RSS provides technical support to the USAID Green Invest Asia and Kennemer Eco Solutions’ launch of forest restoration project in the Philippines

The partnership with USAID Green Invest Asia comes with technical assistance to set up the carbon credit scheme to attract private capital with the aim to reduce millions of tons of CO2 emission expected this decade. The project was carried out in accordance to the VM0007 REDD+ methodological framework of the Verified Carbon Standard (VCS). Specifically, a reliable and transparent proof of concept for accrediting certain sites under the VCS is required. These will help to credibly qualify carbon pools where deforestation is avoided, while also forest systems’ conservation is considered. REDD+ projects mainly aim at reducing carbon emissions from avoided deforestation and forest degradation, but multiple co-benefits can be achieved such as reducing biodiversity loss and increasing quality of life for local communities. After finishing the first project phase in April, which also included capacity development in the domain of Earth Observation and VCS-conformant data processing, KenEco is starting to implement the forest restoration project, based on the data-driven evidence of benefits such project can achieve.