20 January 2014: The UNFCCC has published a reference manual on the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), which outlines the requirements that need to be fulfilled by afforestation and reforestation (A/R) projects under the CDM.

The manual, titled ‘Afforestation and Reforestation Projects under the CDM’, provides a synthesis of A/R project requirements in relation to the project cycle, project documentation, project validation, registration and monitoring. The manual aims to serve as a reference guide for prospective project developers, project participants and other stakeholders, such as national forest departments in developing countries who wish to use the CDM to conserve and enhance their forest resources.

The manual is divided into chapters that: explain the CDM project cycle; describe the project design document (PDD) structure and explain how to develop and complete this document; outline the requirements in monitoring and verifying registered A/R CDM project activities; and describe the CDM programme of activity (PoA) and its specific requirements related. [Publication: Afforestation and Reforestation Projects under the CDM]