Local Community Safeguard by REDD+ and Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) in Peatland

The Ramsar Convention on wetland conservation was concluded as treaty in 1971. Peatland forests in the tropics have, however, been experiencing drastic land-use changes for easy access and utilization, which, together with tropical peatland/forest decline, has also been a focal point of global environmental issues. Rehabilitation of degraded peatland has, nevertheless, hardly been attempted. LULUCF (Land-Use, Land-Use Change and Forestry) has been discussed as an agenda of IPCC since 2001. It is, therefore, urgently necessary to conduct research on land resource management option and local society empowerment for global-warming prevention in peatland of Southeast Asian. COP15 of Copenhagen Agreement was proposed REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation) in Developing Countries (2009) and COP16 of Cancun proposal REDD+ with Safeguard (2010). Therefore, the local community safeguard was discussed in relationship with REDD+ and PES (Payment for Ecosystem Services). The following safeguards, especially in peatland, should be promoted and supported such as (1) Action complement or are consistent with the objectives of national peatland/forest programme and relevant international conventions and agreements, (2) Transparent and effective national peatland/forest governance structure, taking into account national legislation and sovereignty, (3) Respect for the knowledge and rights of indigenous peoples and members of local communities, by taking into account relevant international obligations, national circumstances and laws, and noting that the United Nations General Assembly has adopted the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, (4) The full and effective participation of relevant stakeholders, in particular, indigenous peoples and local communities, in actions referred to in paragraph 70 and 72 of this decision, (5) Actions are consistent with the conservation of natural peatland/forest and biological diversity, incentivizing the protection and conservation of natural peatland/forest and their ecosystem services, and enhance other social and environmental benefits, (6) Actions to address the risks of reversals, and (7) Actions to reduce displacement of emissions from peatland/forest.