Forest Notes | September 2024
Welcome back to Forest Notes!
After a summer break, we’re thrilled to return with a jam-packed edition of Forest Notes!
This issue features exciting updates on the projects we represent, research papers, and a special look at Climate Week NYC.
As Climate Week NYC unfolds, we want to reaffirm that forests and the communities that depend on them are at the heart of our mission. We remain focused on bringing together forest communities and corporations in a common cause to protect the world’s most important and vulnerable forests, ensuring that these communities thrive while combating climate change and biodiversity loss for the benefit of all.
We look forward to connecting with individuals at Climate Week NYC who share our passion for forest conservation and community empowerment.
Verra lifts hold on Southern Cardamom REDD+ Project
We are pleased that Verra has lifted the hold on the Southern Cardamom REDD+ Project after an exhaustive 14-month review, which re-examined eight years of the project’s work and independent audits.
This review reaffirmed the project’s full compliance with Verra’s VCS, CCB, and SD VISta standards, and the project’s significant positive impacts for conservation and communities. Verra has also approved actions for the project’s continuous improvement that go above and beyond the requirements of its standards.
Most importantly, the project has overwhelming support from the 29 Indigenous and local communities it serves. In recent Free, Prior and Informed Consent meetings, 93% of community members voted in favour of the project.
Mr. Tith Ly, Deputy Commune Chief of Pralay, shares his thoughts: “Through the Southern Cardamom REDD+ Project and Wildlife Alliance, our community has thrived. We’ve come a long way, but there’s still more to do. I want to continue spreading awareness about the benefits of this project.”
The project has introduced water wells, improved infrastructure and access to healthcare, and funded educational scholarships. Communities are now actively engaging in eco-tourism, with many working as tourist guides, cooks, and guesthouse owners, which supports families while also reducing deforestation.
“The education I received through a scholarship was a turning point. It helped me understand how we could turn our village into an eco-tourism destination.” — Tith Ly.
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Ensuring high-quality date for high-impact conservation
At Everland, we’re committed to upholding the highest standards for the REDD+ projects we support. To accurately measure and enhance project impact, we turned to Space Intelligence, a leader in geospatial data and mapping.
Dr. Maren Pauly, our Director of Evaluation & Research, highlights the significant impact of this partnership. A prime example is our work with the Keo Seima Wildlife Sanctuary REDD+ Project in Cambodia. This project safeguards vital dry seasonal forests amidst a backdrop of rapid deforestation. While previous open-source data fell short in capturing the full extent of destruction, Space Intelligence’s locally calibrated maps provided the clarity we needed.
Their precise analysis revealed that while surrounding areas are losing forests at an alarming rate of 4-6% per year, the Keo Seima project area has successfully limited deforestation to less than 0.7% annually. This impressive achievement underscores the project’s effectiveness in combating deforestation, protecting biodiversity, and supporting local communities.
Space Intelligence's high-quality, locally-adjusted data adds another layer of precision to forest conservation and gives our partners the confidence that the projects we represent are delivering real, measurable impact.
Meet us at Climate Week NYC
We'll be attending the film screening of "We Are Guardians", co-hosted by Equitable Earth and Global Citizen. This event will include a reception, opening remarks by Mick Sheldrick from Global Citizen, and a conversation with Beto Borges and Puyr Tembé, focusing on Indigenous perspectives in climate action.
🗓️ Monday, September 23rd
📍 Angelika Film Center, NYC
Join us at Central Park on September 28 2024, at 2:00 PM, for the Global Citizen Festival, a powerful event calling for urgent action on poverty, climate change, and equity. Hosted by Hugh Jackman, the event will feature performances from notable artists such as Post Malone, Doja Cat and RAYE.
🗓️ Saturday, September 28th
📍 Central Park, NYC
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