Category: Publications

Brazilian REDD+ Alliance: Voluntary transactions can help nations overachieve their Paris Agreement targets

Report includes case study of the Brazilian Floresta+ programme

Voluntary transactions have the potential to help nations not only achieve but surpass their Paris agreement targets, according to new analysis compiled by international non-profit BVRio and the Brazilian REDD+ Alliance. The analysis also focuses on the positive potential the new Brazilian Programme Floresta+ has.

 

 

The new analysis comes as new data shows a renewed interest in the voluntary carbon offset market, with commitment by big corporates breathing new life to the market beset by criticism and doubt over many years.

“it is encouraging that voluntary commitments to climate mitigation are growing at such a fast pace. Our analysis shows that they can have a tangible, critical impact on reducing carbon emissions. It is important, however, that these transactions are conducted outside of the official UNFCCC accounts, so that their climate impact are truly additive to existing efforts under the Paris Agreements.”, said Pedro Moura Costa, Managing Director, BVRio.

 

Main points of the report include:

• The Paris Agreement requires that the acquisition of emission reduction credits must be cancelled by a corresponding adjustment in the seller’s nation account.
• This means that, depending on the specifications of the transactions, international emissions trading could result in neutral and even negative global climate impacts (see Table).
• Voluntary transactions do not require corresponding adjustments on any official national account; they occur outside official transactions, and consequently are additional.
• Such transactions can assist countries to meet their NDC targets and could result in emission reductions that are additional to the targets of the Paris Agreement.
• If buyers request corresponding adjustments from voluntary projects, however, the global climate impact of these projects will be cancelled by the adjustments and will be net neutral.
• Such adjustments could hinder the ability of host countries to meet their climate targets or these will only accept unambitious targets.
• The Brazilian Forest+ Programme fits well into this voluntary market architecture, and hopes to harness voluntary projects to contribute to the country’s climate targets under the Paris Agreement.

 

	NDC coverage of project sector	Corresponding Adjustments	Other impacts	Climate Impact
Compliance trading	Covered by NDC	Requested by UNFCCC	Negative impact on Host Country’s ability to meet its NDC	Neutral
	Outside NCD	Requested by UNFCCC	Positive – Does not impact Host Country’s ability to meet its NDC. Paves the way for expansion of NDC scope	Additional
Voluntary transactions	Outside NDC	Not needed	Positive – Does not impact Host Country’s ability to meet its NDC	Additional
	Covered by NDC	Not needed	Positive – Contributes to the Host Country’s NDC effort	Neutral
	Covered by NDC	Demanded by buyer	Negative impact on Host Country’s ability to meet its NDC	Neutral

 

Pedro Soares, Manager, Climate Change and Environmental Services, IDESAM, said: “The voluntary carbon markets can play a major role to foster a ‘net-zero’ CO2 economy in the next years. Companies and investors have already demonstrated their interest in engaging with positive initiatives that seek to reduce and remove GHG emissions, through REDD+ projects and programmes.”

 

The Brazilian Programme Floresta+

The recently announced Brazilian Programme Floresta+ supports the voluntary development of REDD+ projects and does not authorise international credit transfers. According to the analysis, this creates the basis for projects that create positive global climate impacts, contributing to the country’s climate targets. It is important, however, that these projects complement, as oppose to replace, official policies and initiatives for GHG emission reductions in Brazil land use sector.

 

“For developers of forest carbon projects, the Floresta+ programme is a historical breakthrough and sends a strong signal that it is within Brazil’s interest to increase private investment in forest conservation and restoration.”, stated Plínio Ribeiro, Co-Founder and CEO, Biofílica.

 

“The voluntary carbon market has proved its effectiveness in forest conservation; its expected growth can attract more resources to avoid deforestation and forest degradation at large scale.”

 

Plínio Ribeiro
Co-Founder and CEO
Biofílica Environmental Investments

 

 

 

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Be a leader with a vision of the future.
Neutralize your company’s emissions using carbon credits generated by our REDD+ Projects.

 

 

Within the historically most-degraded Amazon regions, the state seeks to attract investments to enable sustainable productive actions with local communities and farmers.

Seeking solutions to deal with the climate crisis, to achieve the goals proposed in the Paris Agreement, and concerned about the lack of sufficient public resources to combat deforestation, the state of Rondônia saw in the Reduction of Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) a practical strategy to generate revenue and conserve forests at the same time.

 

 

As explained in the article published by Página 22, a magazine that is a reference for sustainability topics in Brazil, Rondônia plans to follow a study prepared by Idesam to attract investments to generate resources through carbon markets. This is an approach based on growth that began before the crisis and that promises to grow again after the recovery, as analyzed by our CEO, Plínio Ribeiro.

 

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“As a matter of available capital in the face of the Covid-19 emergency, the markets only paused, but they did not shut down the process that showed it was heating up in the six months preceding the current crisis, when there was a strong increase in demand for forest carbon credits.”

