The implementation of activities under the REDD+ mechanism has the potential to deliver social and environmental benefits that go beyond the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, but it may also entail potential risks to people and the environment. Safeguards are principles or measures that aim to protect or to avoid risks (“do no harm”), while promoting benefits (“do good”). Seven safeguards, also known as the “Cancun safeguards”, were agreed for REDD+ at the sixteenth session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in 2010.