E4838 V5 DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO MINISTRY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, NATURE CONSERVATION AND TOURISM Public Disclosure Authorized STRATEGIC ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL ASSESSMENT OF THE REDD+ PROCESS Public Disclosure Authorized BASELINE REPORT STRATEGIC ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL ASSESSMENT OF THE REDD+ Public Disclosure Authorized PROCESS Public Disclosure Authorized October 2014 STRATEGIC ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL ASSESSMENT OF THE REDD+ PROCESS in the DRC INDEX OF REPORTS Environmental Analysis Document Assessment of Risks and Challenges REDD+ National Strategy of the DRC Strategic Environmental and Social Assessment Report (SESA) Framework Document Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF) O.P. 4.01, 4.04, 4.37 Policies and Sector Planning Documents Pest and Pesticide Cultural Heritage Indigenous Peoples Process Framework Management Management Planning Framework (FF) Resettlement Framework Framework (IPPF) O.P.4.12 Policy Framework (PPMF) (CHMF) O.P.4.10 (RPF) O.P.4.09 O.P 4.11 O.P. 4.12 Consultation Reports Survey Report Provincial Consultation Report National Consultation of June 2013 Report Reference and Analysis Documents REDD+ National Strategy Framework of the DRC Terms of Reference of the SESA October 2014 Strategic Environmental and Social Assessment SESA Report TABLE OF CONTENTS Introductory Note ........................................................................................................................................ 9 1. Preface ............................................................................................................................................. 10 2. Executive Summary .......................................................................................................................... 12 3. Executive Summary (English version) ................................................................................................ 13 4. Introduction ....................................................................................................................................... 15 5. Brief Review of the REDD+ Concept and its Principles ........................................................................... 15 5.1. Origin of the REDD+ Concept .................................................................................................................... 15 5.2. REDD+ and Climate Change...................................................................................................................... 16 5.3. The Role of Forests in the Combat Against Climate Change ......................................................................... 16 5.4. Deforestation and Climate Change ............................................................................................................ 16 5.5. Forested Countries: Large GHG Emitters ................................................................................................... 17 5.6. The REDD+ Mechanism: An Instrument Adapted to Developing Countries ..................................................... 18 Box 1: THE GOVERNMENT OF THE DRC'S VISION REGARDING REDD+ ....................................................... 18 5.7. Underlying Principles of REDD+ ................................................................................................................ 19 5.8. Status of International Negotiations ........................................................................................................... 19 6. The State of the Forests and Deforestation and Forest Degradation Activities in the DRC ......................... 20 6.1. General Description ................................................................................................................................. 21 6.2. Pedology ................................................................................................................................................ 22 6.3. Climatology ............................................................................................................................................ 22 6.4. Forests ................................................................................................................................................... 24 6.5. Biodiversity ............................................................................................................................................ 24 6.6. Industrial Logging ................................................................................................................................... 25 6.7. Protected Areas ...................................................................................................................................... 26 6.7.1. Forest Reserves ........................................................................................................................................... 27 6.7.2. Biosphere Reserves ...................................................................................................................................... 27 6.7.3. Zoological and Botanical Gardens .................................................................................................................. 27 REDD+ Process Democratic Republic of the Congo 3 Strategic Environmental and Social Assessment SESA Report 6.7.4. Hunting Grounds ........................................................................................................................................... 28 6.8. Main Threats to the Forest ........................................................................................................................ 28 6.8.1. The Results of the Consultations .................................................................................................................... 28 6.9. Industrial Logging ................................................................................................................................... 31 6.9.1. Pressure from Shutdowns of Industrial Logging Areas ...................................................................................... 33 6.9.2. Pressure in Small-scale Logging Areas ........................................................................................................... 33 6.9.3. Pressures on Protected Areas ........................................................................................................................ 34 6.9.4. Pressures in the Areas of Free Access to Resources ....................................................................................... 34 7. State of the Human Environment ......................................................................................................... 39 7.1. Agriculture and its Need in Forest Lands .................................................................................................... 39 7.2. Population Density .................................................................................................................................. 39 7.3. Urban Populations: Consumption of Forest Products and Food Security ....................................................... 40 7.4. Migration Movements ............................................................................................................................... 42 7.5. Transportation Infrastructures .................................................................................................................. 43 7.6. Living Conditions and Access to Services .................................................................................................. 45 7.7. Main Sources of Revenues ....................................................................................................................... 46 7.8. Forest Populations .................................................................................................................................. 47 7.8.1. Inter-ethnic Relations .................................................................................................................................... 49 7.9. Populations and Controlled Access Areas .................................................................................................. 50 7.10. Challenges to Participating in the DRC................................................................................................. 51 7.11. Exterior Pressures and Perspectives ......................................................................................................... 53 8. Governance and Managing Environmental and Social Risks ............................................................... 54 8.1. The challenges are linked to the capacity to manage environmental and social risks. ............................... 54 8.2. Some Challenges Related to Land Tenure in Central Africa and the DRC................................................... 55 8.3. Essential Aspects Related to Forest Governance and Sharing Forest Benefits ........................................... 56 9. Preparation of REDD+ in the DRC and its Evolution ............................................................................... 58 9.1. Preparation Activities ............................................................................................................................... 59 9.1.1. Carbon Accounting........................................................................................................................................ 59 9.1.2. Reference Levels .........................................................................................................................................