Contrary to your implication (Nature 472, 390; 2011), the World Bank's policy on indigenous peoples depends on more than just their consent after consultation.

The charter of our Forest Carbon Partnership Facility (FCPF) makes it clear that World Bank safeguards, which ensure development finance is environmentally and socially sustainable, apply to FCPF-financed activities. This includes the bank's policy on indigenous peoples: the bank will proceed only with projects supported by affected communities after free, prior and informed consultation.

Regarding Cameroon's REDD+ plan (which goes beyond 'reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation' to include conservation and sustainability), the FCPF has not yet disbursed any funds to the country as it still has to draft its national REDD+ plan. It is therefore too early to judge the plan's content or the quality of consultations.

So far, Cameroon has submitted to the FCPF only its initial idea note for the Readiness Preparation Proposal, prepared with the environment ministry (not with the conservation group WWF, as suggested in your Editorial) in 2008. The FCPF reviewed this document and has advised Cameroon how to achieve adequate consultation during the drafting of the next stage of its national proposal.

Cameroon will therefore not be in a position to present its proposal at this month's meeting of the FCPF participants committee.