News and Events
The REDD Methodology
Project:
AD Partners launches effort to develop VCS Baseline and Monitoring Modules for Projects that Reduce Emissions from Deforestation and Degredation (REDD)
In the summer of 2008, AD Partners launched its REDD Methodology Project. The initiative has brought together a group of internationally recognized climate policy experts to develop a series of freely available methodology modules for advancing REDD projects. These modules will enable project developers to estimate the real emission reductions of projects that reduce emissions from deforestation and degradation ("REDD"). This effort is critical to demonstrating and ensuring the environmental integrity of REDD projects, accelerating the development and implementation of REDD projects, and preventing the fragmented, project- specific approach to methodology development that has occurred in the afforestation and reforestation sector. Appropriate REDD methodologies and demonstration projects will also be critical in informing international climate policy as the post-Kyoto negotiations progress. We believe that those involved in US climate policy will find this exercise equally interesting.
AD Partners presented a set of the 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. In Poznan, the draft modules were presented along with details for two upcoming tools that underlie the modules: a "decision support tool" and a framework module to help project developers apply the modules to develop REDD methodologies. The modules were developed by a series of internationally recognized climate policy experts. TThe modules went through a peer review process in early 2009. After these comments are responded to the modules will be submitted for approval under the Voluntary Carbon Standard’s (VCS) new rules for Agriculture, Forestry, and Other Land Use (AFOLU). TÜV SÜV has been selected to conduct the first part of the approval process under the VCS rules. TÜV SÜV will conduct a 30 day public commenting period via their website. The modules will be available for download from their website by the middle of April and will be announced over the Climate–L list serve. Complete approval under the VCS is expected by the middle of 2009.
For more information or questions regarding the modules please contact Robert O’Sullivan of Climate Focus.
REDD Methodology Project Team
Project Directors
Dr. Charlotte Streck
— AD Partners and Climate Focus, the Netherlands
Robert
O’Sullivan — AD Partners and Climate Focus, USA
Sponsorship and Support
Jeff Horowitz — AD Partners, USA
Lead Drafting Team
Dr. Sandra Brown — Winrock
International, USA
Dr. Lucio Pedroni — Carbon Decisions,
Costa Rica
Dr. Igino Emmer — UNFCCC A/R Working Group, The
Netherlands
Eveline Trines — Silvestrum, The Netherlands
Tim Pearson — Winrock International, USA
David Shoch
— TerraCarbon, USA
Secretariat
Ann Tartre — AD Partners, USA
The project team encourages and welcomes financial sponsorship from foundations, for-profit and non-profit groups. All contributions are tax deductible in accordance with U.S. law. The team also welcomes the intellectual support from the full spectrum of organizations, governments, companies and individuals that may wish to endorse this effort and offer comments as we proceed.