Instinet and Wildlife Conservation Society launch REDD Positive campaign
The WCS REDD Positive Fund will accelerate the development of REDD Positive projects worldwide
New York, September 21, 2022 – Instinet Holdings Incorporated, a wholly owned subsidiary of Nomura, today announced a project it is conducting with the Wildlife Conservation Society (“WCS”) called REDD Positive, designed to fund and accelerate early-stage forest conservation and reforestation projects and provide education on the critical role that nature-positive solutions play in the processing of greenhouse gases.
Through the implementation of the REDD Positive Frameworks drafted by the United Nations, governments, local communities and other stakeholders are working to protect, conserve and enhance global forests and carbon-rich ecosystems. Additionally, these REDD-Positive projects will establish transparent and accountable protocols for generating marketable carbon offsets (“verified carbon units” or VCUs) associated with activities to protect and conserve these natural carbon sinks.
The WCS REDD Positive Fund was established in 2021 through an initial contribution from Instinet. The fund aims to connect the worlds of business and conservation to tackle deforestation in a rigorous, actionable and achievable way. The WCS REDD Positive Fund invests charitable funds in conservation and reforestation projects around the world.
To date, REDD Positive’s efforts continue to gain momentum, including WCS’ flagship project in Keo Seima, Cambodia, which achieved financial stability following loan sales of over $31 million in fiscal 2021 and an additional $12 million in 2022.
Ralston Roberts, global CEO of Instinet, said: “We are excited to partner with the Wildlife Conservation Society to combat climate change in a meaningful and actionable way. As influential global leaders gather for Climate Week, REDD Positive provides a powerful example of an impactful and measurable way to fund more conservation projects that are critical to the long-term health of our planet.”
Cristián Samper, President and CEO of the Wildlife Conservation Society, said: “REDD Positive will leverage decades of forest conservation research and is supported by the rigorous scientific approach that is a hallmark of the Wildlife Conservation Society. Protecting and preserving the world’s great forests is an important component to achieving the Paris Agreement’s carbon reduction goals, conserving biodiversity and paving the way for a more sustainable environment in the near future. With the support and collaboration of companies like Instinet, we look forward to further advancing and accelerating early-stage REDD+ projects worldwide and harnessing the power of nature-based solutions.”
