UCLA Journal of Environmental Law and Policy

Indigenous peoples are particularly vulnerable to the negative effects of climate change, as their livelihoods and ways of life depend heavily on natural resources impacted by climate variability and extremes. In addition, global climate governance and the implementation of climate projects often have damaging consequences on Indigenous peoples, including restricting their access to lands and resources. In this context, REDD+ as an international mechanism under the UNFCCC aimed at mitigating climate change through forest management, has raised concerns about its impact on the human rights of Indigenous peoples. To date, studies have shown that the implementation of REDD+ on a domestic level has had both negative and positive impacts in Indigenous peoples’ rights. Drawn from this tension, this article examines the relationship between the REDD+ mechanism and the rights of Indigenous peoples, focusing on its domestic operationalization in Chile.

Chile, with a vast forest network in indigenous territories, offers valuable insights. The article highlights that REDD+ in Chile has allowed Indigenous peoples to incorporate their concerns into national forest governance and has facilitated project development in collaboration with Indigenous communities. These efforts have resulted in both financial and non-financial benefits for these communities. However, the analysis reveals that progress in promoting Indigenous peoples’ rights has been primarily in individual rights rather than their collective rights as peoples. While REDD+ in Chile has shown potential in promoting social and economic rights of Indigenous peoples, further attention is needed to address collective rights such as self-determination, land rights, and Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC).