Forests are essential to slow climate change. Trees absorb CO2 and store carbon. Apes disperse seeds that grow into trees.
Forests are essential to slow climate change.
Trees absorb CO2 and store carbon.
Apes disperse seeds that grow into trees.

How saving the apes can help the fight against climate change.

Carbon trading has suddenly become a multi-BILLION dollar business. Not only could it reduce greenhouse gas emissions and slow global warming, however, it could also help protect forests where gorillas, chimpanzees, bonobos, orangutans and gibbons live.

This new working group has been set up to explore the potential of carbon finance to contribute to the conservation of apes and their habitat. Some conservation groups are already putting these ideas into practice – see http://www.climate-standards.org/

The ApAl Carbon WG is currently lobbying to change the rules governing carbon trading so that “avoided deforestation” carbon credits (especially from tropical countries) are recognised under the Kyoto Protocol and the EU Emissions Trading System. We must convince world leaders BEFORE the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (see http://unfccc.int/2860.php ) concludes negotiations on the agreement that will follow the Kyoto Protocol (which ends in 2012).

The following documents explain this complex topic in more detail. Please read them and write to your MP, MEP, Senator or Congressman urging him or her to lend support.

Documents to download:

  1. Sample letter:
    An open letter from the Ape Alliance chairman to Rt Hon David Miliband MP, UK Secretary of State for Environment
    Please feel free to use this letter as a basis for yours, or simply write in support of it.
  2. Summary of arguments sent with above letter.
  3. Submission by SFM to the UK Environmental Audit Committee’s Voluntary Carbon Market Inquiry.
  4. Submission by SFM to DEFRA consultation on voluntary standards for carbon trading
  5. Two page leaflet summarising the issue.
  6. Forest Carbon briefing document by Global Canopy Programme (more info at www.globalcanopy.org)
  7. The VivoCarbon Initiative - Forests First in the Fight Against Climate Change (more info at www.globalcanopy.org)
  8. Ape Alliance members helped to draft the Forest NOW Declaration, launched with a full page ad in the Financial Times on 12th September 2007. Sign up to this important Declaration at www.ForestsNOW.org and view the calendar counting down to Copenhagen 2009 at www.forestsnow.org/calendar.php

VideosClick here to view Ape Alliance videos.

Archive of scientific articles: Click here to download and read Carbon Working Group related articles.

Science news & articles relating to the Carbon Working Group.
Major decline seen in illegal logging (BBC News)

By Richard Black Environment correspondent, BBC News


Illegal logging can remove vital wildlife habitat, leading to conflict with people. Illegal logging in the world's forests has fallen by nearly a quarter since 2002, according to what claims to be the most thorough analysis yet.


The London-based thinktank Chatham House says consumer pressure, legal restrictions by importing countries and media attention have all contributed.


Some important forest countries such as Brazil, Cameroon and Indonesia have seen much larger cuts, its report says.


But further improvements will be harder to make, it concludes.

15/07/2010
Click here to read on...

Rainforest scientists urge UN to correct 'serious loophole' by changing its definition of 'forest'

Jeremy Hance - mongabay.com - June 24, 2010

The Association for Tropical Biology and Conservation (ATBC) has released a resolution urging the UN to change its definition for 'forest', before the controversial definition undermines conservation efforts, biodiversity preservation, carbon sequestration, and the nascent REDD (Reducing Emissions through Deforestation and forest Degradation).


http://news.mongabay.com/2010/0624-hance_atbc_forests.html

24/06/2010
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INTERVIEW - Degraded land rules key to Indonesia climate goal

 


Wed Jun 23, 2010 3:28pm IST


By David Fogarty, Climate Change Correspondent, Asia 


 


 (Reuters) - Indonesia needs to quickly settle rules for deciding what is degraded land and spell out how much is available to palm oil and timber firms in order to strengthen investment certainty, an environmental expert says.


Such a move would also boost a $1-billion climate deal signed last month by Indonesia and Norway.


