Carbon Expo: Hope springs eternal

The third and final day of Carbon Expo 2012 focused on a number of topics including REDD, carbon capture and storage and linking among domestic emissions trading schemes, especially the Asia Pacific. The REDD discussion opened with a passionate exposition of local community views and concerns regarding REDD projects. There was clear emphasis on the fact that in a sector where local communities often rely on land and forests for subsistence, REDD projects need to focus more on social investment and community engagement to overcome the often extreme challenges these projects face and become a robust sustainable development and investment proposition. The land is there, the communities are there, but the projects won't be, unless  REDD is approached as a comprehensive land use management and community development initiative, that incorporates other value-generating activities for local people and can replace timber for local livelihoods.