FERN’s aim is for an EU commitment to halting forest loss in a way that ensures forest peoples’ rights and is not based on carbon offsets.
FERN’s analysis: Initiatives which focus on reducing deforestation are rightly deemed as urgent, but there is a real danger that the focus on carbon will distract from dealing with the real drivers of deforestation. This is particularly true for initiatives aimed at reducing emissions from deforestation and degradation (REDD). They could easily end up delaying the necessary transition to low carbon economies if they allow industrialised countries to ‘offset’ their fossil fuel emissions. This is because at best, offsetting moves emissions around, it is not designed to actually reduce emissions. See FERN’s carbon trading campaign for analysis of the flaws in offsetting. FERN also shares the concern that as forests gain in monetary value as a result of the international REDD debates, forest peoples' rights are increasingly violated. Already incidents abound where private investors buy up forested land and national governments assert their perceived rights over forest lands to the detriment of local communities, in order to benefit from forest carbon financing.
What FERN is doing: FERN is campaigning for an EU commitment to halting forest loss in a way that respects indigenous peoples' rights, recognises the needs of forest dependent communities and where EU funding does not lead to the creation of carbon offsets. Without recognising forest peoples' rights, without improved forest governance and without addressing the drivers of deforestation - including overconsumption - it will not be possible to reduce forest loss.
Funding for schemes aimed at halting deforestation must not be generated through carbon offsets. Carbon trading will not provide money for those forest protection activties most needed, will lock Southern countries into expensive and futile exercises to 'accurately' meaure forest carbon, and will act as an excuse for industrialised countries to delay the necessary drastic cuts in greenhouse gas emissions. FERN is therefore campaigning for industrialised countries to exclude carbon offsetting as a source of funding for activities to halt deforestation.
To learn more about this campaign read “walking the tightrope to success”, signed onto by more than 20 organisations.
February 2, 2012
Ce rapport spécial conclut que si l'objectif des négociations est de réduire la déforestation, alors le succès doit être mesuré en considérant dans quelle mesure les activités financées renforcent les droits fonciers, améliorent la gouvernance forestière et réduisent la pression exercée sur les forêts par une consommation non durable.
December 8, 2011
Recent collapses in carbon markets and widespread opposition from forest peoples and non-governmental organisations have not stopped governments gathered in Durban from trying to build momentum for the creation of a new forest carbon market as part of the response to deforestation and climate change. In thie press release, the Accra Caucus on Forests and Climate Change, a coalition of around 100 civil society and indigenous peoples organisations from 38 countries, calls on governments in Durban to reject forest carbon trading.
December 7, 2011
In this press release, NGOs from all continents voice their concern over draft rules on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation (REDD) finalised in Durban for the 17th Conference of the Parties (CoP 17) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. The NGOs claim that the draft rules would allow governments to set their own reporting guidelines for social and environmental safeguards, as well as to propose their own reference levels against which to determine emission reductions from deforestation.
November 29, 2011
Nombreux sont les gouvernements à penser que les échanges de carbone apporteront un financement substantiel en vue de la protection ou de la gestion durable des forêts dans leurs pays, grâce aux programmes de réduction des émissions en provenance de la déforestation et de la dégradation des forêts (REDD). Le présent rapport signé par 28 organisations explique pourquoi les marchés du carbone ne profiteront pas aux gouvernements, aux forêts et aux populations des pays du sud.
November 29, 2011
Many governments believe that carbon trading will provide substantial funding to protect or sustainably manage forests in their countries via proposed schemes to Reduce Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation (REDD). This briefing, signed on to by 28 organisations explains why carbon markets will not deliver for Southern governments, forests and peoples.
November 16, 2011
En junio del 2010 el Accra Caucus sobre bosques y cambio climático publicó un conjunto de estudios de caso sobre los países que se estaban preparando para el programa de la CMNUCC de Reducción de Emisiones por Deforestación y Degradación Forestal (REDD +). Aquí les presentamos una nueva serie de estudios que muestran cómo el proceso REDD + se ha experimentado en la práctica.
November 16, 2011
Au mois de juin 2010, le Caucus d’Accra sur les forêts et le changement climatique a publié des études de cas concernant des pays qui se préparaient au Programme de réduction des émissions liées à la déforestation et à la dégradation des forêts dans les pays en voie de développement (REDD+) de la CCNUCC. Nous présentons à présent une nouvelle série d’études de cas afin d’illustrer la manière dont le processus REDD+ a été vécu sur le terrain.
November 16, 2011
In June 2010 the Accra Caucus on Forests and Climate Change released case studies from a range of countries which were preparing for the UNFCCC’s programme on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+). Here we present a new set of case studies showing how the REDD+ process has been experienced on the ground.
November 4, 2011
Durante los últimos cuatro años, las negociaciones de las Naciones Unidas en torno al programa de reducción de las emisiones derivadas de la deforestación y la degradación forestal (REDD+) ha ido ganando importancia hasta convertirse en asunto central de los debates sobre el cambio climático.
October 4, 2011
Nos últimos quatro anos, as negociações das Nações Unidas sobre a Redução de Emissões por Desmatamento e Degradação Florestal (REDD+) têm se tornado cada vez mais importantes nas discussões globais sobre as mudanças climáticas. Infelizmente, ainda há uma série de concepções seriamente errôneas sobre os mercados de carbono como maneira de financiar a proteção florestal. O objetivo deste paper é demonstrar por que essas suposições são falsas ou enganosas.
