Fwd: forests-l digest: November 12, 2014

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Ben McCarthy <BMcCarthy@ecosystemmarketplace.com>
To: 
Cc: 
Date: Tue, 11 Nov 2014 22:53:29 +0000
Subject: SAVE THE DATE - State of the Forest Carbon Markets 2014 report launch - November 21 4:00 PM

Dear Colleagues,

Forest Trends' Ecosystem Marketplace invites you join us for a special event exploring findings from our State of the Forest Carbon Markets 2014 report, "Turning over a New Leaf". To register for the event, please RSVP with full contact details to bmccarthy@ecosystemmarketplace.com. Space is limited so please register at your earliest opportunity before November 20^th.

With the effects of climate change already being felt from New York City to New Delhi, the fight to keep global forest carbon stocks intact, to improve forest management, and to reforest degraded land is more vital than ever. Too often, trees are worth more cut down than standing. But markets that value the carbon storage and other ecosystem services that forests provide are now channeling millions of dollars to forests every year – and leveraging other financing.

This year's report will provide insights such as:

·         A closer look at buyer motivations and activities, from internal carbon pricing to customer engagement with offset programs,

·         New data on the co-benefits of forest carbon projects, from employment to endangered species protection,

·         New information on forestry's role in emerging compliance markets, including California's cap-and-trade market and finance flowing to jurisdictional nested REDD,

·         Information on new land-based project types, such as wetlands restoration and bamboo.

Time: Friday, November 21^st, 4:00 -5:30 PM EST, reception to follow
Location: Room MC2-800, World Bank Main Complex, 1818 H St NW | Washington, DC (map)

Ecosystem Marketplace's State of the Forest Carbon Markets 2014 builds on five previous reports and highlights 2013 trends in forest carbon offset demand. The report data is gathered through an extensive annual survey and interviews with global forest carbon offset suppliers. The report is the only market-wide research tracking performance-based payments for emissions reductions in forests.

Look for more information in your mailbox soon and at www.forest-trends.org/fcm2014.php.

Regards,
Ben

Ben McCarthy
Program Associate | Ecosystem Marketplace
1203 19th Street NW, 4th floor, Washington DC 20036 USA
+1 (202) 446 1989
bmccarthy@ecosystemmarketplace.com
www.ecosystemmarketplace.com

Please consider contributing to help Forest Trends demonstrate that priceless nature is worth conserving.

 

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: denis.ruysschaert@gmail.com
To: 
Cc: 
Date: Wed, 12 Nov 2014 04:25:01 -0600
Subject: Towards global voluntary standards: questioning their effectiveness
Global voluntary agreements in agriculture have emerged as pragmatic means to tackle rainforest destruction, conserve biodiversity, and ultimately contribute to climate change mitigation/ adaptation. This study questions how really effective they are by analyzing one of them, the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO).

The study is now available in the November edition of Ecological Economics (2014), pp. 438-446.
The link access is free until November 15, 2014
http://authors.elsevier.com/a/1PmUX3Hb~026Er
Authors: Dr. Denis Ruysschaert and Dr. Denis Salles

In summary, the study found five shortcomings: financial compensation too small, too much room for interpretation in the guidance document, postponement on contentious issues, non-integration of RSPO within the socio-politico-legal Indonesian context and finally the lack of effective external control system.
As these shortcomings complement each other, the effectiveness of the scheme is dramatically reduced for rainforest conservation, and almost zero for species such as Sumatran orangutan that needs large forested areas. Rainforest conservation will require oil palm sector reform. This would include reincorporating the state into the scheme and changing the approach supporting local development in a sound socio-ecological regional planning.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Roberta Iley <roberta.iley@cdp.net>
To: 
Cc: 
Date: Wed, 12 Nov 2014 07:48:18 -0600
Subject: CDP Global Forests Report 2014 - just launched!
Dear Colleagues,

CDP has just launched its Global Forests Report 2014 looking at corporate action on deforestation, "Deforestation-free supply chains: From commitments to action", available online from  https://www.cdp.net/CDPResults/CDP-global-forests-report-2014.pdf.

The report draws on the disclosures from 152 companies, representing a market capitalization of over US$3 trillion, on four key forest-risk commodities – cattle products, palm oil, timber products and soy.  Produced by CDP on behalf of 240 investor signatories representing US$15 trillion in invested assets, the report focuses on the corporate commitments to decouple deforestation from commodity supply chains and the roadmap for how those commitments can be translated into action.

We hope you find it insightful.

Kind regards,

CDP's forests team
forests@cdp.net

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