Face the Future has registered the world’s first tropical Improved Forest Management project under the Verified Carbon Standard (VCS). The project, known as “Infapro”, is situated on 25.000 hectares of threatened Orangutan habitat in Sabah, Borneo.

The pioneering Infapro project was designed as a rainforest rehabilitation project that operates through the avoidance of re-logging and the rehabilitation of degraded forest via enrichment planting, cutting of climbers and vines and liberation thinning. The project has proven successful, as it has resulted in the recovery of forest, in scientifically supported biodiversity enhancements and achieved long-term carbon sequestration.

VCS registration is an important milestone that shows there is a viable business case for forest rehabilitation. While it took almost three years to reach this milestone, including the development of a new carbon accounting methodology, now that carbon credits have been issued the investment has proven worthwhile.

The Infapro project is connected to the Danum Valley Conservation Area, a unique primary forest serving as a habitat for species such as the Orangutan, the Borneo elephant and the Sumatran rhino. “By rehabilitating this magnificent forest we enlarge the habitat for these species. The VCS registration and issuance of carbon credits enables us to continue with our rehabilitation activities.” said Denis Slieker, Managing Director of Face the Future. The project validation and verification was performed by Scientific Certification Systems (SCS). “We were pleased to be able to scientifically confirm the forest carbon benefits of such a unique project,” said Dr. Robert Hrubes, Senior Vice President of SCS. “The Infapro project is a great example of an innovative approach to addressing climate change and habitat protection”.

“As the project has been operational for several years, the VSC registration is a reward for all partners and individuals involved. Many years of research, development and hard work have resulted in 11.000 hectares already being rehabilitated and 14.000 hectares more to come. For this we are very thankful to the management and local staff of the Sabah Foundation.” concludes Denis Slieker.