The Purus Project Implementation Report a Tropical Forest Conservation Project in Acre, Brazil
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The Purus Project Implementation Report A Tropical Forest Conservation Project in Acre, Brazil Prepared by Brian McFarland from: 3 Bethesda Metro Center, Suite 700 Bethesda, Maryland 20814 (240) 247-0630 With significant contributions from: James Eaton, TerraCarbon Normando Sales and Wanderley Rosa, Moura & Rosa Pedro Freitas, Carbon Securities D E D I C A T Ó R I A "A voz é a única arma que atinge a alma." (Chico Mendes) Ao iniciar sua luta mostrando ao mundo uma nova forma de impedir a devastação da floresta, com seus "empates", surgia um novo líder, questionado e combatido por muitos, compreendido por poucos. Passados trinta anos, verifica-se que aqueles empates não foram em vão. Hoje estamos cientes da necessidade de preservarmos mais e melhor, valorizando os Povos da Floresta, verdadeiros guardiões da mata e sua biodiversidade, estes, verdadeiros tesouros passíveis de remuneração e compensação, em busca de um mundo melhor para enfrentar a necessidade de conter o aquecimento global. Parabéns Chico, você não era um visionário: o Projeto Purus é a materialização deste sonho. Page 2 of 143 A Climate, Community and Biodiversity Standard Project Implementation Report TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE OF CONTENTS ………………………….………………………………..…………… Page 3 COVER PAGE ................................................................................................................................. Page 6 INTRODUCTION ………………………………………………………….…………………….. Page 7 G1. ORIGINAL CONDITIONS IN THE PROJECT AREA 1. General Information ………………………………………….…………….……………………... Page 9 2. Climate Information …………………………………………..…..………….……..…………… Page 11 3. Community Information ……………………………………..………………..…..……………... Page 12 4. Biodiversity Information ………………………………………..…………….…………………. Page 17 G2. BASELINE PROJECTIONS 1. Land Use without Project …………………………………….……………….…………………. Page 25 2. Carbon Stock Exchanges without Project …………………………………….…..……………... Page 26 3. Local Communities without Project …………………………………………..……………….… Page 27 4. Biodiversity without Project ………………………………………………….….…………….… Page 28 G3. PROJECT DESIGN and GOALS 1. Scope and Project Goals ………………………………………….………….…….…………….. Page 28 2. Major Activities …………………………………………………….……….…………………… Page 30 3. Project Timeframe ………………………………………………………….……………………. Page 53 4. Risks to Climate, Community and Biodiversity Benefits ………….……….…..……………….. Page 57 5. Enhancement of Climate, Community and Biodiversity Benefits …..……….………………….. Page 62 6. Stakeholder Identification and Involvement ……………………….………….……………….... Page 65 7. Project Transparency ………………………………………………..………….…………...…… Page 80 8. Financial Mechanisms and Project Implementation …………………………….………………. Page 81 G4. MANAGEMENT CAPACITY and BEST PRACTICES 1. Roles and Responsibilities of Project Proponents ……………….…………….….……………... Page 81 2. Key Technical Skills and Staff …………………………………………………….…………..… Page 86 3. Orientation and Training ………………………………………..………………….…...……….. Page 86 4. Community Involvement …………………………………………………………….…..………. Page 87 5. Relevant Laws and Regulations ……………………………………………………….…...……. Page 88 6. Worker Safety Assurance ……………………………………………………………….……….. Page 89 7. Financial Status of Organizations ……………………………………………………….………. Page 91 G5. LEGAL STATUS and PROPERTY RIGHTS 1. Compliance with Laws ………………………………………………………………….….……. Page 91 2. Approval from Appropriate Authorities ………………………………………………….…..….. Page 99 3. Non-Involuntary Relocation ……………………………………………………………….…….. Page 99 4. Identification of Illegal Activities and Mitigation Strategy …………………………….….……. Page 100 5. Property Rights and Carbon Rights …………………………………………..…………….…… Page 100 Page 3 of 143 TABLE OF CONTENTS CL1. NET POSITIVE CLIMATE IMPACTS 1. Estimation of Net Changes in Carbon Stocks ………………………….....…………………..…. Page 101 2. Other non-CO2 Greenhouse Gases ……………………………………….………………..……. Page 101 3. Project Activities’ GHG Emissions ……………………………………..…….………….…….. Page 101 4. Net Climate Impact ………………………………………………………..…..…………..……. Page 102 5. Avoidance of Double Counting ……………………………………………..…………….……. Page 102 CL2. OFFSITE CLIMATE IMPACTS (“LEAKAGE”) 1. Types of Leakage ……………………………………………………………..…………..…….. Page 102 2. Mitigation of Leakage …………………………………………………………...………..…….. Page 102 3. Subtraction of Unmitigated Negative Offsite Climate Impacts …………………………….…… Page 103 CL3. CLIMATE IMPACT MONITORING 1. Initial Monitoring Plan ………………………….…………………..…………..…………..…... Page 103 2. Full Monitoring Plan ………………………………………………..…………..…………..…... Page 103 CM1. NET POSITIVE COMMUNITY IMPACTS 1. Community Impacts ………………………………..……………………………..………….… Page 104 2. Impact on High Conservation Values ………………………..…………..…………………..