The Climate Action Reserve (Reserve) is developing a Forest Project Protocol for use throughout Mexico. The Mexico protocol will be based on the U.S. Forest Project Protocol and will include guidance for the types of projects covered under the U.S. version of the Forest Project Protocol: Reforestation, Avoided Deforestation (Avoided Conversion), and Sustainable Forest Management (Improved Forest Management). Development of all three project types will be conducted contemporaneously, with initial efforts focused on areas of shared application.

Reserve staff will work with the Mexico forest workgroup (see below) to refine the Forest Project Protocol for use in Mexico by developing guidance and standards for nested projects within a REDD framework, environmental integrity, land tenure issues, and permanence of forest carbon sequestration specific to projects in Mexico. The current Forest Project Protocol referenced during the workgroup process is available in Spanish below.

Protocolo de Proyectos Forestales Version 3.1 (October 22, 2009)

The Reserve plans to complete the development process for all three project types by fall 2011 and will update the timeline on an ongoing basis in the Protocol Development Process section below.

Protocol Development Kickoff Meeting

The Reserve hosted a telephonic webinar in English and Spanish to kickoff the protocol development process for the Mexico Forest Project Protocol on April 12, 2010. The meeting provided a venue for the Reserve to discuss the adaptation of project guidelines and the protocol development process, as well as solicit information and feedback from the public. The meeting agenda and presentation are available for download below.

Agenda
Presentation Slides – English
Presentation Slides – Espanol

Workgroup

The Reserve has assembled a workgroup to assist with the development of the adaptation of the Reforestation, Avoided Deforestation, and Sustainable Forest Management project types. The workgroup includes:

Alianza para la Conservación Sierra Gorda	Pronatura Mexico
Centro Mexicano de Derecho Ambiental	Rainforest Alliance
CONAFOR	Reforestamos Mexico
Consejo Civil Mexicano para la Silvicultura Sostenible	Servicios Ambientales de Oaxaca
EcoLogic Development Fund	South Pole Carbon Asset Management
Gold Standard	Terra Global Capital
Natura Proyectos Ambientales	World Wildlife Fund

Protocol Development Process

The timeline for the Mexico Forest Project Protocol development process will be updated as the process moves forward.

Protocol Kickoff Meeting	April 12, 2010
Staff Forms Stakeholder Workgroup	June 2010
Staff Drafts Guidance and Standards for Forest Projects	June 2010 – November 2010
Workgroup Process to Refine Draft Protocol	June 2010 – April 2011
Reserve Board Meeting	December 2010
Reserve Board Meeting	September 2011

The Reserve anticipates that the three project types will be finalized on a rolling basis. The Reserve hopes to adopt its first Mexico Forest Project Protocol at the December 2010 Board meeting and adopt all three project types at the September 2011 Board meeting.

Resources

Mexico Forest Project Protocol Statement of Intent (March 4, 2010)
Declaracion de Intenciones (March 4, 2010)

Workgroup Meeting 1 (June 17, 2010)
Meeting Notes – Espanol

Workgroup Meeting 2 (July 15, 2010)
Meeting Notes – English
Meeting Notes – Espanol

If you have questions about the Mexico Forest Project Protocol, please contact:

John Nickerson at john@climateactionreserve.org

The Reserve at [English] 213-891-1444, Press 2 then Press 4, or policy@climateactionreserve.org
The Reserve at [Espanol] 213-891-1444, Oprima 3, o reserve@climateactionreserve.org