100 million tonnes of CO2 emissions to be prevented by world-first Indonesian project
06/03/2008
A new Indonesian forest protection project - which is the first to be approved by a leading international standards for reducing emissions from deforestation and degradation (REDD) - is expected to prevent 100 million tonnes of CO2 emissions over the next 30 years, the equivalent of 50 million flights from London to Sydney. The project is designed to deliver significant amounts of carbon credits for future sale on the voluntary carbon markets.
Supported by FFI, the project achieved certification against the Climate, Community & Biodiversity (CCB) Standards in February. As the first of its kind, the project is likely to have a significant impact on future REDD projects. The investment bank Merrill Lynch has already expressed its interest in investing in the project.
The project’s activities are predicted to reduce deforestation of Aceh Province’s endangered Ulu Masen forest by a staggering 85%, thereby bringing about real reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. The 3.3 million carbon credits predicted to be generated annually will help finance the conservation of the forest’s rich biodiversity and development projects for local communities, who are some of Indonesia’s poorest.
The first carbon credits are expected to be sold as soon as 2009. Forest conservation carbon credits are almost certain to play a central role in future global climate change policy. In addition to the revenue from the voluntary carbon market, income will be generated through the development and marketing of “Aceh Green” forest products such as sustainable palm oil, coffee and cacao.
The CCB Standards are designed to ensure that land use projects are designed to simultaneously mitigate climate change anddeliver compelling biodiversity and community benefits. The Ulu Masen project will help local stakeholders by distributing incentive payments for the delivery of forest protection.
The project is an innovative collaboration between FFI, the Government of Aceh and Carbon Conservation. The Rainforest Alliance, an international nonprofit conservation organisation, validated the project’s conservation plans as meeting the CCB Standards. Such independent third-party validation for REDD projects is crucial if they are to play a role in future global climate change policy.
“We are very pleased our team in Aceh has received such a strong independent endorsement for their conservation field programme,“ Chief Executive Officer of FFI, Mark Rose said. “The team works in difficult conditions, responding to many humanitarian and ecological challenges, post-tsunami. FFI will continue to work closely with Aceh’s Governor Irwandi Yusuf and our national Indonesian partners to develop this important mechanism for large scale forest conservation.”
The Ulu Masen forest supports a dazzling array of species, some of which may be undiscovered, as well as vast stores of carbon. For example, the forest supports a population of Sumatran tigers (of which there are just 300-400 left in the wild) and so may prove crucial for saving this Critically Endangered species from extinction. However illegal logging seriously threatens this near-pristine ecosystem, partly due to an increased demand for timber after the devastating 2004 tsunami.
FFI Communications Team:
Rebecca Foges
Communications Officer
Tel: +44 (0)1223 579 491
rebecca.foges@fauna-flora.org
Sarah Chancel
Communications Officer
Tel: +44 (0)1223 579 332
sarah.chancel@fauna-flora.org
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