Right to Adequate Housing Mitigation actions such as REDD+ projects or the construction of large hydroelectric projects have the potential to seriously impact on the right to housing through displacement and forced evictions. Reduced emissions from deforestation and forest degradation in developing countries (REDD+) refers to countries’ efforts to curb carbon emissions, foster conservation, and enhance forest carbon stocks through payments to developing countries for sustainable forest management. However, while REDD+ programmes could provide significant funding for development, they also have the potential to impact negatively on the rights of Indigenous and local communities. For example, some of the policies and measures adopted by national governments in the context of REDD+ threaten to displace Indigenous peoples living in or near forests and lacking formal property rights to their traditional lands. The OHCHR report on climate change and human rights highlights how REDD+ policies might lead to the displacement of communities.286 The report notes that although compensation provided by REDD+ programmes could benefit Indigenous peoples who depend on those forest resources, Indigenous communities fear expropriation of their lands and displacement.287 In a similar way, large-scale mitigation projects, such as those under the Clean Development Mechanism, also have the potential to interfere with the right to housing though displacement or eviction. In order to ensure that mitigation projects do not infringe on the right to adequate housing, States must ensure that Indigenous and local communities have secure land tenure; that forced evictions are avoided, or carried out only when absolutely necessary and in compliance with international guidelines; and that mitigation policies are developed and implemented in consultation with those communities that might be affected. CASE STUDY: Juma Sustainable Development Reserve Project The Amazonas region of Juma in Brazil covers an area of almost 60,000 km2 with about 430 families living in and around the reserve. The area is expected to face high deforestation pressures in the future. At the same time, rural Amazonas has one of the highest rates of poverty in Brazil, with more than 90% of the population living without access to basic sanitation, electricity or proper housing.288 The Juma Sustainable Development Reserve Project (JSDR) was created by the Government of Amazonas in 2006 as a financial mechanism for compensating REDD+ activities. Carbon credits generated from the JSDR are sold on the voluntary carbon market. It is projected that the resources raised from the sale of carbon credits will allow the Amazonas authorities to invest in community development and catalyze sustainable forest industries. The JSDR aims to increase community resilience, including by improving the housing situation in the region.289 The tenure situation in Juma is very clear, as the region is a State Protected Area for sustainable use and belongs to the government of the State of Amazonas. Families are allowed to live in the area and use natural resources according to the management plan.290 The State-level Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) scheme, Bolsa 67

Select target paragraph3

Connect to a paragraph
Connect to an entity
Disable highlights
Add to table of contents