Avoided Deforestation Partners - News & Events

Green Climate Fund Approved in Durban, South Africa

UN S-G Ban Ki-moon and
Dr. Jane Goodall, DBE

Durban, South Africa — The AD Partners COP 17 event in Durban was perhaps our most ambitious to date, (see speaker list at left). In addition to co-host Dr. Jane Goodall and keynote speaker UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, we were honored to have the U.S. Government represented by way of video statements from President Obama, Secretary of State Clinton and former President Clinton. Our gathering supported the approval of the Green Climate Fund, REDD+ and sustainable supply chain efforts. Our message, and the purpose of this event, was to highlight solutions that support economic growth through sustainable, climate smart agriculture - practices that benefit farmers and strengthen local communities while conserving valuable ecosystems, including forests… read more

Wangari Muta Maathai, 1940-2011

Nairobi, June 2011

Wangari Maathai was a larger than life figure who truly made a difference on the ground in a way that few have ever done. Prof, as we all loved to call her, had incredible energy and was always eager to look for new ways of protecting forests. We are all truly indebted to her for her very direct engagement in trying to help move U.S. and international policies to protect forests. While we all will miss her terribly, we know that she would want us all to continue to find effective ways to protect people, forests, our climate and our planet. … more about Wangari on the Green Belt Movement website

Rob Walton Walmart's Chair Pledge: "Only sustainable palm oil in branded products by 2015"

Rob Walton
Chairman of the Board, Walmart

Cancun, Mexico — At AD Partners UN Climate Conference in Cancún, Walmart Chairman Rob Walton, announced that his company has committed to using 100% sustainably-sourced palm oil for its branded products by late 2015. This announcement helped mark a growing trend among big business toward sustainable supply chains... read more

AD Partners hosts Dr. Jane Goodall in meetings with California Governor Jerry Brown, State Legislators and Air Resources Board Members

Dr. Jane Goodall,DBE and
Governor Jerry Brown

Sacramento, CA — AD Partners hosted a series of meetings with Dr. Goodall to support the inclusion of forest provisions in California's landmark AB32 climate legislation. In addition to meeting with newly elected Governor Brown and other government officials, Dr. Goodall addressed California State Senate... read more

In Cancún, World Leaders Call for Quick Action on Forests

Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon

Cancun, Mexico — On December 8, Avoided Deforestation Partners was honored to have UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon as the keynote speaker at our high-level REDD+ event in Cancun. The Secretary General called on the nations of the world to conclude a deal to protect forests. At the same event, important announcements were made by World Bank president Robert Zoellick and Walmart Chairman Rob Walton. Other speakers included Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg and Guyana President Bharatt Jagdeo... read more

ADP REDD Methodology Modules approved and offered free of charge to forest protection project developers

The AD Partners REDD Methodology Modules were approved by the VCS. This milestone represents the culmination of over 2 years' work and intensive third party reviews. VCS called the ADP REDD Modules "revolutionary," and "a major contribution." The REDD Methodology Module approach allows project developers to construct a project specific methodology from the set of approved modules, which are now available for public usage. The modules can be used to generate methodologies for activities to reduce emissions from planned and unplanned deforestation and forest degradation caused by extraction of wood for fuel.read more
view press release

AD Partners convenes briefing on Capitol Hill in support of the U.S. $1 billion REDD+ budget request

Senator Patrick Leahy and Congresswoman Nita Lowey

Washinton, DC — On May 19, On May 19, AD Partners hosted event in support of REDD+ appropriations with distin- guished U.S. legislators, including Representative Lowey and Senators Brownback and Leahy. Other honored guests included Dr. Jane Goodall, DBE... see more

U.S. Agriculture Sec. Vilsack announces $1 billion
forest fund at AD Partners COP15 event

U.S. Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack

Copenhagen, Denmark — December 16, AD Partners hosts high-level forest-climate side event in Copenhagen, highlighted by Sec. Vilsack announcement. U.S. to contribute $1 billion to forest conservation.... View press release and participation list

AD Partners Founder delivers funding letter to
His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales

Jeff Horowitz, founder of AD
Partners, with His Royal
Highness, Prince Charles

Washington, D.C. — Avoided Deforestation Partners founder Jeffrey Horowitz presented a letter from Senator Patrick Leahy to Charles, Prince of Wales, announcing a significant increase in U.S. funding for tropical forest protection at St. James Palace, London. Avoided Deforestation Partners and its allies had worked closely with Leahy and other officials to secure the funding, which was announced by U.S. Ambassador Louis Susman at a special meeting convened by Prince Charles on November 19... see more

AD Partners Meets with Ken Salazar,
U.S. Secretary of the Interior

Meeting with Ken Salazar

Washington, D.C. — Members of the Tropical Forest and Climate Coalition met with Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar in October to discuss climate change and tropical forest protection.... See more

AD Partners brokers landmark Tropical Forest
and Climate Unity Agreement

AD Partners is pleased to have facilitated a milestone forest-climate policy agreement among prominent U.S. environmental, conservation and development groups in addition to power sector companies and other corporate interests. The goal of this agreement is to advance U.S. legislation... See more

AD Partners Convenes Pre-Copenhagen Panel for Embassy staff from European and Rainforest Nations

Nobel Laureate Wangari Maathai

Washington, D.C. — On October 6, AD Partners hosted a lunch briefing with the German Marshall Fund and the Royal Norwegian Embassy for Embassy staff from European and rainforest nations. The event focused on options to create incentives to reduce emissions from deforestation currently under debate in the U.S. Congress... See more

