At the Architecture for REDD+ Transactions (ART), we believe that robust and credible climate solutions require the full and effective participation of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLCs). Over the past several years, we have made meaningful IPLC engagement a core pillar of our work—from helping shape the TREES standard to co-developing new approaches that reflect their priorities, to delivering workshops in local languages across four continents.
This work is about co-creation: building trust, deepening capacity, and ensuring that the perspectives of IPLCs are embedded in the governance and technical design of ART’s jurisdictional REDD+ approach.
Three Areas of IPLC Engagement
1. JREDD+ Workshops for IPLCs
ART designs and delivers workshops specifically for IPLC audiences to build understanding of jurisdictional REDD+ and the TREES standard. These sessions, along with “train the trainer” versions too, use hands-on activities and culturally appropriate materials co-developed with partner organizations. Workshops are held in IPLC territories, conducted in local languages such as Spanish, Portuguese, French, and English, and adapted to reflect community-specific priorities.
2. Co-development of the Social-Cultural Module
ART convened an IPLC committee, composed of four IPLC organizations, to guide the development of the Social-Cultural Module within our Beyond Carbon Benefits certification. This collaborative process included multi-year facilitation, and virtual and in-person workshops, and has resulted in a jointly endorsed module that elevates social and cultural impacts alongside carbon outcomes.
3. Inclusive TREES Standard Review
An IPLC Advisory Group and three Regional Dialogues—in Africa, Latin America, and Asia—were convened to gather feedback on revisions to the TREES standard during 2024 and 2025. These participatory processes ensure that IPLC voices directly influence ART’s jurisdictional REDD+ standard.
Partner Spotlights
This work would not be possible without partnership from IPLC organizations around the world, which include:
- ANECAP: National Association of Executers of the Administration Contracts of Peru, formed by Indigenous Peoples co-administering Communal Reserves along with the Peruvian government.
- COIAB: The Coordination of Indigenous Organizations of the Brazilian Amazon, supporting Indigenous rights across the Amazon basin.
- Red MOCAF: Red Mexicana de Organizaciones Campesinas Forestales, a Mexican civil society network focused on forest community advocacy and sustainable forest governance.
- REPALEAC: The Network of Indigenous and Local Populations for the Sustainable Management of Forest Ecosystems in Central Africa, a pan-African network of Indigenous and local community organizations advancing climate justice and forest conservation.
Impact in Action
From 2022 to 2025, ART and its partners have delivered more than 30 events, including trainings with IPLCs, advisory meetings, and regional dialogues. These have taken place across Latin America, Africa, Asia, and North America, reaching IPLC leaders in more than a dozen countries.
Key Metrics:
- 30+ trainings and dialogues delivered
- 3 in-person, multi-day Regional Dialogues hosted across Latin America, Africa, and Asia as part of the TREES review process
- 6 in-person and 4 virtual Social-Cultural Module committee meetings
- 6 in-person TREES review IPLC Advisory Group meetings
- 4 working languages used: English, Spanish, Portuguese, and French
- 27+ IPLC organizations engaged across 18+ countries
Looking Ahead
ART remains committed to advancing high-integrity forest climate solutions by ensuring IPLC voices and perspectives are authentically included in our work. With the upcoming launch of TREES 3.0 and the Beyond Carbon Benefits certification, we are deepening our partnerships to ensure IPLC rights, knowledge, and leadership continue to shape the future of jurisdictional crediting.
To learn more about ART’s IPLC engagement or explore opportunities for collaboration, please contact us or follow our latest updates on LinkedIn.
