Ministerial Accord No. 33 on REDD+ Ecuador

Ministerial Agreement No. 33 establishes the guidelines and regulatory instruments for the REDD+ mechanism in Ecuador, as part of the national strategy to mitigate climate change and reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation. This framework recognizes two implementation levels (national jurisdiction and projects), establishes principles of transparency, participation, equity and effectiveness, and designates the Ministry of Environment as the National REDD+ Authority with exclusive competence for its regulation and implementation. The mechanism seeks to ensure financial sustainability of government plans and programs, guaranteeing social and environmental benefits in addition to climate change mitigation, under a mandatory system of registration, approval and monitoring.