The Gold Standard expands: announcements on forestry & land-use

Based upon consistent stakeholder lobbying and the strongly positive outcome of a 2011 scoping exercise, The Gold Standard Foundation is expanding its project scope into land use and forestry. This is a significant step in the development of the Standard that, in its first decade, focused only on renewable energy and energy efficiency projects.

The Gold Standard will not re-invent the wheel, but, as required by its stakeholders, will provide a ‘land-use and forestry Gold Standard’ that provides credible carbon accounting, a holistic approach providing safeguards and MRV for co-benefits, multiple combinations of activities, scale, longevity and recognition of the value of non-carbon attributes.

Operating on behalf of civil society, a Gold Standard approach will define, demonstrate and drive best practice in land use and forestry, as it has done successfully within its current scope area of renewable energy and energy efficiency in both the voluntary and compliance carbon markets.

The Gold Standard is currently assessing a number of potential pilot projects and partners. It is also seeking funding for development work in this sector. Anyone interested should contact info@cdmgoldstandard.org