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Progress updates: Final vcsa approval achieved dec. 3. 2010
Double approval process for the REDD modules:
On 24th September 2010 SQS issued the first approval of the modules. The validation report containing all the corrective action requests and clarification requests by TÜV SÜD and SQS along with the responses to these requests is available for download here.
Rainforest Alliance began the second approval of the modules under the VCS double approval procedures in August 2010. Rainforest Alliance and Winrock International went through three rounds of review and edits to finalize the validation before Rainforest Alliance gave the second approval on 30th November 2010.
Special thanks go to both companies for their efforts, which ensured the second approval occurred in tie for the final VCSA approval during COP16 in Cancun.
Final approval from the VCSA:
The AD Partners REDD Methodology Modules were approved by the VCSA on December 3rd, representing the culmination of over 2 years work. The AD Partners REDD Methodology Modules were announced by the VCS as a “revolutionary methodology” that represents “a major contribution by AD Partners”.
The final modules can be used to generate methodologies for projects that reduce emissions from planned and unplanned deforestation and forest degradation caused by extraction of wood for fuel.
Download the Methodology Modules by clicking here.
Avoided Deforestation Partners sponsored the first coordinated effort to develop a set of "methodology modules" to estimate emission reductions from projects that Reduce Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD projects). The modules were developed under the Voluntary Carbon Standard (VCS), and planned as the most comprehensive REDD methodology under the VCS and support the development of a wide range of REDD project activities.
The REDD Methodology Modules project is an effort to streamline methodology development for investors and project developers. Rather than developing unique and expensive methodologies on a project-by-project basis, under the modular approach each aspect of the project from baseline setting to measurement, and monitoring to leakage estimates, is treated in a discrete and independent module. Individual modules that are applicable to a specific project’s circumstances can then be selected and applied under a framework module to generate a project specific methodology. This clears a major barrier for the development of REDD projects and promises to:
Ensure environmental integrity and robustness of VCS REDD projects
Prevent certification of poorly designed REDD demonstration activities
Avoid a repetition of the fragmented development of project specific methodologies without general applicability as under the CDM Afforestation/Reforestation process.
Accelerate the reduction of emissions from deforestation while international and domestic REDD frameworks continue to be developed
Tropical deforestation and forest degradation produces a significant fraction of global greenhouse gas emissions. This makes efforts in REDD essential to mitigating climate change.
The momentum behind REDD in international climate negotiations has been growing: the UNFCCC Conference of Parties (COP 13) in Bali adopted a decision in late 2008 that encouraged the development and testing of various mechanisms, approaches, methodologies and tools for REDD. Yet while the Bali Action Plan contains rough guidance for demonstration activities, detailed methodological rules for REDD under an international regime are not expected for several years.
It is essential that credible REDD methodologies are available for the voluntary market to ensure effective and credible projects take place, and to inform the emerging international, national and state level - REDD policies. The private sector is already beginning to invest in projects in Southeast Asia, Latin America and Africa, with more REDD activities and programs planned globally. However, experience with forest carbon projects in CDM and the voluntary carbon market have demonstrated that great financial and technical hurdles deter project proponents and developers from investing in projects. These widely-applicable, credible REDD methodologies will help reduce some of the technical hurdles of developing REDD projects, promote environmental integrity in project-level REDD accounting, reduce transaction costs, and provide implementation experience that will help inform the ongoing UNFCCC process.
The modules developed under this initiative cover a wide range of project scenarios: planned deforestation, unplanned deforestation, and degradation through removal of fuel wood/charcoal. However, the modules are not exhaustive and do not cover all conceivable REDD projects. They should not be considered a finite or definitive list. The modules will be public documents and additional modules can be developed and added to the system by anyone interested in doing so. Any such additions or modifications will need to go through the VCS approval procedure, but do not need the consent or approval of the module's original authors. As such, the modular approach will constitute a living set of tools that will continue to evolve and expand over time. As new modules are developed and approved by the VCS they will be able to be added to the set of available modules project developers can access and use for their own specific projects.
The set of modules are tied together by a framework module that sets out how the individual modules work together and will produce a project specific methodology when applied. The framework module therefore incorporates all the modules developed to date and other relevant tools needed to estimate emission reductions.
Project Directors
Dr. Charlotte Streck —Climate Focus and Avoided Deforestation Partners
Robert O’Sullivan — Climate Focus and Avoided Deforestation Partners
Sponsorship and Support
Jeff Horowitz — Avoided Deforestation Partners, USA
Lead Drafting Team
Dr. Tim Pearson — Winrock International, USA (lead author)
Dr. Sandra Brown — Winrock International, USA
Dr. Lucio Pedroni — Carbon Decisions International, Costa Rica
Dr. Igino Emmer — Silvestrum, The Netherlands
David Shoch — TerraCarbon, USA
The Project was initially conceived in May 2008 and drafting began in September 2008. The drafting team consists of experts from Winrock International (Sandra Brown and Tim Pearson), Carbon Decisions (Lucio Pedroni), Silvestrum (Igino Emmer), and TerraCarbon (David Shoch). Climate Focus serves as secretariat and facilitator of the Project. The fist drafts of the modules were officially launched in 2008 at the second Forest Day organized by CIFOR in Poznan, Poland during the 14th session of the UNFCCC Conference of the Parties (COP 14).
The modules went through a peer review process in early 2009 and in April 2009 the modules were submitted to TÜV SÜD to conduct the first approval against the Voluntary Carbon Standard’s (VCS) new rules for Agriculture, Forestry, and Other Land Use (AFOLU). The modules submitted to TÜV SÜD were open for public comments and can be downloaded from their website. The 30 day public commenting period has closed and TÜV SÜD completed the first review of the modules in late July 2009.
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. Work on the modules continued, and on 24th September 2010 SQS issued the first approval of the modules. The validation report containing all the corrective action requests and clarification requests by TÜV SÜD and SQS along with the responses to these requests is available for download here.
Rainforest Alliance began the second approval of the modules under the VCS double approval procedures in August 2010 and granted final approval on the 30th November 2010.
Approval by the VCS- December 3, 2010
The VCS granted the final approval of the REDD Methodology Modules on December 3, 2010 during the UNFCCC COP 16 meetings in Cancun. Thanks needs to go to VCSA staff who helped process the final steps of the VCSA approval in time for the COP.
Download the Methodology Modules by clicking here.
For more information on the modules, please contact Robert O'Sullivan form Climate Focus' Washington D.C. office.
National REDD+ Registries - an overview of issues and design options 
Options for financing REDD+ in the context of EU climate policy Status and opportunities 
Consolidating National REDD+ Accounting and Subnational Activities Applications in GhanaAmsterdam Washington DC Copyright © 2001-2012 Climate Focus B.V.
