Ecobreves – MEXICO: A Call for Transparency in Forest Projects

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MEXICO CITY, Feb 7 2011 (IPS) - Environmental groups are demanding transparency in the drafting and execution of Mexico's strategy for the United Nations-sponsored REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation). “We are going to promote the participation of community representatives in the spaces for information and decision-making during the consultative process on the national strategy,” Gustavo Sánchez, president of the Mexican Network of Rural Forest Organizations, told Tierramérica.

The network and other groups are carrying out the campaign “Communities Count+” to promote the rights of free and informed consent and consultation in relation to the REDD program.

The campaign has underscored the lack of information on the contracts that the government signed with the World Bank for the Forest Investment Program and the Forest Carbon Partnership Facility.