Position brief: REDD+ forest carbon credits from voluntary offsets

Posted on
03 May 2011
REDD+ early action projects and programmes are one of the strategies WWF pursues in reducing CO2 emissions from deforestation and forest degradation. We are working with forest dwelling communities, governments, civil society and the private sector to establish systems for implementing REDD+ at scale. These programmes and projects provide an opportunity to pilot practical mechanisms on the ground to help inform and achieve national REDD+ programmes, build local capacity, and generate learning and knowledge.

A forest carbon credit is a way to quantify the emissions that are saved through lowering the rate, or avoiding altogether, deforestation and forest degradation. This enables either verification (under voluntary schemes) or certification (under compliance regimes) of the amount of emissions reduced through REDD+. A carbon offset is a type of carbon credit sold as part of a balancing exchange, which means that for an amount of carbon released from one source, an equivalent amount is locked away elsewhere to essentially ‘cancel’ the emissions released. Offsets can be bought on the compliance or voluntary markets.

This position brief covers REDD+ forest carbon credits from voluntary offsets.