Malaysia’s Safeguards Principles, Criteria and Indicators (PC&I) Status

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The Cancun Safeguards have been interpreted in the national context, setting out the relevant definitions and criteria for addressing and respecting the safeguards in Malaysia. These Principles, Criteria & Indicators, or PC&I, include seven safeguard principles, 27 indicators and a total of 49 verifiers to track performance against the Malaysian safeguards.

The scores assigned against each “respect” indicator are based on averaging the performance of Malaysia’s Forest Management Units (FMUs) against selected indicators of the Malaysian Criteria and Indicators for Sustainable Forest Management (MC&I SFM), or on the progress against National Policy on Biological Diversity 2016-2025 targets.

In the context of the Malaysian Safeguards, it is understood that:

‘Addressed’ refers to policies, laws and/or regulations (PLRs) that will ensure the safeguards are considered (i.e. on paper); while
‘Respected’ refers to how these safeguards are applied when REDD Plus activities are implemented (i.e. on the ground implementation).

Safeguard A
Safeguard B
Safeguard C
Safeguard D
Safeguard E
Safeguard F
Safeguard G

Malaysian Safeguard Text:

REDD Plus activities shall be consistent with and support the forest policies and biodiversity policies in Malaysia. They shall also be implemented in accordance with the National Development Plan, such as the 12th Malaysia Plan, approved by its Parliament every five years. The National Development Plan is based on Malaysia’s international obligations.

Score:

Not Available

Score Text:

Respected With Possible Improvements

Address Indicator Code	Address Indicator	Address Verifier and Information Sources	Respect Indicator Code	Respect Indicator	Respect Verifier and Information Sources
AA1	Malaysia has in place policies, laws, and regulations (PLRs) to address issues related to the protection, conservation, and management of forests in the various sub-national regions in the country. These PLRs are in line with Malaysia’s international obligations and would prioritize actions for forest and biodiversity management in the National Development Plan.
		List of applicable national and sub-national PLRs.	AR1	Forest managers are aware of, and implement, all applicable policies, laws and regulations, as well as relevant international agreements.	All records are available and up-to-date: federal, state and local laws, regulations and policies that are relevant to forest management. Forest managers are aware / knowledgeable of the applicable federal, state and local laws, regulations and policies as well as administrative requirements for forest management.
		List of applicable international agreements and conventions.	AR1	Forest managers are aware of, and implement, all applicable policies, laws and regulations, as well as relevant international agreements.	Record of violations and corrective actions taken to address them and recorded. Forest managers are aware of all binding international agreements relevant to forest management.
		Ensure that future revision of Malaysia's policies or plans, including the 5 year Malaysia Plans, will asses the impacts of such policies on biodiversity and embed all necessary safeguards.	AR2	All projects, including those for biodiversity conservation, in the National Development Plan are in line with Malaysia's PLRs, and are monitored by the Prime Minister’s Department. National funds are allocated based on the progress achieved.	Biodiversity conservation has been mainstreamed into National Development Plan.
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Malaysian Safeguard Text:

REDD Plus activities shall support the transparent and effective implementation of the relevant national governance structure.

Score:

1

Score Text:

Respected

Address Indicator Code	Address Indicator	Address Verifier and Information Sources	Respect Indicator Code	Respect Indicator	Respect Verifier and Information Sources
BA1	Malaysia has in place a transparent and effective governance structure relevant to REDD Plus implementation.
BA1		List of existing relevant governance structures at the Federal and State Levels, namely (a) Majlis Tanah Negara, (b) National Steering Committee on REDD Plus, (c) National Steering Committee on Climate Change, (d) Malaysian Climate Change Action Council (MyCAC).	BR1	Forest-related matters at the Federal and State levels are continuously and regularly coordinated through transparent and effective structures.	Documentational evidence of meetings/proceedings of at least one Council.