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Plínio Ribeiro
CEO of Biofílica, to Página 22

 

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Rondônia currently has 75% of its remaining forests legally protected and the remaining 25% on private land. This means it is one of the most historically degraded regions of the Amazon. By keeping forests standing through means of REDD+ projects, the study underlining the strategy foresees that between 2016 and 2030 the emission of 156 million tons of carbon will be avoided and from the generated carbon credits, approximately US$ 780 million will be raised for the state.

The content also highlights the work of some projects, such as the REDD+ Rio Preto-Jacundá Project, a model initiative for the state of Rondônia that has already enabled local communities to earn revenues of R$ 3.5 million, reverted to their development, as a result of sustainable use of the forest and, consequently, of the carbon credits generated and sold by Biofílica to neutralize emissions from organizations in Brazil and the world.

Digital inclusion: project teaches computing to the RESEX community

Efforts to combat climate change cannot stop. Invest in neutralizing your company’s CO₂ emissions through REDD+ Projects and contribute to curbing deforestation in the Amazon.

 

Be part of the change:
carbon credits are available to neutralize CO2 emissions!

A guide for you to understand what REDD+ is and how this investment aggregates value to your business as you contribute towards the conservation of forests.

The increase of deforestation and of forest degradation in the recent decades is a cause of concern, given that it has been responsible, to a large extent, for the greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions in Brazil and in the world. In face of the need of reducing these emissions and mitigating the effects of climate change, the REDD+ mechanism was created, in an international effort of researchers and with the support of the United Nations.

 

 

The importance of forests

Deforestation, forest degradation and land use change, which include activities such as agricultural and livestock farming, contribute with the total of 23% of all accumulated anthropogenic emissions of Greenhouse Gases (GHG) in the world, registered since 1961¹. In Brazil, these activities resulted in 69% of all national emissions in 2018².

In this context, the conservation of forests, in addition to contributing to the reduction of greenhouse gases emissions, generates other benefits, such as the protection of hydrographic basins, the stabilization of rainfall systems and positive impacts on biodiversity and local communities that depend on their resources. Additionally, the biodiversity maintained by the forests is a source of incalculable resources, which if well managed, can ensure jobs and income for millions of people in the future.

Sources:
• Climate Change and Land (IPCC, 2019)
• Sistema de Estimativas de Emissões de Gases de Efeito Estufa [Greenhouse Gas Emission Estimation System] (SEEG Brasil, 2018)

 

And what is REDD+?

REDD+ is a mechanism that aims to avoid greenhouse gas emissions associated to forest deforestation, allowing the remuneration of those who maintain the standing forests. When preventing threated forest areas from being deforested, it is possible to generate carbon credits, which once marketed, can turn the forests economically more attractive than other forms of use of the land. This mechanism closes its cycle at the moment when revenues proceeding from carbon are invested in the maintenance of the forest and in the sustainable management of its resources.

 

 

In practice, how does it work?

Initially, studies are conducted to assess the potentiality of implementation of a REDD+ project in the area. For this, the conserved forest area in the property and the existence of risk of deforestation of the area based on the regional context where it is inserted are analyzed, subsequently the potential deforestation vectors in the region are identified, and from this analysis strategies are plotted based on:

• Financial incentives to reduce deforestation, mainly in the places where the forests are converted to agriculture, for example.

• Reduction of degradation in forests that lost part of their ecological value.

• Promotion of sustainable development generating environmental, social and economic benefits.

After monitoring and assessing the effectiveness of the applied strategies, the calculation of CO2 emissions that were avoided is carried out. Then, the carbon credits are generated.

 

 

Are REDD+ projects reliable?

Independent certification bodies make available methodologies and guidelines for implementation, monitoring, reporting and verification of REDD+ projects, ensuring high levels of assurance and stringent technical requirement, in addition to transparency and necessary involvement of communities and other possibly impacted stakeholders.

The most recognized organization of the voluntary carbon market is Verra, which makes available Certification standards VCS and CCB. Verra is internationally recognized for its expertise and technical excellence in certifying greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction projects and the social, environmental and economic benefits associated to these projects.
Before investing in a project, it is essential to find out whether it has certification.

REDD+ Rio Preto-Jacundá Project gains room at Verra’s site

 

 

Is REDD+ producing result?

Yes! The deforestation rate in the areas where Biofílica’s REDD+ projects operate was reduced by 75% between 2015 and 2018, going against the deforestation rate in the Brazilian Amazon, which grew by 7% in the same period.

All in all, there are 1.2 million conserved hectares, that protect at least 340 species of flora, 1,200 species of animals and where about 1,500 people live who were impacted by our projects until the end of 2019.

The importance of forest management and conservation reflected in our growth

 

Who can invest in REDD+ projects?

Currently, institutions and companies that want to compensate their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and contribute to financing the conservation of forests through the purchase of REDD+ carbon credits. The projects are also funded by countries, through environmental preservation programs.