…. Page 116 CM2. OFFSITE STAKEHOLDER IMPACTS 1. Potential Negative Offsite Stakeholder Impacts ………………..………..…….……………...... Page 117 2. Mitigation Plans ………………………………..…….....……………......………….………..… Page 117 3. Net Effect of Project on Stakeholders …………………...……..………..…..………..……….... Page 118 CM3. COMMUNITY IMPACT MONITORING 1. Initial Community Monitoring Plan ……………………………..………..…..………………… Page 118 2. Initial High Conservation Values Plan …………………...……...………..….…………………. Page 119 3. Full Monitoring Plan ……………………………………….……..………..……..…………….. Page 119 B1. NET POSITIVE BIODIVERSITY IMPACTS 1. Biodiversity Impacts ……………………………………….……………..…………………….. Page 123 2. Impact on High Conservation Values ……………………….……………..…………………… Page 124 3. Identify All Species to be used by the Project ………………...……………..….………………. Page 125 4. Possible Adverse Effects of Non-Native Species ……………...……………..…..…………..… Page 125 5. Non-Use of GMOs ………………………………………………….………………………..…. Page 125 B2. OFFSITE BIODIVERSITY IMPACTS 1. Potential Negative Offsite Biodiversity Impacts ……………………….………..…..….…….… Page 125 2. Mitigation Plans ………………………………………………………...…………..………...… Page 126 3. Net Effect of Project on Biodiversity ………………………………………………..…….....…. Page 127 B3. BIODIVERSITY IMPACT MONITORING 1. Initial Biodiversity Monitoring Plan ……………………………………...………………..…… Page 128 2. Initial High Conservation Values Plan ……………………………………………………..…… Page 128 3. Full Monitoring Plan ………………………………………………………….……………..….. Page 129 Page 4 of 143 TABLE OF CONTENTS GL3. EXCEPTIONAL BIODIVERSITY BENEFITS 1. Project Zone’s High Biodiversity Conservation Priority ………………...………...…..…….…. Page 135 BIBLIOGRAPHY ………………………….……………………………………...…..….….... Page 136 Page 5 of 143 COVER PAGE I. Project Name: The Purus Project II. Project Location: Near the city of Manoel Urbano, State of Acre, Brazil III. Project Proponent: The three main Project Proponents are CarbonCo, LLC (“CarbonCo”), Freitas International Group, LLC (“Freitas International Group” or “Carbon Securities”), and Moura e Rosa Empreendimentos Imobiliários LTDA (“Moura & Rosa” or “M&R”). CarbonCo’s contact information is: Brian McFarland, Director CarbonCo, LLC 3 Bethesda Metro Center, Suite 700 Bethesda, Maryland, 20814, United States of America Phone: +1 (240) 247-0630 Email: [email protected] IV. Auditor: Environmental, Services Inc. (ESI) is the auditor. ESI’s contact information and physical address is: Shawn McMahon, Lead Auditor Environmental Services, Inc. 7220 Financial Way, Suite 100, Jacksonville, Florida, 32256 Phone: +1 (330) 833-9941 Email: [email protected] V. Project Start Date, GHG Accounting Period and Lifetime: The Purus Project’s State Date is May 23, 2011. The initial GHG Accounting Period is 10 years and the Project Lifetime is 60 years. VI. Project Implementation Period Covered by the PIR: January 1, 2015 to December 31, 2015. VII. History of CCB Status: The Purus Project was validated to the CCBS in January 2013 and the Purus Project’s initial verification was achieved in December 2013. The Purus Project’s second verification was achieved in October 2014 and the third verification was achieved in November 2015. This PIR covers the fourth verification. VIII. Edition of the CCB Standards being used for Verification: Second Edition IX. Brief Summary of Climate, Community and Biodiversity Benefits Generated by the Project Since the Start Date and During Current Implementation Period Covered by the PIR: The Purus Project successfully achieved net positive climate, community and biodiversity benefits between May 23, 2011 and December 31, 2012 which included, but were not limited to: a reduction in the Project Area’s deforestation; preservation of biologically diverse habitats; local hires and transfer of technical knowledge; and the overall development of the first-ever, VCS- CCBS validated REDD+ project in the State of Acre, Brazil. Page 6 of 143 Net positive climate, community and biodiversity benefits between January 1, 2013 and December 31, 2013 included, but were not limited to: a reduction in the Project Area’s deforestation; preservation of biologically diverse habitats; deployment of motion-sensitive, wildlife camera traps; offering of agricultural extension courses to local communities; continuing progress towards legalization of local communities’ land tenure; and achievement of the first- ever, VCS-CCBS verified REDD+ project in the State of Acre, Brazil. Net positive climate, community and biodiversity benefits between January 1, 2014 and December 31, 2014 included, but were not limited to: a reduction in the Project Area’s deforestation; preservation of biologically diverse habitats; completion of study using motion- sensitive wildlife camera traps; installation of a permanent phone at the Project headquarters; medical assistance provided to local communities; and initiation of granting official land title to several