The Rimba Raya Biodiversity Reserve REDD Project

STEP 0. Preliminary screening based on the starting date of theproject activity.The VCS does not allow RED projects with a start date prior to2002. The start date of the Rimba Raya project is 2008 and thusthe project is eligible as a VCS RED project.STEP 1. Identification of alternative scenarios to the projectactivity4.5.Conservation/protection in the absence of carbonfinancing: The project lands are conserved as intact peatswamp forest without intervention by the projectproponents.Conservation/protection with carbon financing (proposedproject activity): The project lands are conserved as intactpeat swamp forest, funded entirely or in part throughcarbon financing.Sub-­‐step 1a. Identify credible alternative land use scenariosto the proposed project activity.Four potential alternative land-­‐use scenarios in addition tothe proposed project activity were identified. The outcomeof Sub-­‐step 1a is a list of credible alternative land-­‐usescenarios that could have occurred on the land within theproject boundary:1. Conversion to palm oil plantations: The project lands arezoned by the Indonesian Government for plantationestablishment, with illegal timber harvesting occurringprior to land clearing.2. Continuation of pre-­‐project land use: The project landscontinue to be zoned by the Indonesian Government asProduction Forest and undergo both legal and illegaltimber harvesting.3. Conversion to agriculture: The project lands are openedup for agricultural development (for crops other than oilpalm), with illegal timber harvesting occurring prior toland clearing.Sub-­‐step 1b. Consistency of credible alternative land usescenarios with enforced mandatory applicable laws andregulationsIn Indonesia, land which is presently under forestrymanagement that will be taken out of forestry and handedout for conversion to agricultural purposes (such as palm oil)is referred to as KPP or KPPL land. These conversion areasare planned by provincial and district governments. Underthis land use planning structure, alternative land usescenarios 1 and 3 are in compliance with applicable legal andregulatory requirements.Illegal logging occurs in virtually all forests that containvaluable timber and thus illegal logging is a component of allpossible baseline scenarios that do not involve forestprotection against such activities. Although illegal loggingdoes not comply with applicable legislation and regulations,an examination of current practice in the project region inwhich the law applies indicates that laws against illegallogging are systematically not enforced and thus there is non-­compliance.93