 

Why are leaders with vision investing in REDD+ projects

In the extremely competitive scenario we have today, leaders from all sectors face daily the challenge of standing out in the market. At the same time, the concern in assuming the responsibility of environmental impact generated by their activities is growing.

Compensating emissions by investing in REDD+ projects is an innovative way of solving these two issues, encompassing benefits such as:

• Recognition and solution of environmental impacts in the operations
• Engagement of employees and customers
• Improvement in Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) indicators
• Differentiation in the market
• Increase of the brand’s reputation and image
• Attraction of investors

 

Start making a difference now for the planet and for your company.

A project developed by ASMOREX, in a partnership with Biofílica and Centro de Estudos Rioterra, aims to expand the professional qualification of the residents of the reserve.

 

 

The inhabitants of Reserva Extrativista Rio Preto-Jacundá, where Biofílica acts through a REDD+ Project in a partnership with Centro de Estudos Rioterra and Associação dos Moradores da RESEX (ASMOREX), are already attending free informatics courses held at the community complex telecenter.

Designed to reach students from all age groups, starting with children with 8 years who can read, the course arose from the association’s perception of  the importance of offering residents the opportunity to obtain the knowledge required to occupy administrative positions in the city or in the association itself.

“We need qualified people. For years,  ASMOREX has been managed by the same people due to lack of qualification; many here cannot even use a computer or use a keyboard to create a document”, explains
Denise Vieira Borges, coordinator of the course and activities.

 

 

In 4-hour weekly classes, the students have access to interactive videos and lessons ranging from introduction to informatics up to more complex software used in web development and creation, which are separated in basic and advanced modules.

“The course will add a lot to the curriculum of these people. Regardless of whether being here or in the city, it is essential to have an informatics course.” says Denise, who also notes: “Now they don’t have to go to the city or pay for attending a course. They take the course here, receive their certificate, and are able to use the knowledge acquired to work.”

 

ASMOREX Community Complex

The association’s community complex was inaugurated in April, 2019, and counts with eight houses, one community office with a computer room, cafeteria and auditorium, as well as a shed especially designed to house the machinery and equipment that facilitate the work routine of the extractivists who live in the area.

The facilities provided the community with new possibilities through internet access and electricity, which previously had a much smaller reach.

Protected areas have emerged as a solution to several environmental problems. Its origins are in the communities of rubber tappers who, during the 70s and 80s, assumed the role of forest guardians in the Amazon. We believe that the objective of the creation of a Protected Area was to guarantee the survival of traditional populations in their way of life based on collecting natural resources, besides occupying these areas to guarantee the protection of the Amazon Forest biodiversity.

The Rio Preto Jacundá Protected Area was created by the State Decree  7,336, dated January 17^th, 1996, and declared the region as of ecological and social interest for the benefit and use of its native population, that is, the forest peoples, in the case, rubber tappers. It is a territorial space destined to self-sustaining exploitation and conservation of renewable natural resources. Today, after some legal modifications, it has a determined an area of 95,300 hectares, being located in the municipality of Machadinho D’Oeste, near the interstate border of Rondônia and Amazonas.

In 2001, the Resex Rio Preto Jacundá Residents’ Association (Asmorex) was founded, with the objective of providing legal representation to the Protected Area’s extractive population, in addition to enable engagement with public policies and projects that could benefit local residents. Even in the face of such possibilities, we face many difficulties in developing our activities, due to the lack of knowledge and qualification of our people in conducting the Association.

In September 2011, participating in a seminar in the city of Porto Velho, held by CES Rioterra, we envisioned the opportunity to implement the REDD+ project  with Biofílica, which is now a reality. It was more than five years of a joint battle between Asmorex, communities, Biofílica and CES Rioterra in the elaboration of a promising project, which we are currently looking at with optimism, through its positive results.

The current reality, despite a horizon of possibilities through the REDD+ Project, is also challenging, since we are facing strong pressure from invaders who try at any cost to get hold of the area, causing fear to the inhabitants of origin of the Area. In any case, although State enforcement authorities are fulfilling their role, this work has been insufficient in recent years, reflecting a considerable increase in recent deforestation.

Another challenge is to rescue and maintain the cultural identity of our people, due to the current innovative context, interpersonal relationships with surrounding migrant populations, and even accessible urban centers, which has strongly influenced the customs and traditions of our extractive communities.

I see the REDD+ project of Resex Rio Preto Jacundá as an opportunity to foster the Area in its social, cultural, ecological and economic scope, in addition to being a territorial protection strategy in partnership with the State of Rondônia. I believe in God and in the REDD+ project of Rio Preto Jacundá, that our goals will be achieved and at the same time we will be grateful and proud of our work and our partners, who have placed in us their confidence in the construction of an arduous but praiseworthy common good strategy, the reconciliation of Man and Nature.

José Pinheiro Borges

Community extractive resident at Resex Rio Preto Jacundá