Letter from the CEO

Dear Friends & Colleagues,

I am pleased to say we released a significant new piece of work in February – 60 pages of updated technical recommendations to guide the development of forthcoming VCS requirements for jurisdictional and nested REDD+. The technical recommendations underwent comprehensive review by a scientific peer group and an advisory committee of government, civil society and private sector leaders. This will ensure they are practical and applicable to a wide range of on-the-ground needs. More on this work below.

I’m also happy to report two concrete advances in our efforts to extend VCS outreach to new regions. On 1 March, we officially welcome onboard the director of our new South America office based in Santiago, Chile. The director will lead outreach across Spanish-speaking South America and hire a local staff to strengthen support for stakeholders in the region. Also, in February, we sealed an agreement with a trusted new partner who will guide VCS outreach efforts in Korea and the Asia-Pacific region. Read more about our new VCS team members below.

Lastly, I want to highlight that we are seeking a senior program officer who will be dedicated to strengthening support for and oversight of validation/verification bodies. We are also seeking scientific and technical experts in two new areas for our list of experts approved to review methodologies. Application instructions below.

We will continue responding to the growing demand for VCS tools throughout 2012, which we believe will be a critical year for ensuring VCS is widely recognized and accessible in new and emerging carbon markets. I look forward to bringing you further updates in the months ahead.

Sincerely,

David Antonioli

Program Updates

Jurisdictional REDD+: Updated technical recommendations released

On 23 February, VCS released updated technical recommendations for the integrated project and jurisdiction-wide accounting and crediting of REDD+ activities, part of our Jurisdictional and Nested REDD+ Initiative (JNRI). The technical recommendations underwent a comprehensive review by a scientific peer review group and by an advisory committee of government, civil society and private sector leaders. The technical recommendations will serve as a basis for forthcoming VCS requirements. Draft requirements will be released for public comment in coming months. See the updated technical recommendations or read more about JNRI.

VCS Association Updates

Welcome our new South Korea-based Regional Advisor Seong-il Kim

On 1 February, VCS signed on a new Korea-based regional advisor, Seong-il Kim, to extend VCS outreach in the Asia-Pacific region. Seong-il is a leading Korean expert on carbon policy and forest governance, a commissioner for Korea’s Presidential Committee on Green Growth and a professor at Seoul National University. He advises widely on carbon policy development in Asia and has authored numerous books and articles on REDD and renewable energy. Seong-il will offer VCS strategic guidance and spearhead the development of key relationships with policymakers and stakeholders in South Korea and the Asia-Pacific. Please join us in welcoming Seong-il onboard.

Welcome our new South America Regional Director Pamela Mellado

On 1 March, we welcome onboard our new South America Regional Director Pamela Mellado. As head of the new VCS South America Regional Office based in Chile, Pamela will spearhead outreach across Spanish-speaking South America, sharing knowledge and information about VCS with government, civil society and business leaders. She will also hire a staff to increase support for regional stakeholders already using VCS. Before joining VCS, Pamela was the Deputy Director of the Chilean Agency for Energy Efficiency. Please join us in extending a warm welcome to Pamela. We are grateful to Fundación Chile for providing the resources to make our first satellite office a reality. Read more about the VCS Latin America office.

VCS seeks Senior Program Officer to ramp up VVB oversight

VCS is seeking a Senior Program Officer to oversee and support validation/verification bodies (VVBs). The position will be responsible for providing comprehensive and on-going support for all VVBs approved under VCS. Specific tasks will include managing and implementing oversight procedures, providing guidance on all validation/verification activities and coordinating relationships with accreditation bodies such as the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) and others. Tasks will also include managing content for the VVB portal, running webinars for VVBs and providing clarifications on VCS rules as needed. Qualified candidates should review the job posting and apply by 30 March.

VCS seeks experts to review methodologies in two new areas

VCS seeks qualified individuals to join its standing list of experts approved to assess methodologies. Experts are needed in two specific areas: Standardized Methods and Avoided Conversion of Grasslands and Shrublands (ACoGS). Experts in Standardized Methods should have significant expertise in both the development and use of these methods. Experts in ACoGS should have experience in the dynamics of grassland and shrubland ecosystems as well as other relevant AFOLU experience. Qualified individuals should review the requirements set out in Section 9 of the Methodology Approval Process and apply by 30 March.