International
Climate Initiative (IKI)

REDD for Early Movers - Acre

As of: January 2020

Objective and activities

This project aimed to achieve significant emission reductions (ER) by preventing deforestation in the Brazilian state of Acre. Hence, it seeked to demonstrate the implementation of a performance-based REDD+ approach and to generate new insights for the climate negotiation process. This interim REDD+ financing approach was in accordance with UNFCCC requirements in contributing to climate change mitigation by preserving forests. Achieved deforestation emission reductions were rewarded ex-post, based on a historic deforestation baseline using data from the Brazilian surveillance system PRODES by the national space agency INPE. The measure was expected to result in GHG mitigation payments for 2.3 m t CO2 (the monetary value depends on the exchange rate, since compensated in USD).

State of implementation/results

• Project completed
• Flagship project as it is one of the first REDD+ projects with successful results-based payments (Phase III REDD+) delivered.
• With the help of the project, a total of 2.47 million tCO2e reduced deforestation emissions could be compensated for 2012/2013.
• Based on a conservative reference emissions level, Acre reduced its emissions by 8,3 million tCO2e for the year 2014.
• In the course of this process, about 1000 families (approx. 4000 people) were directly supported in the development of alternative income sources in order to reduce deforestation in the long term.
• The observed deforestation trend shows a long-term decrease, although fluctuations occur in some years due to small scale deforestation.
• The project places Germany as pioneer of REDD+ finance.