Malaysian Safeguard Text:

The knowledge and rights of indigenous peoples and local communities and civil society groups that are active in biodiversity conservation and forest management shall be recognised and supported, especially at the local level.

Score:

1

Score Text:

Respected

Address Indicator Code	Address Indicator	Address Verifier and Information Sources	Respect Indicator Code	Respect Indicator	Respect Verifier and Information Sources
CA1	The knowledge and rights of indigenous people and local communities are recognised, protected and enshrined in federal, state and local PLRs that are relevant to forest and biodiversity conservation and management.
		Federal, state and local PLRs that are relevant to the rights of the indigenous people and local communities and documentation of legal status and established forest use rights of the land or forest resources are available.	CR1	REDD Plus activities are designed and implemented with full recognition of the knowledge and rights of indigenous people and local communities, and shall not threaten nor diminish, either directly or indirectly, the rights of such communities.	Availability of appropriate procedures within current administrative processes for identifying and protecting sites of special cultural, ecological, economic or religious significance to indigenous peoples, provisions for rights of access to these sites within relevant federal, state and local laws or by mutual agreement. Availability of documentation, if any, of traditional forest-related knowledge and practices of indigenous peoples in the use of forest species or management systems in forest operations
		National legislation and regulations on access to biological resources and benefit sharing (ABS) are in place.	CR 1	REDD Plus activities are designed and implemented with full recognition of the knowledge and rights of indigenous people and local communities, and shall not threaten nor diminish, either directly or indirectly, the rights of such communities.	Appropriate mechanisms are employed to expeditiously resolve grievances, and provide fair and equitable compensation for any loss or damage affecting the local communities’ legal or customary rights, property, resources, or their livelihoods, caused by forest operations.

Malaysian Safeguard Text:

The indigenous peoples and local communities involved in forest conservation and management are consulted and participate in REDD Plus activities.

Score:

1

Score Text:

Respected

Address Indicator Code	Address Indicator	Address Verifier and Information Sources	Respect Indicator Code	Respect Indicator	Respect Verifier and Information Sources
DA1	The need for stakeholder consultation especially of IPLC is recognised, protected, and enshrined in state and local laws (as appropriate), regulations, and policies that are relevant to forest conservation and management.
DA1		Policy and legal provisions to empower indigenous peoples and local communities to be custodians of biodiversity have been developed.	DR1	Stakeholder consultation and participation are central in the formulation of REDD+ activities that have potential impacts to indigenous peoples and local communities, including processes to obtain the free, prior, informed consent (FPIC) of affected indigenous peoples and local communities before any REDD+ activities commence in an inclusive and timely manner.	Capacity building and access to information are enabled and awareness created amongst IPLCs to carry out biodiversity conservation. With respect to REDD+ activities that may affect such rights, forest managers shall recognise, respect and collaborate with holders of duly recognised legal or customary tenure or use rights within relevant federal, state and local laws. Management and use of such lands and resources are controlled by indigenous peoples unless they delegate control with free, prior and informed consent to other agencies and/or parties.

Malaysian Safeguard Text:

REDD Plus activities shall promote the conservation of natural forests, biological diversity and ecosystem services, as well as sustainable forest management, while enhancing social and environmental benefits from forests.

Score:

Not Available

Score Text:

Respected With Possible Improvements

Address Indicator Code	Address Indicator	Address Verifier and Information Sources	Respect Indicator Code	Respect Indicator	Respect Verifier and Information Sources
EA1	REDD Plus activities shall promote the conservation of biodiversity and reduce the risk of conversion of natural forest.
		REDD Plus activities do not contribute to deforestation and forest degradation.	ER1	Forest managers shall ensure the conservation of natural forests, and except in circumstances where forest conversion occurs, it: a) entails a very limited portion of the FMU; and b) does not occur on high conservation value areas; and c) does not occur in ecological corridors and environmentally sensitive areas identified by the relevant authorities; and d) will enable clear, substantial, additional, secure, long-term conservation, economic and social benefits across the FMU.	The forest manager shall ensure that conversion from natural forest to forest plantations or non-forest use: a) Shall not include any High Conservation Value areas; and b) Covers a not more than 5% of the total area of the FMU and shall enable clear, substantial, additional, secure, long term conservation, economic and social benefits across the FMU.
		Availability of guidelines to identify and protect rare, threatened and endangered species of forest flora and fauna, including features of special biological interest in their habitats such as seed trees, salt licks, nesting and feeding areas in the FMU.	ER2	A management plan (appropriate to the tenure, scale and intensity of the operations) and supporting documents provides: (a) management objectives, (b) Description of the organisation’s administration, forest resources to be managed, environmental limitations, land use and ownership status, socio-economic conditions, and a profile of adjacent lands, (c) Description of silvicultural and/or other management system including fire prevention and control, based on the ecology of the forest in question and information gathered through resource inventories, (d) Rationale for rate of annual harvest and species selection, including non-timber forest products used commercially, (e) Provisions for monitoring of forest growth and dynamics, (f) Environmental safeguards based on environmental assessments, (g) Plans for the identification and protection of rare, threatened and endangered species, (h) Maps describing the forest resource base including protected areas, planned management activities and land ownership, (i) Description and justification of harvesting techniques and equipment to be used, (j) Description of stakeholder consultation.	Implementation of forest management plan including consideration of risks and opportunities concerning compliance with the requirements of the standard.
		20% of land surface are conserved as protected areas or other effective area-based conservation measures.	-	-	Strengthen agricultural planning and improve practices.
EA2	REDD+ activities shall encourage the efficient use of the forest’s multiple products and services to ensure economic viability and a wide range of social benefits.
EA2		National legislation and regulations on access to biological resources and benefit sharing (ABS) are in place.	ER3	Implementation of appropriate mechanisms and fair and equitable compensation for the commercial utilisation of traditional forest-related knowledge and practices of indigenous peoples in accordance with existing legislation or by mutual agreement in the absence of such legislation.	National legislation and regulations on access to biological resources and benefit sharing (ABS) are in force and in operation.

Malaysian Safeguard Text:

Measures to reduce the risk of reversals are integrated in the design, prioritization, implementation and periodic assessments of REDD Plus activities.

Score:

1

Score Text:

Respected

Address Indicator Code	Address Indicator	Address Verifier and Information Sources	Respect Indicator Code	Respect Indicator	Respect Verifier and Information Sources
FA1	Policies, laws and regulations (PLRs) at federal and state levels relevant to forest management are available to support the assessment of risks and impacts, including risks of reversals.
FA1		Relevant PLRs related to impact assessment to reduce the risks of reversals within Malaysia's forest management system.	FR1	Strengthen sustainable forest management.	Ensure that our production forests obtain certification under the Malaysian Timber Certification Scheme (MTCS) and/or other internationally recognised schemes.
FA2	REDD Plus activities shall support the management plan appropriate to the tenure, scale, and intensity of operations (10 years) with clearly stated long-term objectives of management and means of achieving said objectives. The management plan and supporting document shall include a description of a profile of adjacent lands, provisions for monitoring of forest growth and dynamics, environmental safeguards based on environmental assessments, and maps describing the forest resource base including protected areas. The management plan shall be periodically revised to incorporate the results of monitoring or new scientific and technical information, as well as to respond to changing environmental, social, and economic circumstances.
		Availability of forest management plan including consideration of risks and opportunities concerning compliance with the requirements of the standard.	FR2	Forest management prescriptions are made to maintain, restore or enhance the productive capacity and ecological integrity of the FMU.	Provisions and management prescriptions are made to maintain, restore or enhance the productive capacity and ecological integrity of the FMU to ensure its economic viability.
		Availability of procedures to periodically revise the forest management plan, incorporating the results of monitoring or new scientific and technical information, the frequency of which shall be appropriate to the scale and intensity of forest management operations, so as to respond to changing environmental, social and economic circumstances.	FR3	The extinction of known threatened species has been prevented and their conservation status has been improved and sustained.	The National Red Data list on plants and animals is completed.
		Malaysia's production forests are managed and harvested sustainably.	FR5	The rate of harvest of forest products shall be on a sustainable basis.	Rate of harvest shall not be greater than estimated regrowth of the residual stand based on permanent sample plots within a pre-defined cutting cycle.
		Availability of procedures to periodically revise the forest management plan, incorporating the results of monitoring or new scientific and technical information, the frequency of which shall be appropriate to the scale and intensity of forest management operations, so as to respond to changing environmental, social and economic circumstances.	FR4	Distribution of incentives to State Governments to protect their PA under the ecological fiscal transfer (EFT) programme.	Progress against the RM 70 million to be distributed by 2021 and to be continued annually for the next 5 years.

