Protecting and restoring forests in Papua New Guinea
Context
In the iconic Hans Meyer Range of New Ireland, Papua New Guinea, humid tropical forests range in elevation from sea level to 2,340m AMSL. The mountains here are highly biodiverse, home to many endemic and rare species of flora and fauna. These high carbon storage regions are under severe threat of conversion and degradation – from both legal and illegal logging, uncontrolled subsistence farming, and conversion to oil palm plantations.
Project
The new NIHT Topaiyo REDD+ project in Papua New Guinea aims to protect the rainforest, conserve local biodiversity, and enhance the traditional landowners and stewards of these rainforests through carbon credit production.
The project plans to invest 81% of net revenue into local communities, distributing funds directly to individuals and also developing access to online schools, expanding regional healthcare provision, introducing solar-powered electricity, and financing a comprehensive biodiversity study.
As well as its certification under the Verified Carbon Standard, project developer NIHT is committed to the equitable participation of all stakeholders in the project’s development – working in partnership with local, provincial and national government.
Whilst the project has not yet achieved Climate, Community & Biodiversity Standards (CCBS) verification, this was a deliberate decision made by the project developer at launch – to expedite the lengthy VCS verification process. The project was nonetheless built to adhere to the rigorous standards of the CCBS (which compel projects to address climate change, benefit local communities and smallholders, and conserve biodiversity), and aims to achieve CCBS verification in 2021.
Verification
This project is verified by the Verified Carbon Standard. You can view it on the Verra Registry here.
Climate solution #38
Forest Protection
In their biomass and soil, forests are powerful carbon storehouses. Protection prevents emissions from deforestation, shields that carbon, and enables ongoing carbon sequestration.
In 2015, there were an estimated three trillion trees in the world. That count is substantially higher than previously thought, but more than 15 billion are cut down each year. Since humans began farming, the number of trees on earth has fallen by 46 percent. Carbon emissions from deforestation and associated land use change are estimated to be 10 to 15 percent of the world’s total.
The benefits of forest conservation include biodiversity protection, non-timber products, erosion control, pollination, ecotourism and other ecosystem services.
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UN Sustainable Development Goals
The 'NIHT Topaiyo REDD+' project aligns with the following UN Sustainable Development Goals:
Rethink how we grow, share and consume our food. We can provide nutritious food for all.
Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages.
Ensure that all girls and boys complete free, equitable and quality education.
Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.
Ensure access to water and sanitation for all.
Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy.
Promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth, employment and decent work for all.
Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.
Sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, halt and reverse land degradation, halt biodiversity loss.
Promote just, peaceful and inclusive societies.
Read more about the Sustainable Development Goals
