A new forest carbon accounting methodology was approved for use under the VCS Program, opening the way for new projects, like an affected bit of orang-utan habitat in Borneo, to raise funds by issuing verified credits for curbing carbon emissions.

The methodology, developed by Face the Future, will be used to generate VCS verified carbon credits from the Infapro rainforest rehabilitation program in Sabah, Malaysia. The Infapro program, designed to rehabilitate damaged rainforest adjacent to the unique primary forests of Danum Valley, has been run by Face the Future, a Dutch forest carbon project developer, in partnership with the Sabah Foundation, for over 15 years.

The new methodology, only the third forest carbon approach specifically approved under the VCS Program, may also be used to develop similar projects in the future. The approach is designed to quantify emission reductions from projects that avoid re-logging or rehabilitate logged-over forest by cutting climbers and vines, liberation thinning and enrichment planting. Its formal name is Improved forest management through avoidance of re-logging and rehabilitation of logged-over natural evergreen tropical rainforest.

“With this methodology a whole new type of valuable projects can attract carbon finance. Carbon revenues will have a significant impact on the feasibility of rainforest rehabilitation projects and create an incentive for preventing re-logging,” said Denis Slieker, Managing Director at Face the Future.

To be approved under the VCS Program, the methodology was independently assessed by two separate auditing bodies: Scientific Certification Systems (SCS) and Bureau Veritas Certification.

“Although the methodology approval process is lengthy and costly, it does prove its value. We have seen the methodology improve during the process and we are confident that it will be of use to several projects,” said Martijn Snoep, the project manager at Face the Future who is responsible for the development of the methodology. “It is because of the technical work done by Silvestrum, a consultancy firm specialised in forest carbon issues, that we were able to complete the double approval process in a reasonably short time.”

“The approval of this new carbon accounting methodology is a great achievement for Face the Future and the forest carbon offset market. Because of Face the Future’s innovative approach to forest management, rehabilitation and avoidance of re-logging are now viable ways to combat climate change while improving forest health,” said Dr. Robert J. Hrubes, Senior Vice President of SCS.

“This rigorous new methodology opens the way for a whole new type of forest carbon projects, and that is a major milestone for forest carbon projects everywhere,” said VCS CEO David Antonioli. “Pioneers like Face the Future deserve a huge amount of credit for jumping in first to develop methodologies through the VCS process. Their success proves the value and feasibility of the independent review process, and their perseverance will pave the way for many more methodologies and projects to come.”

Face the Future is already putting the methodology into practice at the Infapro project in Malaysia. “We are currently working on the required project documentation and carbon inventory in the field. In the first half of 2011 we will initiate the validation and verification of the project so that ultimately carbon credits can be issued,” said Martijn Snoep.