New guide to bringing forest carbon projects to the market

UNEP, the World Bank and other partners have just published a guidebook called "Bringing forest carbon projects to the market."  The objective of the guide is to instruct project developers and financial investors on how to develop and implement projects in the forest carbon markets.  It analyses the issues that have so far limited the market, describing best practices and success stories, as well as pitfalls to be avoided.  The guide aims to instruct both developers and investors on how to finance forest carbon projects, how to sell credits, and on factors to consider when registering a forestry project in the CDM or voluntary carbon market.  It also provides an overview of the current state and trends in the forest carbon market. 

The guide notes the ongoing uncertainty with respect to how REDD will work in practice. However, it also highlights the potential implications of REDD: "A possible opening up of the carbon market to post-Kyoto credits enabling REDD and other forestry sectors not currently supported would drastically change the carbon forest market landscape, stimulating investment, and professionalizing this still nascent market." 

This guide filla an important gap in availability of practical knowledge about forest carbon projects and and will be essential reading for would be participants in these markets.