AD Partners rolls out Call for U.S. Leadership initiative at Congressional briefing on Capitol Hill on February 9

Senator John Kerry

Washington, D.C. — On February 9th, AD Partners hosted a major Capitol Hill briefing with a unique lineup of advocates, including Senators Kerry and Lugar, Nobel Laureate Wangari Maathai, and a diverse list of NGO Presidents, corporate leaders and other honored guests. Protecting tropical forests is an essential strategy in the fight against climate change, and the United States must take a leadership role on the issue, the multi-sector alliance of leaders from across the political, environmental, development and business spectrum declared today. In a unified voice, CEOs and presidents... See more

AD Partners launches effort to develop VCS Baseline and Monitoring Modules for Projects that Reduce Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation (REDD)

Poznan, Poland

Poznan, Poland — AD Partners presented a set of draft modules on diverse methodological aspects for REDD activities at a side event at the 2nd Forest Day organized by CIFOR in Poland at the 14th session of the UNFCCC Conference of the Parties in December 2008. When completed, these modules will be freely available for advancing Avoided Deforestation projects that will enable project developers to estimate the real emission reductions of projects that reduce emissions from deforestation and degradation ("REDD")... See more

Nobel Laureates Al Gore and Wangari Maathai lead discussion on Climate, Security and Development Policy

Al Gore - Former Vice President, United States

New York City, NY — AD Partners was pleased and honored to host Nobel laureates Al Gore and Wangari Maathai who lead a landmark discussion on the need to protect tropical forests as a central element in the fight to stop climate change and as a key to international peace, stability and development. Moderated by Dan Rather, their discussion focused on the crucial role to be played by U.S. leaders in fighting deforestation, particularly in tropical regions, that accounts for about 20 percent of annual global greenhouse gas emissions and destabilizes vulnerable populations and regions. The event, held on Monday, Sept. 22, 2008 at the Yale Club in New York City, represented an historic...See more

Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Oscar Arias asks AD Partners to send his message to the developed world and in particular the US.

Oscar Arias – President of
Costa Rica

New York City, NY — President of Costa Rica Oscar Arias could not attend the AD Partners September 22nd event due to a last minute meeting in Washington DC. He was to be the third Nobel Peace laureate on stage with former Vice President Al Gore and Professor Wangari Maathai. In lieu of his presence, President Arias asked that the following statement be delivered to the audience... See statement to audience in NY

AD Partners May 5 DC Event

Prof. Wangari Maathai - Founder - The Green Belt Movement

Washington D.C.— Avoided Deforestation Partners was honored to host a lunch and round table on the urgent need for the U.S. Congress to take the lead on integrating International Forest Protection in U.S. Climate Policy. Nobel Peace Prize laureate Wangari Maathai headlined as the keynote speaker. Professor Maathai spoke about the urgent need for the U.S. to adopt policies that will protect international rainforests and the communities whose lives depend on their continued existence. Dr. Maathai was followed on stage by an impressive group of renowned environmental, science and business leaders, all of who shared the concern that the U.S. Congress must act soon if we are to advance one of the most critical and achievable climate change solutions...Speakers, participants, photos

AD Partners February 28 Event

Peter Darbee - Chairman, CEO, and President, PG&E Corporation

San Francisco — Avoided Deforestation Partners and PG&E convened leaders in the private sector, NGOs and government to develop an action plan to improve the market for private sector investment in protecting our planet’s forests, which is a vital tool in combating global climate change. Creating the right carbon market policies to attract private sector investment in forest preservation at scale is the central focus of AD Partners... See more

Avoided deforestation and the economy

Mongabay and Ecosystem Marketplace recently published AD Partners's editorial linking the US economy with efforts to save rainforests and fight climate change. Published in the wake of the successful Bali REDD agreements, the article demonstrates the advantages to the US of participation in forest carbon credit markets. Check out the Mongabay article and the Ecosystem Marketplace article.
View the article

AD Partners speaks at Bali in climate conference

On December 6, 2007 AD Partners co-hosted a very successful side event on private sector participation in REDD. The event was part of the official UN climate conference in Bali (COP 13). The room was filled to capacity, demonstrating high level of interest in the topic... See more

Brussels conference summary

As Bali is fast approaching, there remains a growing anticipation for what tangible outcomes can be expected from the COP/MOP meetings, in particular regarding reducing emissions from deforestation ("REDD" or "avoided deforestation"). On October 24-25th, a diverse group of leading private sector companies, environmental NGOs, scholars, lawyers and representatives from key tropical forest governments, the EU and the U.S. gathered in Brussels to discuss RED policy in an effort to elicit common views and refine the policy challenges. The meetings included engaged and open discussion from all participants on various policy approaches and testimonials on the urgency of the deforestation crisis...See more

Putting forests on the agenda

Avoided Deforestation Partners co-hosts RED Workshop in Brussels

On October 24 and 25, 2007 Climate Focus, CATIE, Avoided Deforestation Partners convened a public dialogue on mechanisms to reduce emissions from deforestation (RED) in developing countries. The dialogue was supported by the Governments of Costa Rica, Peru, Colombia, Paraguay, Panama, and Ecuador as well as the UN Economic Commission on Latin America and GTZ. The event attracted over 70 attendees from Governments, the private for profit and non for profit sectors. Government officials represented Governments from Europe, Latin America, Asia and North America. The objective of the event was to initiate a dialogue between governments and the private sector on RED policy given the acknowledged need for private sector financing to effectively address the problem of tropical deforestation. The use of market mechanisms and private sector finance feature on most countries' submissions to the UNFCCC...See more