Community guidelines for accessing forestry voluntary carbon ... - FAO

Chapter 7: Further help and advice
For additional advice, the private sector organizations involved directly
in VCM project development are the best source of financial information
and experience (see section 7.4.3 below). However, project developers
should bear in mind that these organizations are commercial enterprises
and therefore are not often in a position to provide detailed advice
unless they have a stake in the project concerned.
7.5 Technical assistance
Once project developers are confident that their legal and financial
situation gives a good chance of success, they should seek appropriate
technical help. Chapters 2, 4, and 6 in these guidelines are a step in the
right direction, but additional specialist help will be required in at least
three areas:
• Forest management standards;
• Skills development; and
• Project development.
7.5.1 Assessing existing forest management practice
Forest carbon projects require a change of management strategy. There
are international and country-specific organizations that set standards
for forest management. They can help project developers to find out
how their current management practice compares to national and
international ‘best practice’, and what they need to do differently.
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