Avoided Deforestation Partners - Initiatives

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. The modules went through a peer review process in early 2009. In April 2009, the modules were submitted to TÜV SÜD to conduct the first validation against the Voluntary Carbon Standard’s (VCS) new rules for Agriculture, Forestry, and Other Land Use (AFOLU). The modules submitted to TÜV SÜD can be downloaded from their website.
Update on progress

TÜV SÜD made a number of requests for clarifications or corrections, but did not identify any significant flaws in the modules. The team of experts continued to work with TÜV SÜD until April 2010, making a number of changes to the modules including revisions and some consolidation of modules. While TÜV SÜD’s work was high quality, it was processing the modules too slowly. In April 2010 SQS was chosen as the replacement validator.

Rainforest Alliance has been selected to conduct the second validation of the modules under the VCS double validation procedures. Both validations and VCS approval is expected in 2010.

The modules can be downloaded here

For more information or questions regarding the modules please see the information brief or contact Robert O’Sullivan of Climate Focus.