The Charcoal Project

There’s little doubt that Copenhagen will allow for some form of compensation to countries that substantially protect their forests. This is the essence of REDD (Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation).   Already a handful of developing countries have joined the World Bank in establishing the Forest Carbon Partnership Facility, a framework for the day when the fat pipe from industrialized countries starts flowing dollars in exchange for the protection of forests.

I’m wondering if that’s what’s behind Rwanda’s motivation to plant 20 million trees by 2012, thus raising its forest cover by 3.5%. The plan is to raise this figure to 10% by 2020.  Read the interview with Minister of Environment and Natural Resources, Stanislas Kamanzi. (Courtesy allAfrica.com)

Perhaps Rwanda and other countries will consider dedicating a portion of the receipts from the sale of the carbon offsets to funding a nationwide campaign to promote the widespread adoption of energy-efficient stoves and a briquettes program.

Hey, they could even sell the offsets from the stove and briquettes program!

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