Durban, South Africa, 8 December 2011 (IUCN) — Guatemala’s National Forest Service (INAB) has recognized wider land rights for indigenous peoples and local
communities, making it possible for these groups to access benefits and payments from Reducing Emissions from
Deforestation and Forest Degradation, known as REDD+, according to IUCN (International Union for Conservation of
Nature).
The Forest Incentives Program for Owners of Small Forests and Agro Forestry Lands (PINPEP) is now a strategic part of
Guatemala’s national REDD+ strategy. It is already investing 1% of the national government budget—close to US$40 million
per year— in results-based action for sustainable management of forests, reforestation, forest restoration and
agro-forestry. This will benefit owners of small forest and agro-forestry lands of less than 15 hectares per
beneficiary. If PINPEP has access to international REDD+ funds it can increase its impact both for biodiversity
conservation and the well-being of people.
“After several years of preparations some countries are now steaming ahead with their REDD+ strategies,” says Stewart Maginnis, Global Director at IUCN. “Guatemala has made tremendous progress and shows the world how legal frameworks, when developed in close cooperation
with indigenous and local communities, can help protect forests and benefit local livelihoods. This will make it
possible for forest dependent communities in Guatemala to more easily access REDD+ incentives for the protection,
sustainable management and restoration of forest resources.”
After having piloted PINPEP for six years, the Guatemalan government has recently adopted the program in legislation,
making it possible to adapt the program as a REDD+ mechanism. IUCN has been closely involved in a process through which
indigenous peoples and community organizations, government agencies and civil society organizations are working together
to make PINPEP an equitable and cost- effective REDD+ mechanism.
“Originally, forest incentives only recognized officially registered properties, even though most community and
indigenous peoples hold their land under traditional, customary land tenure arrangements,” says Josué Morales, Manager of Guatemala Forests. “The newly proposed mechanism, part of the PINPEP program, now clarifies and recognizes landholders through all types of
law: historical documents, supplementary titles, property, land tenures and indigenous territories. This is very
significant for REDD+, which in many countries is challenged because indigenous peoples and forest dependent communities
face insecure land and tenure rights.”
“The level of poverty in Guatemala is one of the highest in Latin America, with an estimated 54 percent of people living
below the poverty line according to a recent report published by Guatemala’s Statistics Institute,” says Amauri Molina, Deputy Manager of INAB. “The approval of the PINPEP mechanism has allowed the government to embark on governance reform The recognition of
customary rights can create incentives for the reduction of deforestation and degradation of forests, as well as
generate employment and income and climate change adaptation options for rural communities and indigenous peoples, who
are often the most vulnerable.”
“Guatemala is showing the world that there is no need to change entire legal frameworks to have an incentive mechanism
in place that recognizes the rights of local people and helps them take responsibilities over forest management. PINPEP
demonstrates how the recognition of rights within an existing framework can help forest owners take responsibility and
be accountable over the implementation of incentives. This is something other countries could be also doing in other
parts of the world as part of their national REDD+ planning processes,” says Consuelo Espinosa, IUCN’s Senior Forest and Climate Change Officer.
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About INAB
INAB, National Forest Institute, is the Guatemala’s Forest Service
INAB is a leading institution, model of modernization and public administration, internationally recognized for its
contribution to the promotion, management and raise of awareness for the sustainable development of Guatemala’s forestry
sector, leading to an improvement of the economy and quality of life of its population. Is responsible to promote and
implement forest policies in Guatemala.
About IUCN
IUCN, International Union for Conservation of Nature, helps the world find pragmatic solutions to our most pressing
environment and development challenges. IUCN works on biodiversity, climate change, energy, human livelihoods and
greening the world economy by supporting scientific research, managing field projects all over the world, and bringing
governments, NGOs, the UN and companies together to develop policy, laws and best practice.
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