The deal involves a two-year moratorium from January 2011 on conversion of natural forests and peat land with the intent of using degraded land to allow Indonesia's multi-billion dollar palm oil industry to keep expanding.


http://in.reuters.com/article/idINIndia-49564520100623

24/06/2010
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REDD threatens rights of 350 million local people

Jeremy Hance
mongabay.com
June 03, 2010


 Last week the Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD) program received a jump start with a four billion US dollar pledge from a number of industrialized nations. Under REDD tropical forest nation will be paid to keep forests standing, however the program-as it currently stands-has provoked concern over the rights of the some 350 million people living in or adjacent to forests.


http://news.mongabay.com/2010/0603-hance_redd_locals.html

03/06/2010
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Corruption could undermine REDD

Jeremy Hance
mongabay.com
June 03, 2010


With four billion US dollars pledged last week to kick-start the Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD), a new report by Global Witness warns that the funds could do little to stem deforestation if governance and accountability are not improved and corruption tackled. The REDD program provides funds to tropical nations to keep forests standing as a means to sequester carbon.


http://news.mongabay.com/2010/0603-hance_corruption_redd.html

03/06/2010
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A total ban on primary forest logging needed to save the world, an interview with activist Glen Barry

Jeremy Hance
mongabay.com
June 02, 2010


Glen Barry, head of Ecological Internet, takes on the FSC and NGOs that support it, while warning that the world is headed toward ecological collapse if global society continues business-as-usual track.


Radical, controversial, ahead-of-his-time, brilliant, or extremist: call Dr. Glen Barry, the head of Ecological Internet, what you will, but there is no question that his environmental advocacy group has achieved major successes in the past years, even if many of these are below the radar of big conservation groups and mainstream media.


http://news.mongabay.com/2010/0602-hance_barry.html

02/06/2010
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[ Click here for archive of all Science 4 Apes... ]

The following organisations attended the first meeting of the Ape Alliance Carbon WG:

  • Born Free Foundation
  • Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation UK
  • Cockroach Productions
  • Fauna and Flora International
  • International Fund for Animal Welfare
  • Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden
  • Sumatran Orangutan Society
  • Sustainable Forestry Management
  • Wildlife Conservation Society

The following organisations are involved in the Carbon Working Group.


Sumatran Orangutan Society
Carbon Working Group Secretariat
Helen Buckland
The Old Music hall
106-108 Cowley Road
Oxford OX4 1JE

Phone: +44 (0) 1865 403341
Web (en): www.orangutans-sos.org
Email: click for contact form

Biofeulwatch
Almuth Ernsting
c/o Almuth Ernsting,
10 Talisman Drive,
Aberdeen,
AB107EX
Phone: 01224 324797
Fax: 07931 636337
Web (en): www.biofeulwatch.org.uk
Email: click for contact form

Born Free Foundation
Will Travers CEO
3 Grove House
Foundry Lane
Horsham
West Sussex
RH13 5PL
Phone: +44 (0)1403 240 170
Fax: +44 (0)1403 327 838
Web (en): www.bornfree.org.uk
Email: click for contact form

Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation UK (BOS UK)
Michelle Desilets
8 Temple Square
Aylesbury
Bucks
HP20 2QH
UK

Phone: 08456 521528
Web (en): www.savetheorangutan.org.uk
Email: click for contact form

Cockroach Productions
Nick Lyon & Evie Wright
The Old Tannery
Staplegrove
Taunton
Somerset TA2 6SP
www.films4.org
http://indonesiangibbons.blogspot.com/
Phone: 07850 921 207 & 208
Web (en): www.cockroach.org.uk
Email: click for contact form

Fauna & Flora International
Great Eastern House
Tenison Road
Cambridge
CB1 2TT
Phone: +44 (0) 1223 571000
Fax: +44 (0) 1223 461481
Web (en): www.fauna-flora.org
Email: click for contact form

Humane Society International
2100L St NW
Washington, DC 20037,
USA
Phone: 1 301 721 6458
Web (en): www.hsi.org

International Fund for Animal Welfare
87-90 Albert Embankment
London
SE1 7UD
Phone: +44 (0)20 7587 6700
Fax: +44 (0)20 7587 6720
Web (en): www.ifaw.org
Email: click for contact form
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