Forest Notes | Issue 2

In a powerful keynote address at Chatham House in London earlier this month, Simon Stiell, Executive Secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, issued a compelling call to action. Stiell highlighted the critical importance of the next two years in combating climate change and urged wealthy nations, notably the G20, to bolster their climate action plans. Stiell's speech serves as a poignant reminder of the urgency we face and the collective responsibility to navigate towards a sustainable future.

In this month's Forest Notes, we explore the latest news and updates from the projects we represent, spotlight insightful webinars, provide our perspective on the newest VCM developments, and delve into key concepts like baselines in our latest REDD+ 101 blog.

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REDD+ 101

Effective baselining is the cornerstone of any REDD+ project to accurately quantify credits for genuine emission reductions. But what are they and how are they defined?

In the second blog of our REDD+ 101 series, Everland's Dr Maren Pauly, Director of Evaluation and Research explains the process of baseline establishment for REDD+ projects and the shift towards jurisdictional baselining.?Read on

We have also compiled a handy A-Z of REDD+ terms - download now.

Project Spotlight

Wildlife Conservation Society: Keo Seima Wildlife Sanctuary REDD+ Project

Nestled between two important eco-regions of Cambodia within the Indo-Burma Biodiversity Hotspot - the Annamite Mountains evergreen forests, and the lower Mekong dry forests, is the 167,000 hectare VCS and CCB Gold validated Wildlife Conservation Society Keo Seima Wildlife Sanctuary REDD+ Project. Amidst constant threat of illegal forest clearance and resource extraction, the project implements a rigorous community-based ranger program, securing the sanctuary’s future while fostering alternative livelihoods and empowering Indigenous Communities.

Home to more than 950 wild species, including 75 globally threatened species, it is also the ancestral home of the Indigenous Bunong people, whose unique culture and beliefs are inseparable from the forest in which they live.

The project has defended the traditional rights of over 12,000 Indigenous Bunong and Stieng people from 20 villages within the Project Area by helping the Indigenous Communities to secure one of the first Indigenous Community Land Titles in Cambodia. It has also:

• Reached over 2,200 people with clean water facilities
• Reduced threats for 39 species
• Removed over 1,200 snares and over 92 chainsaws have been confiscated
• Increased employment - 596 people employed by the project, including 68 women
• Issued the first Indigenous Community Land Title (ICTs) inside a protected area
• Supported the issuance of 7 Indigenous Community Land Titles (ICTs)

16,378,530 tonnes of verified CO2 emissions avoided to date.

Learn more

Field Notes- Becoming Payé

In March, Esteban Rossi, Everland’s Senior Project Officer, sat down with Gregorio Gomez Gutierrez, Asatrizy’s Payé, or spiritual leader, to hear about life and livelihoods in one remote Colombian village - and how a new REDD+ project might help them preserve it.?

Esteban is a seasoned conservation specialist with years of deep-rooted experience in his homeland of Colombia. As part of the Project Partnerships team, he's responsible for developing strong working relationships with REDD+ project developers and local communities to facilitate Everland’s work on the ground.

Read Gregorio's story

Science-Based Targets Initiative (SBTi)

Their recent decision to recognize environmental attribute certificates, including carbon credits, as a valid mechanism for addressing a portion of Scope 3 emissions targets marks a significant step forward for corporate climate action. This evidence-based move has garnered widespread support, signaling a promising avenue for accelerating emission reductions.

Professor Dr. Johan Rockstr?m, Director of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research acknowledges the importance of offsets as a transitional tool, provided they adhere to stringent criteria.

At the heart of the matter lies a commitment to science-backed solutions. As discussions unfold, it's imperative that we prioritize tangible emission reductions over ideological debates. High-quality carbon credits, when integrated alongside internal emission reduction efforts, offer a means of advancing towards global net zero.

For us, this decision holds particular significance for community-based forest conservation efforts and our planet's future. Crafting robust rules and thresholds will be pivotal in enabling companies to bolster local communities and combat climate change effectively. We eagerly anticipate engaging with the SBTi as they steer this crucial initiative forward in the months ahead.

The Sustainable Finance for Tiger Landscapes Conference

"It's always an economic driver that takes down forests. So if you're going to change the trajectory of a forest in decline, you need to introduce economic alternatives that are favourable to the local community. The world values forests, but they value them cut down. What a REDD+ project does is value a forest standing."

Watch our founder Gerald Prolman speak at this conference hosted by The Royal Government of Bhutan, where he covered how REDD+ as a nature-based solution can support tiger conservation through the protection of habitat.

Watch Gerald speaking from -3:01:00.

Beyond standards in Carbon Markets

Discover the latest insights from Everland's CEO, Joshua Tosteson, and other industry leaders in a webinar focused on advanced methodologies for ensuring trust in carbon credit purchases, surpassing current standards. They discuss developer strategies, technologies, and insights from WBCSD on fostering long-term stability in carbon credit markets.

Listen here.

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