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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 ) meets in December this year.

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

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

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