I wanted to share two exciting pieces of VCS news— the release of a new set of guidance documents for jurisdictional REDD+ programs, and the opening for public consultation of the first JNR Program (Acre State, Brazil) as part of the validation and verification process.
VCS Releases Guidance for Implementation of Jurisdictional and Nested REDD+ (JNR) Programs 
The VCS JNR Requirements set out an integrated accounting framework for reduced emissions from deforestation, degradation and carbon stock enhancements, which can leverage multiple sources of demand and finance. The JNR Requirements are intended to assist governments, private entities, civil society organizations, local stakeholders and validation/verification bodies developing and auditing jurisdictional REDD+ programs and nested projects.

In order to provide additional guidance for governments and their partners, VCS has released two new guidance documents. The first guidance document, Guidance for Jurisdictional and Nested REDD+ Program Design, provides high-level advice on program design and development. The second guidance document, Technical Guidance for Jurisdictional and Nested REDD+ Programs, provides technical advice on specific sections of the JNR Requirements. These documents are meant to assist in the development and implementation of jurisdictional programs and nested projects, as well as to provide further background and context to the JNR Requirements. Both documents are available in English and Spanish.

VCS also has plans to develop and release another guidance document later this year aimed specifically at methodological issues related to nesting, including guidance to project developers on how to adapt baselines to be consistent with jurisdictional baselines.

JNR Program Open for Public Comment: Acre State, Brazil
Since 1977, deforestation and degradation have reduced the size of the Amazon Rainforest by almost 20 percent, resulting in large-scale emissions. Looking to slow deforestation, Acre became the world’s first government to implement a comprehensive jurisdictional REDD+ program, through which the state is aiming to achieve millions of tons of emission reductions by 2020. To address local drivers of deforestation, the state developed a REDD+ program under JNR that would allow nested projects to be developed and integrated.

For VCS JNR programs, the first step in the validation process is to solicit public comments during a 60-day period. To that end, we welcome your review of Acre’s JNR Program Description (JPD) and Non-Permanence Risk Report. Please send all comments to the VCS at secretariat@v-c-s.org. Comments must include the submitter’s name, organization, country and email address. The JPD is available in English andPortuguese, and the Non-Permanence Risk Report is also available in English andPortuguese. Comments in both English and Portuguese are acceptable.

This comment period begins today, 2 June 2015, and will end on 1 August 2015.

Learn more about JNR here.

As always, please contact us with any questions you may have at secretariat@v-c-s.org.

Kind regards,

Naomi Swickard

Manager, Sustainable Landscapes