Jeffrey Horowitz, Founder, Avoided Deforestation Partners gives a quick overview of the opportunities for Avoided Deforestation on the voluntary carbon markets. Jeff is amongst the presenters at Voluntary Carbon Markets, New York.

What do you and your organization do in the Carbon Markets sector?
We specialize in Avoided Deforestation policy. We are an international non-profit think tank. We promote market driven solutions.

 
What do you consider to be the most interesting developments and biggest challenges in the American voluntary carbon market at this time?
For Avoided Deforestation the biggest development is the accord reached in Bali offering a roadmap for the inclusion of REDD or Avoided Deforestation in future protocol. Second, with the Voluntary Carbon Standards just out, rules are now out there that may stimulate AD projects. Third, forest carbon principles were included in Lieberman- Warner.


What are the challenges facing standardization of the market?
With forestry there are too many challenges to count! AD rules are not set, still very, very nascent market. Project developers are still being very cautious as are investors and buyers. Among the few deals out there, almost all reflect different scenarios depending on who buys the credit credits and which group packaged deal.


If regulated emission reductions become mandatory in the US, what does the future hold for the voluntary market?
I believe the Voluntary Carbon Market would explode with new ideas and ways to create and package credits. Credits will be in short supply. People will definitely move much more aggressively to international forestry and deforestation if caps are put in place in US.


What are the barriers to project developers looking to generate offsets?
AD is special case, there are many risks that still need to be solved; from on the ground protection, to permanence, to leakage, to the most reasonable methodology, to creating pathways to market, etc...

 
What safeguards are required to ensure sustainable growth?
Two things; one, the media is really getting general public more conscious of the seriousness and eminent dangers of of global warming and two, the politicians are listening and beginning to take action. Leading US democratic Presidential candidates are in favor of cap and trade..(hope Dems win / Republicans hate cap and trade).

ENDS