The Forest Monitoring and Information Division (FMID) under the Department of Forests and Park Services (DoFPS) conducted a 3 days consultation and awareness workshops to validate Bhutan’s draft Summary of Information (SoI) on the REDD+ Cancun Safeguards before its finalization in Paro from 16 to 18 September 2026. The workshops formed part of the Department’s efforts to review the draft SoI and document how Bhutan has addressed and respected the REDD+ Cancun Safeguards. On the first day (16 September), members of the Safeguard Taskforce/ Technical Working Group from various agencies, including officials who had contributed to the earlier stages of SoI preparation, reviewed the preliminary draft and provided feedback on information that needed to be clarified, updated or strengthened.
The second and third days (17–18 September) brought together 30 participants, including Chief Forestry Officers, Principal Forestry Officers, officiating Chief Forestry Officers from functional division and field offices. Participants reviewed the draft SoI, shared perspectives, and discussed how safeguards A–G are addressed and respected in practice. The inputs from participants helped identify practical examples and information for incorporation into the revised document, while strengthening their understanding of REDD+, Bhutan’s safeguards arrangements and reporting, as well as encouraging field officials to share key information from the sessions with stakeholders in their respective areas.
The feedback from the workshop will help refine the SoI and strengthen the documentation of safeguards implementation in Bhutan. Once finalized, the SoI will serve as a reference for future safeguards reporting and support Bhutan’s efforts to access REDD+ results-based payments and HFLD carbon crediting under ART TREES. The Department appreciates the Safeguard Taskforce, field offices, functional divisions and collaborating agencies for their valuable contributions.
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