Dow Jones Clean Technology Insight reports on ImageTree's agreement with CATHALAC
Dow Jones Clean Technology Insight, in its Dec. 1, 2008, edition, reported that ImageTree Corp. is collaborating with an intergovernmental development organization on a climate change/carbon initiative to develop baseline standards for avoided deforestation in Latin America and the Caribbean region.
Describing the forestry technology solutions company's five-year exclusive agreement with Panama-based Water Center for the Humid Tropics of Latin America and the Caribbean (CATHALAC), reporter Jonathan Shieber explained that the alliance will result in biomass baseline inventories and monitoring systems for measuring deforestation reductions. CATHALAC employs scientific research and technology to enhance sustainable human development.
The reporter also notes that the California Climate Action Registry’s inclusion of emissions credits due to deferred deforestation in its voluntary market is an important milestone in establishing a forestry emissions offsets market.
In the piece, ImageTree CEO Mark Redlus, whom Shieber interviewed, explained how nations’ differing deforestation rates relate to carbon credits, saying, “their deforestation rates could range from a half of a percent per year up to 3% per year. The credits that would be created are due to the reduction of those rates of deforestation."
Shieber noted that Zurich-based SGS Group is evaluating the ImageTree methodology to evaluate it for U.N.-proposed guidelines, noting that if the methodology is approved, the company could develop projects in conjunction with such organizations as Cantor CO2e.com LLC, which provides financial services for energy and environmental programs.