Malaysian Safeguard Text:

Measures to reduce displacement of emissions are integrated in the design, prioritization, implementation, and periodic assessments of REDD Plus activities.

Score:

Not Available

Score Text:

Respected With Possible Improvements

Address Indicator Code	Address Indicator	Address Verifier and Information Sources	Respect Indicator Code	Respect Indicator	Respect Verifier and Information Sources
GA1	Forest management operations recognise, maintain, and, where appropriate, enhance the value of forest services, such as climate regulation and carbon sequestration, and resources such as recreation site, watersheds and fisheries.
		Availability of forest management plan including consideration of risks and opportunities concerning compliance with the requirements of the standard.	GR1	Implementation of management guidelines to identify and demarcate sensitive areas for the protection of soil and water, water catchments, watercourses and wetlands, and where appropriate, to maintain and/or enhance the value of forest services and resources including climate positive practices such as green-house gas emission reduction and reduced impact logging (RIL).	Implementation of management guidelines, where appropriate, to maintain and/or enhance the value of forest services and resources including climate positive practices such as green-house gas emission reduction. Implementation of guidelines and/or procedures to identify and demarcate sensitive areas for the protection of soil and water, water catchments, watercourses and wetlands.
		Availability of guidelines and/or procedures to identify and demarcate sensitive areas for the protection of soil and water, water catchments, watercourses and wetlands.	GR2	Implementation of forest management plan including consideration of risks and opportunities concerning compliance with the requirements of the MC&I standard.	Availability and implementation of forest management plan including consideration of risks and opportunities concerning compliance with the requirements of the standard.
GA2	The amount of timber harvested shall be controlled by Malaysia's annual allowable cut (AAC).
GA2		Annual allowable cut approved in Rancangan Malaysia (RM).	GR3	Forest managers shall comply with the regulatory monitoring procedures, including for high conservation value areas, in accordance with relevant federal and state guidelines of the Forestry Departments and other relevant agencies.	Forest managers shall comply with the regulatory monitoring procedures in accordance with relevant federal and state guidelines of the Forestry Departments and other relevant agencies. Forest managers shall conduct, appropriate to scale and intensity of forest management operations, annual monitoring to assess the effectiveness of the measures in the management of the high conservation value (HCV) areas in the FMU.
GA3	Vulnerable and threatened ecosystems are identified, mapped and prioritised for protection.
		Availability of guidelines and/or procedures to identify and demarcate sensitive areas for the protection of soil and water, water catchments, watercourses and wetlands.	GR4	At least 20% of terrestrial areas are conserved through a representative system of protected areas and other effective area-based conservation measures.	Develop appropriate methods, standards, criteria and indicators for identifying all such [vulnerable and threatened] ecosystems as part of a continuous process, to be kept up to date.
		Malaysia's Protected Area framework has been established.	GR4	At least 20% of terrestrial areas are conserved through a representative system of protected areas and other effective area-based conservation measures.	Undertake nationwide mapping of all vulnerable ecosystems taking cognizance of land use changes and other emerging threats, including climate change.
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