degrading forests (to change their

behavior) or people that increase carbon sinks (to

encourage their behavior)?

• The vast majority of women, children and had no

formal rights or obligations despite being highly

involved in forest management.

Questions

• What is the appropriate legal concept (lack of a clear

and uniform definition): indigenous people,

indigenous community, local community and

agrarian community?

• How is should be given benefits, rights or activities or

needs-based)?

• Who decides how, when and to whom support?

Federal, State and municipal, agricultural, or

traditional authorities?

Options of mechanisms for equity

benefits distributionScheme Legal instruments & tools

(subnational level)

Equity approach

Scheme 1 Private agreements (voluntary market) The benefits must provide those who have

rights over resources.

Scheme 2 Public programs (subsudies)

Investments plans

Local Development Banks

Benefits should be given to those who

effectively avoid emissions or increase the

capture of CO2.

Benefits must be channeled in favor of theLocal Development Banks

Taxes

Benefits must be channeled in favor of the

poorest and most vulnerable population

Scheme 3 Private agreements (voluntary market)

Public programs (subsudies)

Investments plans

Local Development Banks

Taxes

The benefits must provide those who have

rights over resources.

Benefits should be given to those who

effectively avoid emissions or increase the

capture of CO2.

Benefits must be channeled in favor of the

poorest and most vulnerable population.

Challenges

• To harmonize/ align international and national

(environmental, forestry, rural and agrarian) policies

based on equity principles, clear homogeneous and

actualized/updated concepts.

• To develop regulations and legal instrument that

allows making operative general principles and

collective rights.

Challenges• To understand REDD+ as a compensation mechanism

that might not necessary be linked to property rights

as such, but some other “under-rights” such as

possession, use and the right to receive benefits

(usufructo).

• To focus on REDD+ activities regulation (ToRs, • To focus on REDD+ activities regulation (ToRs,

eligibility criteria, requirements, etc.) in order to

address the needs of people.

• To include equity (and gender) at the highest level

(objectives) of forestry, environmental, rural and

agrarian Laws.

•

Propossals• Legal reforms to recognize rights of certain holders

that do not have agrarian formal rights.

• Establish a specific Fund to finance activities (and

needs) to be performed by people who are not

owners or have recognized agricultural duties (legal owners or have recognized agricultural duties (legal

owners).

• Create and modify internal ejidos & comunidades

regulations that, based on agreements of Assembly,

recognize rights to receive benefits from REDD+ to

certain holders.

Considerations• Safeguards and international standards can address

the different equity dimensions and principles.

• Project developers must include indicators to

measure the achievement of the expected results

(improve livelihoods and governance, address

inequalities, and diminish poverty)

(improve livelihoods and governance, address

inequalities, and diminish poverty)

• Knowledge landscape and cultural aspects will be

crucial to design a benefit sharing mechanism that

does not reinforce or create new inequalities.

Juan Carlos Carrillo

jcarrillo@cemda.org.mx